Welcome to Castle Howard Station

 

Your destination for the history and heritage of a

remarkable country railway station in North Yorkshire.

Welcome to the official online archive dedicated to Castle Howard Station, a unique stop on the historic York to Scarborough railway line. Unlike most stations built to serve growing towns or cities, Castle Howard Station owed its significance to its close association with one of England’s grandest stately homes — Castle Howard, from which it proudly took its name.

 

A Station with Noble Connections

 

The story of Castle Howard Station began more than 160 years ago, during the great expansion of Britain’s railways. When the York and North Midland Railway extended its route towards the North Yorkshire coast, it passed through the Castle Howard Estate, requiring land owned by the Earl of Carlisle.

 

Perhaps in gratitude, or recognising the prestige of the estate, renowned railway architect George Townsend Andrews designed an especially elegant station — the most impressive on the line.

 

From its opening in 1845, the station welcomed travellers from all walks of life, including royalty. In 1850, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited Castle Howard by train — an event of great importance for Yorkshire and a proud moment for the railway company.

 

Freight, Fine Art and the Atlas Fountain

 

Beyond passenger services, the station played a vital role in the transport of goods. Estate produce and local farm freight departed from its sidings, while valuable art and architectural treasures arrived from London for the Howard family’s collection. Among the most famous of these was the Atlas Fountain, transported from the Great Exhibition to its permanent home in the Castle Howard gardens.

 

From Seaside Excursions to Closure

 

As the seaside resort of Scarborough grew in popularity, the demand for faster, more frequent trains led to the closure of smaller rural stops. In 1930, all regular passenger services at Castle Howard Station ceased, though freight and parcels continued until the early 1960s.

 

By 1964, the British Railways Board sold the building, and it began a long period of neglect — until local owners began careful restoration in the late 1970s.

 

Preservation and Rediscovery

 

Since 1986, the station has been lovingly restored by Edmund Collins, a local veterinary surgeon with a passion for railway history. One of his most treasured discoveries came when a local resident mentioned the original Castle Howard Station sign still existed in a nearby outbuilding. The sign was recovered and proudly returned to its rightful place — visible today to passengers travelling along the line.

 

Explore the Archive

 

Over many years, Edmund has gathered a vast collection of photographs, maps, newspaper cuttings, and railway documents, now available here for the first time. This website shares those archives with railway enthusiasts, social historians, and anyone intrigued by Britain’s transport heritage.

 

This is an ongoing historical project — expanding through new research, local memories, and community contributions.

 

If you have stories, photographs, or artefacts related to Castle Howard Station or the York–Scarborough line, your input would be greatly appreciated. Enquiries from researchers, journalists, or the simply curious are always welcome.

 

Although Castle Howard Station is a private residence and not open for general visits, occasional open days are planned for those with a special interest in its history and architecture.

 

Acknowledgements and Copyright

 

With sincere thanks to all contributors, the Acknowledgements and Links page lists individuals and organisations who have helped build this record. While every effort has been made to credit all sources, please get in touch if you can help identify uncredited material.

 

Newly created text and images are published under a Creative Commons licence, encouraging educational use and the wider sharing of knowledge — not for profit, but for preservation.

 

 

 

Please direct all initial contact and enquiries by e-mail, or post to the website co-ordinator:

 

Anne Collins:

Station House

Castle Howard Station Road

Welburn

YORK

YO60 7EW

 

mail@castlehowardstation.com