Hamstead opened the then-LNWR's Grand Junction route as Great Barr station in
1862. In terms
of notable historical facts, the station has, although it retains an old-style appearance,
undergone considerable changes. When originally built, the station occupied the other side of
Old Walsall Road from its current location. Thus, whilst the station building is of considerable
age, it should be borne in mind that this is not an original structure. However, the precise date of
the move is unknown to me (anyone with any information please let me know) but looking at the architecture
of the structure it could easily have been the turn of the last century. Above we see the entrance to
the Birmingham platform and sole station building from Rocky Lane.
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Above-right we are in roughly the same spot as for the previous shot but this time
looking in the direction of Walsall through the Old Walsall Road bridge. Through the bridge is the site
of the original Great Barr station and, following its re-siting, goods sidings that lay to the right of
the shot where a new industrial unit can be made out. I would assume that, with Hamstead Colliery a short
distance away, coal wagons would have been used in these sidings. |
