Culham Station in the news
Press reports 1844-1873
Fatality at Culham
Friday December 5th 1845, The Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser
This newspaper reports on a very early fatality at Culham, or Abingdon Road as it was then called. Crossing between platforms at that time would have been by means of a foot crossing, with the obvious dangers. The police officer referred to would have been in charge of all aspects of the safe operation of the railway including the control of trains, signal boxes (and signalmen) were not introduced until 1874.
'FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE GREAT WESTERN RAILROAD. - On Monday week a fatal accident occured on the Great Western Railroad, at the Abingdon road station, under the following circumstances:- A young woman, named Fanny Gosling, of Oxford, started by the mail-train at half past ten o'clock, to pay a visit to her mother at Clifton, which is a short distance from Abingdon road station. On arriving at the latter place, instead of proceeding at once to Clifton, she attempted to cross the line for the purpose, it is supposed, of seeing some of her old aquaintances, who lived at the other side of the railroad, at the tavern. While she was standing on the platform, the mail-train passed her; and, no doubt, thinking that the line was clear, she stepped on it, but the moment she had put her foot on the second line of the rail, the fast down train, which she could not have seen previously, came in contact with her, she was knocked down by it and killed instantaneously; her feet were severed from her ankles, and her body otherwise much mutilated. Several persons witnessed the accident, and endeavoured, by calling out, to make her aware of the great danger she was in, but to no purpose, she seemed quite paralysed. The police officer on duty, at a great risk of his life, made an attempt to get hold of her; but before he could do this, the train had knocked her down. The unfortunate occurence was purely accidental.'
This accident is referenced in a report from 1883 below, also about a fatality whilst crossing the line. Interestingly the crossing was relocated to the farther end of the platforms at some point, possibly as a result of this accident to give a line of sight not obstructed by the road over bridge.
Click or tap to see an enlarged view of pages 497 and 500
Flooding south of Oxford in 1852
The Illustrated London News, December 4th, 1852. Author's collection
Inundation at Oxford
Saturday 4th December 1852, The Illustrated London News
The whole country had suffered bad weather for several weeks which led to flooding in many areas. This particular weekly paper carried a full page engraving on page 497, and on page 500 a report and two drawings illustrating the effects at Oxford and Deritend (on the River Rea, just south-east of Birmingham city centre and on the GWR line into Moor Street). The situation at Oxford is described thus '...The neighbourhood of the city of Oxford has suffered greatly from the recent floods; and the large llustration engraved upon page 497, and that upon the present page, fully attest the state of the inundation at the close of last week. The Oxford Chronicle of Saturday last states the floods to have undergone but little abatement within the last eight days ; and in the districts to the south and west of the suburbs large breadths of meadow land are still submerged, and boats are seen rowing where the eye was accustomed to recognise tracts of fine pasturage. The height of the water has fluctuated considerably in accordance with the unsettled state of the weather, some heavy showers having fallen at intervals in the early part of the week, by which the floods, as soon as they began to subside, were temporarily replenished. After a temporary interruption on the Great Western line, a mile or more from the Oxford station in the direction of Abingdon, arising from the action of the water in shifting the ballast, the rails were last week again rendered steadfast, and the direct communication resumed. The line, however, continued partially under water at the above spot referred to ; and a further interruption, resulted from the same cause, took place at this very part of the line, on Wednesday last (the 24th). These casualties on the Great Western are not attended with any risk to passengers ; on the contrary, the caution which has been observed in passing along the portion of the line referred to, and the promptitude with which the convenience of the passengers has been provided for, so as to occasion the least possible delay, deserve to be acknowledged. Thus, on Wednesday, the down-train from London, due at 3.58 P.M., not having arrived within ten minutes of its appointed time, by which the starting of the up-train from Oxford was correspondingly delayed, Mr. Larkin, the station-master, set out with the latter train to explore the way, taking every precaution to avert accident. On reaching the Abingdon-road bridge, at Cold-harbour, the down train was found at a stand-still a few yards beyond that bridge, having been unable to proceed, owing to the operation of the water in unsteadying the rails. Further accounts state that the Cherwell and Islis are In extent, more like seas than rivers.' The report concluded '...The railway passengers have for several days been rowed to and from the station to the city in boats.'
