The Fence Post Debate

[Andy Thompson]

Please feel fee to join the debate.

Q: Is this fence post original?
A: (in my opinion - YES!

Q: Prove it!

I will! - look at this current image of the post. Note the clasp device for receiving a shut gate on the 'yard side' of the post. This says to me the gate was to the right, swung from another post even further right and no-longer with us.

Look at the aerial shot taken in 1927. Mid right is the entrance to the goods yard from the Tiffield Road. Do you see a post to the left of the entrance? Yeah, but could be any post! Look across the the road to the Tattersall's Foundary and can you see their gates! (Still there now)

[Andy Thompson]

The evidence Gentlemen! What do you think?

Andy

[Gary]

I would agree personally.

It would be interesting to see what survives along the trackbed in the undergrowth along the line.

[Andy Thompson]

Lots! My nephew, (son of Towcester brother) has a den! My brother lives on the Shires, the estate built by Persimmons on land bought from his lordship inbetween the old and new A43. It transpires Guy (said nephew) has made his den on the embankment of the old Olney branch and is turning up laods of railway stuff. I have asked him to take me there next time

A

[Dick Bodily]

Andy

Had a look at the post today, its very sustantial and must have supported a large heavy gate. The gate could have been on either side. I can't see what else it could have been but an entry gate into the goods yard, but I'm not sure that its the one shown in the 1927 photo I think that would have been sligfhtly nearer the Tiffield Road bridge but its difficult to judge from an aerial photo and the access layout could have changed between 1927 and closure.
I can't remember how the Towcester goods yard was accessed from the road, I only walked up there a few times and a long while ago. I can remember the gate arrangement at Blakesley good yards, which may or may not be relevant. The gateway there was wide enough for lorries to swing in from either the Blakesley village or Bradden Road direction. There were white wooden double 5 barred gates, fastened centrally by a swing over clasp. They could be locked together by chain and padlock. On the top bar of each was a metal plate which either read 'shut and fasten' or carried a trespass message and may have been labelled LMS ( not sure). The gate posts were either white painted concrete or wooden, again not sure. The whole area leading up to the roadbridge and beyond on either side of the road was secured by typical LMS style wooden fencing with 3 horizontal rails of stout timber with vertical supports every few feet and a single vertical rail midpoint between. In fact much of it still remains, patched up in places.

Back to Towcester, I visited the Tiffield Road Bridge, its still there depite Westleigh's development next to it. I also noticed that the tiny industrial estate on the Old Greens Norton Road is called Lucas Bridge Business Park.

Dick

[Andy Thompson]

So Dick, is that a yes then? I'm a head of you with the Lucas Bridge Industrial estate - my brother knows the owners too and is on to it!
Andy

[Dick Bodily]

Andy

Sort of yes!

Next time I visit Tescos I shall take a print out of the old photo with me, I shall also check the entrance to Blakesley Yard to see if there is any evidence of concrete posts there. My theory about why the post is still there is that someone whacked it a few times with a sledge and discovered how well it was reinforced, then gave up! This would account for the damage to the edges and the slight list it now has.

Dick

[Richard Woods]

I have found many artifacts on that section of the Olney Branch at the back of Coulthard Close. Also on the Olney Branch close to Salcey Forest station, myself and my cousin Tom retrived a massive peice of railway. It is the metal chunk that holds the rail to the wodden sleeper.