UK has one of the 'world's prettiest railway stations' made famous by Oasis

05 February 2024 , 16:23

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Cromford Station was named alongside grand terminals in India and Spain (Image: Derby Telegraph)

A quaint railway station has been named one of the most beautiful in the world.

Cromford Station was highlighted by the BBC as one of the "plenty of picturesque stations closer to home", alongside grand train terminals in India, Thailand, Argentina and Spain.

The Grade II listed Derbyshire station, owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Railway, is a stop on the line from Derby to Matlock. Its buildings are striking and well-preserved, thanks to the long running efforts of local societies determined to keep it in good shape, Derbyshire Live reported.

The station's most distinct feature is the old waiting room building which is now privately owned. This building, with its ornate spire, roof and clock, is used as a holiday cottage today. Its main claim to fame is from being featured on the cover of Oasis's first number one single 'Some Might Say' in 1995, which includes the lyrics ".. standin' at the station, in need of education in the rain".

The station's ornate canopy and the entrance to Willersley tunnel beyond it (Derby Telegraph)

After years of neglect, the Arkwright Society revamped and enhanced the main station building on the northbound side and reopened it as office space in 2009. The iron canopy and iron bridge are significant features still greatly visible at the station.

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Known originally as Cromford Bridge, it was opened in 1849 by the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midland Junction Railway. It's thought to be a design by GH Stokes, the step-dad of famous gardener Joseph Paxton. In 1966, the line between Matlock and Buxton closed, and Cromford served only routes between Matlock and Derby. In 1969, the upper-line track was removed entirely, making the waiting room on that side redundant, but the lower-side track was left untouched.

From 1849 to the 1960s, Cromford station had only 13 station masters, each serving for about six to nine years. In 2015, the station bagged an East Midlands Best Station Award in the station environment category.

Now, it's a rare sight to see a diesel train chugging through the station and into the nearby 764-yard Willersley tunnel. Instead, you'll spot small two or three-carriage trains, making it a great spot for those wanting to explore the area.

The Derbyshire station is usually quiet unless a train is due, when a few people gather on the platform. One couple, who preferred to stay anonymous were snapping photos of the station. When told it was one of the world's five most beautiful stations, they said: "We are taking photos because it is unusual and quite quaint, but we are not sure it is more beautiful than a lot of other stations in the UK."

Another man, also wishing to remain unnamed, rushed onto the platform as the train was leaving. He commented: "Not sure about beauty but it certainly is a landmark for many people and they enjoy coming here on the train."

The Office of Rail and Road says that the number of passengers that use the station - which reached 44,548 in 2019-20 before dipping during Covid, has started to rise again, up to 35,328 a year in 2022-23.

This is the former waiting room on the southbound track and which is now a holiday cottage (Derby Telegraph)

Cromford village, located at the southern tip of the Peak District, is known as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Its most famous resident, Sir Richard Arkwright, built the world's first water-powered cotton mills here in 1771 and pioneered the factory system.

Visitors can take a stroll around the mill, check out the visitor centre, shops and cafe. The village is home to unique independent shops and loads of historic architecture, including the Georgian Shambles. Plus, there are lots of walks to enjoy in the area.

If you want to go and check Cromford Station out, then - obviously - the easiest way to do so is on the train. During weekdays, the station sees one train per hour in each direction between Matlock and Derby. On Saturdays, there's an hourly service with all trains originating or ending in Derby. On Sundays, services increase to hourly from mid-afternoon onwards.

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