Saunderton Station
From Lacey Green History
click Amenities for others
also click Railway Line at Risborough
Research by Dennis Claydon
First printed in Hallmark February 1990
Hard to Imagine
It is hard now to appreciate how the laying of the railway along the Saunderton valley in the latter half of the last century would have affected the lives of those living in the surrounding area. The introduction of the steam train into the countryside which, hitherto, had relied for generations upon "shanks pony" and the horse must have created a complete revolution in travel terms.
The Railway
The Wycombe Railway Company was formed in 1846. By 1854 a line had been constructed from Maidenhead to High Wycombe. Work continued to extend this line via the Saunderton valley and Princes Risborough to Thame. Construction in a broad gauge of seven feet, completion of the Thame extension was achieved in 1862, followed in 1864 with a further extension to Oxford. Around 1870 the ownership of the line passed to the Great Western Railway who converted the track to the national standard gauge of four feet eight and a half inches, still current today..
The Workhouse
Several years before the coming of the railway the Wycombe Poor Law Union erected a Workhouse at Saunderton. This building served thirty three parishes, an area of one hundred and forty seven square miles and stood in eleven acres of garden on the site now occupied by Ortho (Cilag Ltd) Pharmaceuticals.
Request for a Station
In 1885 the guardians of the establishment considered the close proximity of the railway and decided a station, presumably for the delivery of supplies, would be a great convenience. They approached the railway authorities with their idea but the GWR refused the request. A similar request, or failing that, permission to halt trains on alternate Mondays, followed in 1889. Again the GWR refused believing the proposition to be uneconomical. The building of a Public Institution "five miles from anywhere" was, in the opinion of the GWR, a grave error of judgement on the part of the local authorities.
Opinions Change
With the growing importance of the line for express traffic between London and the Midlands business flourished. The dawning of a new century saw the conversion to double track between High Wycombe and Princes Risborough plus the building of a station at Saunderton. The purpose of the station, it was claimed, was not only to serve Saunderton but the surrounding villages of Bledlow Ridge, Lacey Green and Loosley Row and Speen.
Saunderton Station Passenger Heyday
In its heyday it certainly played a leading role in village life, presenting a fully-staffed station with a high degree of discipline. Within living memory, before the advent of bus services and with few cars in use, it was the main point of arrival and departure for travellers to Lacey Green and Loosley Row. Situated about two and a half miles from either village the distance would be covered bon foot by most villagers but a pony and trap could be hired to transport passengers and luggage. There were those who can still testify to walking daily from Lacey Green in all weathers and seasons, via Church Lane footpath and Smalldean Lane, to catch the train to attend school in High Wycombe. Imagine the uproar at the mere suggestion of such a journey today!!
Saunderton Station Goods Heyday
The station also once boasted of serving the local community with a thriving business in goods traffic. A story is told of a gentleman residing in Lacey Green, over seventy years ago, who ordered some young fruit trees from a distant nursery. In due course he was advised these were awaiting collection at Saunderton Station. The gentleman's son, a reliable and honest fourteen year year old, was sent to collect them. On arrival at the station the lad knocked on the Station Master's Office door, entered and stated the reason for his visit and his intended task. Immediately, the Station Master accusedthe boy of entereing without knocking and despite protests to the contrary the lad received a severe reprimand. The trees were eventually safely delivered to Lacey Green. The following day, however, a visit was made by the Station Master to the boy's father to report the incident!
National Headlines
At least twice in its history the station appears to have attracted national headlines. Once for the part it played in apprehending criminals, also for a devastating fire.
The Burglars
It was the discovery of two first class season tickets, issued from this station in its early days, which enabled police to solve a mysterious series of crimes. By chance, after widespread investigations by Scotland Yard regarding a number of burglaries committed throughout London and southern England, two men were Questioned in Surrey. The season tickets in their possession led to the recovery of £250,000 worth of stolen property which had been amassed in their hideaway cottage at Lacey Green. click Raffles in Real Life for more.
Fire by the Suffragettes
Some years ago I was reliably informed that the station had once been destroyed by fire to draw attention to the Suffrage cause. Despite enquiries amongst the older inhabitants, together with much research in County publications, no details of this incident could be found. It was surprising, therefore, to discover, amongst Miss R. Spencer's exhibition of old local postcards at the 1987 Village Day, a picture of Saunderton Station in ruins. This picture shows the station staff, armed with shovels and brooms busily clearing up debris from the platform and waiting room of a building obviously destroyed by fire. Miss Spencer's uncle had once been a member of the staff at the station. Could this postcard be a clue to the mystery? Much encouraged by this "find" renewed investigation led to the County Reference Library in Aylesbury. Here, initially enquiries again produced a negative response. Thanks, however, to some excellent "detective work" by a very helpful young lady member of staff, positive information was soon forthcoming.
Report in the Times
A publication of 1976 "The Suffragettes View" proved the story to be true. Containing yet another picture of the wrecked station, the book confirmed this was an act of arson in "The Times" dated 11th March 1913. Under the heading "Railway Incendiarism - Station burned down" it is recorded that "A large motor car with three women was seen near the station after midnight."
