Elevated at the western side of the city. The Chester to Holyhead railway was proposed to improve links between London and Dublin. The bill was passed in July 1844 with Robert Stephenson as engineer and Francis Thompson of Derby as architect. Bangor was the main station between Chester and Holyhead and architecturally is one of the best. The line was opened this far on 1 May 1848; it was the terminus until March 1850 when the Britannia Bridge was opened to cross the Menai Straits. Expansion began in 1852, taken over by the LNWR Company in 1859 and in 1881 the Belmont Tunnel was shortened by 135 yds. Additional station buildings were added in 1927.
The main station building is on the 'up' platform and of Italianate classical style. 2-storey, 11-window brick structure; scribed rendered 1st floor to platform side and channelled stone faced ground floor with quoins. Hipped slate roof with wide bracket eaves, brick chimney stacks (2 of which retain their stone bracket cornices) and central bellcote with volute brackets just above eaves. Early photographs show porches with ball finials to either end; these were then enlarged to carry the overall canopies with cast iron brackets. The canopies today are later replacements, that to the road side slightly narrows at E end, and the end pavilions have been subsequently extended. sash windows with marginal glazing bars and cornices are linked by a lintel band; central windows are blocked. Ground floor formerly had round arched openings (see ca 1855 view), now with sash windows as above and half-glazed double doors; 1 splayed bay to platform side and cut through passage at W end. Chester and Holyhead Railway monograms in round tablets at irregular intervals, 4 to each side. Tripartite window to E end with outside stairs. Lower hipped roof 4-window range adjoins at W with similar detail and later blue-brick extension. Original name-board on platform side with lettering picked out in red and white. The canopy continues for a further 2 bays but the remaining 4-bays of this range are under a separate canopy relating to the 1920s LMS building.
References :
V R Anderson and G K Fox, “An Historical Survey of the Chester to Holyhead Railway” (1984).
P E Baughen, "A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain, vol 11 North and Mid Wales" (1980), p 19-25.
H R Hitchcock, 'Early Victorian Architecture in Britain", vol (1954) p 520.
Engraving of Bangor by T Pickens ca 1855 Information from Mr V Hughes.
Telephone Call-Box on Railway Station
Street: Station Road (SW aide) Grade: II
Name/Number: Telephone Call-Box on Railway Station 'up' platform
Adjoining the platform side of the main buiIding between the waiting room and buffet. K6 type square, red kiosk of cast iron construction to the standard design of Giles Gilbert Scott, architect of London. Design introduced by GPO in 1936, this example probably installed after Second World War. Domed roof with 4 lunettes containing embossed crowns over red lettered opals and ventilation slits. Raised surrounds to sides and door with marginal glazing bars to horizontal glazing.
Included for group value with the Railway Station
Portal at the entrance to Bangor Railway Tunnel
Street: Station Road (SW side) Grade: II
Name/Number: Portal at the entrance to Bangor Railway Tunnel
To SE of the main station building. The Chester to Holyhead railway was proposed to improve links between London and Dublin. The bill was passed in July 1844 with Robert Stephenson as engineer and Francis Thompson as architect, however the portals were built by Mr Foster, the resident engineer for this stretch of the line which was opened on 1 May 1848. The other portal, to the Belnnont Tunnel, was rebuilt in 1881. Egyptian style. Coursed stone; square headed opening with tapered sides. Wide swept entablature and cornice.
Reference : M L Clarke, "Notes on the Architecture of Bangor" (unpublished) p 5 (n.d).