Click or tap on the thumbnail image to see an enlarged view of pages 497 and 500.When the line had been closed due to flooding in the November an interesting solution was devised. Trains were propelled to the waters edge, detached from their engine and hauled through the flood water by horses. They were then attached to a waiting engine at the other side to continue their journey.
Culham College
Saturday 4th June 1853, Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette,
This paper reports on the special trains operating on the 8th June.
'The opening of the Training School for Parochial Schoolmasters at Culham will take place at 3.45 p.m. The Bishop of the Diocese and a large body of clergy will take part in the proceedings, and Lord Derby and suite, as well as the Vice-Chancellor will be present. The College is near to the Abingdon Road Station on the Great Western Railway. A special train will leave the Station at Oxford at 3 p.m., and a special return train to Oxford will leave the Abingdon Road Station at 5.30 p.m. The 12.40 down train from Paddington will continue out from Didcot to the Abingdon Road Station that day, arriving at the Station at 3 p.m., and the train that leaves Paddington at 2 p.m. will also stop on this occasion at Abingdon Road Station about 3.40 p.m.'
Other papers state that the College is about half an hour's walk from the station. This is a walk that all students were expected to undertake carrying whatever luggage they had brought with them.
Aftermath of a Prize Fight
Wednesday 19th July 1856, The Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette
The paper carries a report that Benjamin Terry and Edward Price, 'two persons well known in the Birmingham area as patrons of the ring' and their supporters first assembled at Didcot, but after forming the ring and before preliminaries were completed the Berkshire Constabulary put the combatants to flight. They proceeded to the border of the County of Berkshire and crossed the River Thames at Clifton Hampden in Oxfordshire, where in a meadow near to the towpath the ring was again formed. The Rev Gibbs and two Parish Constables tried to intervene but had to send to Abingdon for reinforcements. In the meantime the fight took place and was over before they arrived. It appears that only a few rounds were fought with Terry becoming exhausted and Price being declared the winner. A crowd estimated to be 200-300 strong descended on Culham station and caught the train back to Birmingham.
Railway labourer found drowned
Tuesday 24th October 1856, Jackson's Oxford Journal
This paper reports on the inquest which took place the previous Monday into the death of Henry Collett who was found drowned in 'the River Isis' under the Nuneham bridge earlier that same day. He was a labourer working on the timber railway bridge at Nuneham but went missing after leaving work one evening, last being seen heading towards home in Appleford. Despite having been in the water for several days the recovered body was taken to the Railway Hotel where the inquest was then held. It would seem that there was a reasonable workforce at the bridge as the report mentions witnesses who were a time-keeper, a watchman, another labourer and a carpenter.
One interesting historical note is that one witness said that Henry Collett had not taken his great coat with him but '... he had a new slop on.' A slop probably refers to an outer coat or jacket, but at that time there was a widespread practice of recycling or upcycling second hand clothing which were also called slops.
Fire
Saturday 30th July 1859, Oxford University and City Herald
'Some days ago at Abingdon about two acres and a half of standing barley,near the Culham station, was discovered to be on fire, and was consumed in short space of time. It is supposed to have ignited from some sparks from the engine of a train on the Great Western Railway, which had passed only two or three minutes before the flames were discovered. The barley was the property of G. Q Harcourt, Esq., M.P., of Nuneham Park.'
Lost Property
Saturday 12 July 1862, Oxford University and City Herald
'SUTTON COURTNEY. - Some few days since a lad, belonging to this village, left a box of clothes, &c., at the Culham station, in charge of the officials, to be taken care of till called for. Three days afterwards, the lad, who was his way from one situation to another, sent for his box, but receiving it found that the cord which had been round it was cut, the lock forced off, and the whole of the contents abstracted. The Railway authorities have not been enabled to discover the thief; but a prayer book, with the boy's name written therein, and taken from coat pocket, has been picked up between Nuneham bridge and Culham station.'