The neighbourhood of Saunderton had been aroused in the early hours of Monday 10th March 1913. The Bucks Free Press of that week gives a vived and dramatic account of the event with the headline "Railway Station gutted by fire." For full article click Saunderton Station Fire.
Suffragette Placards
The Bucks Free Press article continues: - "A detailed description of the damage to the building and its contents follows, the climax of the drama then unfolds. As daylight dawned important discoveries were made in the shape of two placards which pointed to the authorship of the outrage. One of those was hanging on the spikes of the iron railings nearest to the "Golden Cross" entrance to the station, and the other was picked up between the railway lines. The placards bore the inscriptions: 'Votes for Women' and 'Burning to get the vote'. Up to this time there had been nothing to arouse suspicion of incendiarism; and this apparent proof that the fire was the work of Suffragettes created a sensation.
More Police Drafted In
In the light of these discoveries the Chief Constable of Bucks was called to the scene, together with extra police from High Wycombe, West Wycombe, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury and Police Constable Cox of Lacey Green. "A conference was held with two plain clothes officers of the Great Western Railway and, as a result, the debris was searched in the hoped of finding further clues. The search continued for some time but no further discovery was made. The damage is estimated at between £500 and £600".
Picton's Grocers takes an Opportunity
A rather unusual advertisement appears in the same issue. It reads: - "Saunderton Station Fire. Advice to Government re Suffragettes. Don't forcibly feed, but give them Picton's bacon and eggs. They'll offer no resistance. B.H. Picton's Stores, Desborough Road, High Wycombe." (Benny Picton was a well-colourful Wycombe personality with, for that age, a large grocer's shop on the corner of Desborough Road and Bridge Street).
Unusual Express Stop
My cover drawing illustrates a unique occasion at Saunderton for it is unusual to have an express train stop at this small station. This scene is from the dying days of steam in the late 1950's. The locomotive is 'King George II'. Heading towards the Midlands from London this train was halted at Saunderton because of engineering work on the line ahead. The Politman is about to join the crew of the express for the very slow journey into Princes Risborough. Note, even at this late date, the number of parcels awaiting shipment, also the station staff in attendance.
Update 1990
Today, Saunderton still caters for its daily band of commuters to the capital, gone, however are the station staff and goods traffic. The importance of the line has slowly declined over the years until the building now shudders only to the thunder of one 'Intercity' express per day. Nevertheless, change is once again taking place, with the introduction of new signalling to serve the travellers of the 1990's
Author's "Thanks"
The kind assistance given by Mrs. B. Oxley, County County Reference Library, Mr. A Randall, Saunderton Lea and Mr, F.W. Gomme, Princes Risborough, in the preparation of this article is acknowledged with thanks.
Saunderton Station, I later discovered, had been opened in 1901. The times I recall below were from 1946 to 1951. The station was closed in the 1980s. Now, in 2023, a few trains still stop there, but the station is unmanned. Joan
by Joan West
Special memories are etched on my mind of dark winter evening visits to Saunderton Station.
My Hobby. As a young girl my father had encouraged me to keep bantams as a hobby. I didn't realise, at that point, that his father, who was a railway superintendant, had kept poultry too. I now think that although officially my birds, there was a nostalgic interest for my father in encouraging me.
National Competitions. When the National Poultry Shows in London recommenced at Earls Court and Olympia after WW2, my birds would be entered in the competitions.
My Best Breeds. I had several breeds - Seabrights, both silver and gold. Pekins, both black and white, and Silkies (which some class as a chicken), were my best ones.
The Preparation. The evening before the show the birds would be cleaned, from head and body to claw. The Silkies were shampooed with the very best shampoo and dried with the hair drier, fluffing all up by hand. Silkies do not have normal feathers, they look just like a ball of fluff with just a few wing feathers, and their comb, wattles and skin are dark blue. They were then put in crates with two compartments, put in the car and off to Saunderton Station.
Dark Winter Evening, Saunderton. The Station Master, Mr Day, would meet us. There was an round stove. It seemed a haven after the dark and cold outside. Mr Day had recovered after suffering burns, from a hit on the signal box at High Wycombe during the war. I don't know what other help he got in the daytime, but at night he seemed to do everything including changing the signals. He lived in a house nearby.
The Birds' Journey. We left the birds in their crates with Mr Day. He put them on the train to London in the Guards Van, handing them over to the Guard. In London they were delivered to the show venue. There they were taken from the travelling crates, put in their show pens, fed and watered. Judging took place in the morning. We would arrive in the afternoon to see how they got on. It just seemed so magical and easy.
Awards. My father must have known what he was doing, for I always seemed to win something, and they were large classes. Not always first, but many seconds and thirds.
Champions. My birds won several national silver trophies over the years. One year I won three. Not only was that amazing, but inscribed on one of them was 'H R Gillingwater', my grandfather. Well, Dad, I think that explains quite a lot !!