Millennium Green Features

Millennium Green Features

Click on a photo below to get the bigger picture!

• The Millennium Green Sculpture The sculpture was carved by sculptor Dick Boulton in the year 2000 and is the main feature of the Green. It was created using coarse-grained limestone from Doulting Quarry near Shepton Mallett. The same stone was used in the construction of Wells Cathedral. The use of this stone was considered appropriate because many tonnes of stone from Doulting Quarry were carried on the East Somerset section of the railway when it was operational. The sculpture symbolises a pair of railway lines snaking away into the distance. Some people say that the ‘SS’ stands for ‘Strawberry Special’, the name given to the regular passenger train service along the Cheddar Valley Railway, the railway which passed through Winscombe.

• The Crane Part of the station area was occupied with railway sidings and in this position there was a crane used for loading and unloading freight. What remains of the base of the crane has been surrounded by railway sleepers and filled with concrete. Brass plaques on the top show the distance and direction of various villages and geographical features. The creation of feature was funded by Winscombe WI.

• The games area A large, flat area has been created for games such as boules.

• The Loading Dock In the latter years of the railway a Camping Coach was positioned here. A section of the original Brunel broad-guage track has been placed in the siding area. On 18th February 2006 a commemorative plaque fixed to the buffer board and dedicated to Pete Knight was unveiled. For more details click here

• Picnic benches There are several picnic benches on the Green. Some of these bear dedications. There is also a rubbish bin which visitors are asked to use.

• Flora and fauna The site is managed so that wildlife is protected. Several wild bird species live here. Deer, badger, fox and many smaller mammals have been seen. Slow worms are common. Cinnabar moths and elephant hawk moths breed here. There are a number of different trees on the site. These have all grown since the station closed.

• The Platform The platform has been completely resurfaced and seats have been installed. The original railings and one of the original concrete lamps can be seen.

• The Timeline The original platform edge stones were removed in the 1980s by the Great Western Railway Society and were transported to Didcot. When the station site was refurbished by local volunteers, the 201 coping stones along the platform edge had to be replaced. The total weight was nearly 20 tonnes. The new stones were cast by Sandford Stone who originally occupied the Sandford Station site using two moulds made from one of the stones on Sandford Station platform. The Timeline consists of a number of small brass plaques let into the platform coping slabs showing famous historical events from the birth of Christ to the Millennium year. Each stone represents ten years. Each plaque has been paid for by a sponsor.

• The Platform seats These are copies of original Great Western Railway seats and carry the GWR symbol.

• The railings The spear railings around the platform and approach are almost completely original and can be seen in several old photographs of the station. They were repaired by a local firm and repainted by volunteers as part of the station refurbishment.

• Buildings flattened! Using original shaped bricks found on the site by members of the Winterstoke Day Centre the facade of most of the booking office and general waiting room has been represented horizontally on the ground. This was only possible after excavating the remains of the platform to ascertain the dimensions of the original building as no reliable plans exist.

• Information Points These carry information about the site.

• Disabled access There are parking bays at the entrance to the Green for use by those displaying Disabled stickers on their cars. The toilets also have wheelchair ramp access. The main entrance to the Green can be navigated with a wheelchair (see the Photo Gallery for pictures).

• The Railway Walk The Cheddar Valley Railway Walk which runs from Yatton to Cheddar passes through the Millennium Green.