The Friends of Handforth Station (FoHS) have been running several events this year to help commemorate Railway 200. This effort reaches its peak in September as the group presents its biggest contribution towards Railway 200 so far: free guided tours of the Station.
Handforth Station is well known throughout the area for its heritage, and the FoHS pride themselves on maintaining and preserving this. They have mounted heritage signs which have been designated as “nationally important” by the Science Museum Group. They have created and display video stories about local history. The station is well-known for the large number of “Handforth“ totems (platform signs) procured by the FoHS.
The FoHS have also received and display numerous awards, especially for their “Platform for Art” which includes sculptures, artistic stainless steel screens and welcoming arches over the steps to the platforms. In addition, the station features a ‘Rotary Club Garden’ and planters provided by 1st Handforth Scouts and Handforth District Guides.
Especially for Railway 200, poems are displayed in the community information boards, and there is an ever-changing exhibition in their “Art in a Box” gallery (created from two disused bicycle lockers !).
The tours this September are also a part of the UK-wide ‘Heritage Open Days 2025’ programme, and more can be seen on their website here: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/
Each tour will last up to an hour, and will be led by a member of FoHS, ready to give an entertaining talk about the station and happy to discuss Handforth, its station and railways in general.
Dates and Start Times
Saturday 13 September: 1030 & 1400
Sunday 14 September: 1030 & 1400
Saturday 20 September: 1030 & 1400
Sunday 21 September: 1030 & 1400
Hugh Everett, Secretary of the FoHS, said “We’d love to welcome people to see and hear about what we’re doing for the station. I should advise you, however, that the tour involves going up and down 35 steps, and there are no toilet facilities at the station.”