The Garstang and Knot End Railway

By N. Thompson and M.A. Cook

The story of the Garstang and Knot End Railway begins with a letter to the Editor of the Preston Guardian on December, 22nd, 1860 from 'P':-

'Sir,
In your publication of a week or two ago there appeared a letter from a correspondent, whose name I forget, suggesting the making of a line of railway from the port of Fleetwood to join the Lancaster line, near Garstang. My object in writing is merely to inform you that some years ago the exact line he suggests was projected by the old Preston Wyre Railway Company (1) and plans and sections were actually prepared for an application to Parliament. For some reason or other this application was not made, but the plans are most likely still to be in the possession of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company, as the successors of the Preston and Wyre Company (2), and would no doubt be of use if the project were to be carried any further. As to the feasibility of carrying a bridge over the River Wyre at Fleetwood, the opinions of those that doubt it might probably be changed if they had the opportunity of inspecting the plans by that earnest engineer, Mr. George Bidder. I am sir, your most obedient servant,'

During the following twelve months many letters, etc. appeared in the press about the advantages of a rail link for the North Fylde, several routes being suggested by the correspondents; one suggestion was to commence in Poulton and follow a north easterly route to join the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway at Bay Horse Station near Lancaster, another, a southerly route from Knot End through Rawcliffe, Eccleston and on to the Preston & Wyre at Salwick (3). By December, 1863 the proposed route for the railway had been agreed and a prospectus produced. The following article is taken from the Lancaster Gazette of December 28th 1863:-

'Share capital £60,000. in 6,000 shares, £10 each. A deposit of 5s. per share to be made on application, which will be returned less the actual disbursements in Parliament, should the application of the act prove unsuccessful during the present session of Parliament. Commencing at the Port of Fleetwood, this line will pass through Preesall, Pilling, Cogie Hill, Nateby, Garstang and join the London and North Western Line (Lancaster course of the line (10 miles in length), is mostly level, and entirely free from Preston), the engineering difficulties, the result being that it will be unusually cheap to construct. The ancient market town of Garstang has hitherto been virtually without railway communication. It claims to possess the cheapest market in Lancashire for agricultural produce. The resources of the country on each side of the railway are very large, and it is confidently anticipated that the traffic from the locality alone will pay nearly five per cent upon capital, after allowing for working expenses. Independently of local traffic, arising from agricultural produce, it is expected that the receipts from the imports of cattle, flax, provisions and coal into the Wyre, and the general interchange of commodities from Ireland and the manufacturing districts Passengers from Scotland and the North of England, on their way to Fleetwood, will be large. Blackpool, etc., would effect a saving of twenty miles by the use of this line.' Welch's Circular.

The Garstang and Knot End Railway Act received Royal Assent on the 30th June, 1864. The first meeting of the Directors was held on August 30th, 1864 at the Bull Hotel, Preston.

Present - Mr.J.A.Tarner, Mr.H. Gardner (4), Mr. Richard Bennet, Mr.J.Addie.
Secretary - Mr. Paul Catterall, Company Solicitor of Preston.

It was proposed by Mr. Gardner and seconded by Mr. Bennet and resolved that Mr. Tarner be and is hereby appointed Chairman of the Directors. The Solicitor reported that the Act for incorporating the Company for the making of a railway in the County of Lancaster to be called the 'Garstang and Knot End Railway' and for other purposes had been duly obtained and received Royal Assent on the 30th June, 1864.

Resolved That the Secretary be authorised to order a Common Seal for the purposes of this Company (6)
The Solicitor. Having had a letter from Colonel Bourne (7) tendering his resignation as Director of this Railway, in consequence of his having a seat on the Board of the London North Western Railway Directors of that Company being joint lessees of the Preston Wyre Railway.

Resolved Unanimously that such resignation be and hereby is accepted. 

Proposed by Mr. Gardner and seconded by Mr. Bennet and resolved that Mr. John Taylor of Garstang be elected as Director of this Company to fill up the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Colonel Bourne and that the Secretary inform Mr. Taylor of his appointment.

Resolved That all monies be drawn from the Bank by cheque and that no cheques be valid unless signed by three of the Directors and countersigned by the Secretary and that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Lancaster Banking Company.

Resolved That the sum of £325 be paid to Mr. Catterall and the sum of £25. be paid to Mr. Addie on account of cash out of pocket by them on account of this Company and that cheques now be signed for the above accounts. Resolved That it is desirable that a personal canvas should be made of the district traversed by the railway to ascertain the amount of local support that can be obtained for the purpose of constructing this line of railway and the Directors be individually requested to use their best endeavour towards furthering the objects of this Company.

Resolved That this meeting be and it hereby is adjourned till the eighth day of October next at the Victoria Hotel, Preston at 4 of the clock in the afternoon.

J. A. Tarner (Chairman)

References

(1) A plan for a line from Fleetwood to Glasson Dock was produced in 1840 for the Preston Wyre Railway Company.
(2) Now held in the Lancashire Records Office at Bow Lane from St.Helens Church, Churchtown, Garstang.
(3) This is the one proposed by the late Wilson Ffrance of Out Rawcliffe in the 1850's.
(4) Solicitor of Sion Hill, Garstang.
(5) John Addie had been the agent for Wilson Ffrance of Out Rawcliffe. (6) In the form of a belt with the shields of Garstang and Knot End in
the centre.
(7) Lt. Col. Bourne of Quail Holme Estate, Knot End.

It is hoped to continue the next stage in the building of the Railway in the next edition of this Journal.