Incapacitated train crew
Saturday 5th December 1863, Bucks Herald
'At the Oxford City Court on Tuesday, before Mr. J. R. Carr and full bench of magistrates, Philip Tuttey, an engine-driver, and Elijah Weatley, fireman in the employ of the Great Western Railway Company, were brought up in custody, charged, on the information of Mr. Wright, the superintendent of the locomotive department between Oxford and Reading, with being drunk while on duty. The evidence showed that early yesterday morning the defendants were in charge of an empty luggage train proceeding from Paddington to Oxford. When they arrived at the Culham station they were detained four hours, in conseqence of a pointsman having neglected his duty and caused two trucks to be thrown off the line. The defendants partook somewhat freely of ale and rum in the interim, and on their arrival at Oxford, at about half-past 5 a.m., Weatley was found lying drunk on the foot-plate of the engine. Tuttey was too much intoxicated to render it prudent for him to be allowed to take further charge of the the train. Tuttey had been in the company's service 15 years, and until this happened his conduct had been irreproachable. Weatley had only acted as a fireman for a fortnight. Both defendants alleged that during the past week they had been so hardly worked as to be only able to obtain 16 hours' repose, which so exhausted them that the drink they had taken produced the effect above alluded to. The defendants were fined 15s., including costs, with the alternative of 14 days imprisonment.'
Stolen sacks
Saturday 2nd November 1867, Oxford University and City Herald
'ROBBERY AT THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. - Thomas Bailey a carrier, of Warborough, was brought up on remand charged with stealing three sacks from the Culham station of the Great Western Railway.' The accused contended that he had borrowed the sacks with permission and had already made arrangements to have them returned when arrested. He was discharged.
This report is interesting as it refers to a 'police constable on the Great Western Railway' who was going on duty at the station. At that time railway police were responsible for all aspects of safety and operation on the railways. This would have included duties that we would now associate with the railway Police, but also acting as local signal operators directing the safe passage of rail traffic. They may also have been assigned a beat along a stretch of line which they would patrol checking all aspects of safety. With the introduction of signal boxes in the 1870's the roles were split with signalmen becoming responsible for operation aspects of the railway. They were still often given the nickname of 'Bobbies'.
Assault on the station
Saturday 21st December 1867, Oxford University and City Herald
'Charles Wyatt, of Culham, was charged with stealing six Swedish turnips, the property of the Rev. W.V.Harcourt, on the 16th of November. The case was dismissed as the magistrates did not think that the turnips were taken with any felonious intent. There was a second charge against Wyatt for assaulting John Turner (a witness for the prosecution in the above case), at the Culham Station, on the 7th. It appeared that while on the platform on the day in question, Wyatt went up to Turner, and challenged to fight him. Turner stood with his hands in pockets, and said he would not fight. Defendant pulled Turners hands out of his pockets, to make him fight, but he would not. No blows were struck. Fined 10s. and 14s. 6d. costs, or 14 days’ hard labour.'
School trip
Saturday 15th August 1868, Oxford Times
'ST PAUL'S SCHOOL. - On Saturday last Mr. Moss took the boys of his upper class, and a number of pupils who have left school, on a trip by rail to Clifton. After partaking of refreshments at the old Ferry House, they started on a ramble through Long Wittenham to Wittenham Clump, and after enjoying the extensive views from the top of that famous hill, returned to Clifton Ferry with hearty appetites to partake of the substantial tea there provided for them, after which a game of cricket was played between the boys at school and those who have left, the former winning in gallant style. Towards evening the whole fell in and marched, preceded by their excellent drum and fife band, through Long Wittenham and Appleford, and back across the fields to Culham Station, where they arrived in time to catch the last down train. On arriving at Oxford ranks were again formed, and the band played lively airs from the station to St. Paul’s Church, where the boys broke off, heartily pleased with their day's enjoyment.'
This excursion appears to have become a regular feature of the school year as such a trip from Oxord to Culham and back by train is reported to have also taken place in 1869 and 1870.
Accidental shooting
Saturday 15th August 1868, Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette
In the early days the ticket office would have had counters like in a shop, with no partition above them between staff and passengers. Had a partition been present, the following sad incident may not have taken place.
