Paulsgrove Halt

Infobox UK disused station
name = Paulsgrove Halt


caption = The Halt was located by this bridge.
gridref = SU640058
manager = "No station"
owner = Southern Region|Southern Railway] (1928 to 1939)
locale = Paulsgrove
borough = Portsmouth City Council
platforms = One
years = 10 August 1928
events = Opened
years1 = 1 September 1939
events1 = Closed

Paulsgrove Halt railway station [ [http://www.stauntoninfo.co.uk/7862.html?*session*id*key*=*session*id*val* Details of opening] ] was a railway station opened in 1928 to serve the adjacent racecourse "Paulsgrove Park", a pony racing stronghold [ [http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pony_racing/portsmth.htm Pony racing links] ] . The racecourse, and station, lay in the Paulsgrove district of Portsmouth [”Railways and Portsmouth Society” Riley, R.C : Portsmouth, Portsmouth City Council, 2001 ISBN 0901559997] , southern England, rather than the modern area known as Wymering. The station was located [ [http://www.localhistories.org/Paulsgrove.html Location of track] ] on the West Coastway Line [ [http://www.hampshire.gov.uk/hampshiretreasures/vol11/page162.html Bridge to Course] ] between Cosham and Portchester and generated much income within the area [ [http://www.portsmouthsociety.org.uk/nl2003/nlmay03OldHouseAtHome.htm Local trade opportunities] ] .

The funding for the station along with the racecourse came from local businessman George Cooper ["Lost railways of Hampshire" Oppitz,L: Newbury, Countryside Books, 2001 ISBN 1853066893] , who lived at nearby Paulsgrove House and was a keen sports fan [ [http://www.portsdown-tunnels.org.uk/paulsgrove/racecourse/racecourse_p1.html Early history] ] . The station was built in the style of a 'halt' rather than a full station.

The station closed along with the racecourse when the land was acquired by the military in 1939, at the outbreak of World War II; it was to be used as an amunition dump.

Since the end of WWII the area has been developed for housing and there have been a number of attempts made to open a station on the same site. Provision for a station has been included in the Local Development Plan of the City of Portsmouth for many years.

On the 26th October 2007, Portsmouth F.C. announced plans to relocate to a new 36 000 seat stadium on Horsea Island, which is situated to the south of the former station site. As part of the stadium plans, they are drawing up an integrated transport policy which includes examining the feasibility of opening a station. Today the name only lives on as a bus stop [ [http://havant-travel.info/xephos.php?template=havant:location&id=982840800 Public transport links] ] South West Trains indicated on 29th October 2007, via an interview in the Portsmouth News, that the clubs' plan may generate sufficient business, even if the station was only opened on match days [ [http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/stadium/Paulsgrove-station-plan-back-on.3424481.jp New Paulsgrove Station] ] , for them to consider a further study should the club wish to proceed.

External links

[http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/stadium/Paulsgrove-station-plan-back-on.3424481.jp] [http://www.portsdown-tunnels.org.uk/paulsgrove/racecourse/racecourse_p1.html]

References

See also

* List of closed railway stations in Britain