The paper reports on an inquest held at the Railway Hotel (it seems to have been used regularly for such purposes) into the accidental shooting of a young surgeon, Mr. John Robert Dunn who was assistant to Mr. Byas, surgeon, of Dorchester. It would seem that he was about to leave on summer holiday and whilst waiting for his train he was asked to shoot a cat by the landlord of the hotel. On returning the station staff asked him how he had done it and he gave the gun, a breech loading pistol, first to Henry Blythe the Station Master and then to the porter, William Lynes. It went off in the porter's hand fatally wounding the surgeon who died some hours later. After the shooting the porter laid the pistol on the counter. Mr Byas told the inquest 'I have seen the counter in the office, where there is the mark of the ball having struck it before reaching the deceased.' The Jury returned a verdict of Accidental death.
Throughout the Victorian era there was no legal restriction to owning a gun. The Gun Licence Act of 1870 required a person to obtain a licence (from the Post Office) to carry a gun outside his own property for any reason. A licence was not required to actually buy a gun until the Pistols Act of 1903, even then it only applied to handguns. The Firearms Act of 1920 introduced wider ranging restrictions.
Fatal accident
Saturday 18th September 1869, Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette
This edition carries a report on an accident on the Monday involving Richard Belcher, schoolmaster of Clifton Hampden, who was struck by a train whilst crossing the line on the path from Nuneham Wood. He sustained serious injuries and was found by a ganger, Thomas Shepherd, who was working at Abingdon Junction. Two other men arrived to assist and he was taken to Culham station by trolley and thence to Oxford Infirmary. The line at that point is curved and it is thought that an express and a coal train passed at the same time with the victim being struck by the coal train which he had not seen.
Whilst the report goes on to say that his recovery was progressing favourably the edition of the 25th carried news of an inquest held into his death being held at the Infirmary. The verdict was Accidental death.
Sudden death
Saturday 6th August 1870, Reading Mercury
'MELANCHOLY DEATH - On Sunday last Mr. Franklin, college servant at Jesus College, died suddenly under very melancholy circumstances. He had taken his wife and children into the country, and while waiting at Culham Station for the train to Oxford he left his family on the platform and proceeded to the neighbouring Hotel to obtain some biscuits for the children. On entering the building he suddenly fell forward and died instantly.'
Regauging of Abingdon branch
Saturday 30th November 1872, Reading Mercury
'ABINGDON RAILWAY. - On Tuesday last, this branch line was entirely closed for the purpose of laying the narrow gauge, which will be a boon to, and much appreciated by, the trades-people of the town. Passengers were conveyed to and from Culham Station by omnibus, which ran at intervals during the day, thus reminding travellers of the old coaching days, and the time when Abingdon could not boast of a railway.'
So you see, rail replacement buses are nothing new!
Alleged child murder
Saturday 5th April 1873, Jackson's Oxford Journal
'Jane Haines was brought up from gaol, charged, on the Coroner's instigation, with the wilful murder of her illegitimate child, at Culham, on the 4th of March.' Previous editions had covered the inquest leading to the charge. However after hearing the evidence, the Magistrates committed the prisoner for trial at the next assizes upon the charge of concealmnent of birth.'
The report continues - 'It will be recollected that the prisoner was a domestic servant in the establishment of the Rev. H. Rice, Rector of Sutton Courtney, and it having been discovered that she was in the family-way, she was desired to leave her situation. Accordingly, she left the Rectory House early in the morning of the 4th of March, with the intention of going to her home at Westcott, near Wantage. The train she intended to travel by started at half-past seven o'clock from Culham Station, but from some cause or other she arrived too late, and had to wait for the next train. She proceeded to the ladies' waiting room; and shortly afterwards, suspicion having been aroused, she was discovered in the closet, under circumstances which led the Station Master (Mr. Bradshaw) to send for the assistance of a woman named Mrs. Rogers, who lived near at hand. On her arrival she ascertained that the prisoner had given birth to a child, which she had deposited in her carpet bag.' Evidence presented suggested that she had in fact cut the child's throat with a pair of scissors, hence the original charge of murder.
The conclusion to this sad episode came at the Oxford Assizes on 11th July when no evidence was offered upon the charge of murder. It was put forward that she had not sought to permanently conceal the birth as she had placed the child's body in an open bag as a convenience. She was aquitted.
