‘The Stratford Upon Avon & Midland Junction Railway’ (or S.M.J.) was a small independent railway company which ran a line across the empty, untouched centre of England. It visited the counties of Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and a little of Buckinghamshire, only existing as the SMJ from 1909 to 1923. In 1923 the S.M.J.became a minor arm of the London Midland and Scottish (L.M.S.), then in 1948 'British Railways'

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Blisworth - Towcester ETS working

Electric train staff equipment had been brought into use between Blisworth and Towcester by 9 August 1910 (date of SMJR minute 451 (TNA file RAIL 674/3)) and presumably the new signal box at Blisworth appeared at the same time. In that this was so…Continue

Started by Richard Maund 4 hours ago.

Blisworth 1920

SMJ board minute 1474 of 13 April 1921 (TNA file RAIL 674/4) approved that “the following expenditure be charged to Capital” for year 1920: “Blisworth: Signalling and alterations to Permanent Way, Improvements and additional signalling: £800”. In…Continue

Started by Richard Maund 4 hours ago.

Evesham Redditch & Stratford-upon-Avon Junction Railway 8 Replies

Did this railway (as opposed to the East & West Junction Railway) go into receivership - if so, when. And when did it come out of receivership?Continue

Started by Richard Maund. Last reply by Richard Maund Feb 11.

Bidford-on-Avon 5 Replies

Shall we bring this discussion under the proper heading!So far as the OS plan surveyed 1885, published 1886, is concerned: the OS liked - wherever they could - to have text running parallel to the top and bottom borders. When they came to add the…Continue

Started by Richard Maund. Last reply by Richard Maund Feb 10.

SMJ photos

THE KILN AT SHOWSLEY, WAS THIS FOR LIME, BRICKS OR CALCINING ?

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Permalink Reply by NIGEL on January 8, 2013 at 17:42

This is from the BULLETIN OF INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY IN CBA GROUP 9, JAN 1969.

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Permalink Reply by NIGEL on January 8, 2013 at 18:03

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Permalink Reply by Stephen on January 9, 2013 at 11:04

If I can add to this discussion.

I believe that the kiln at Showsley is or rather was a calcine kiln, it resembles a brick kiln, but it was never used for calcining. It was used as a workmans mess room.

Hope that helps

Stephen Robbins

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Permalink Reply by NIGEL on January 14, 2013 at 19:38

Hello Stephen, can you shed some more light on this, do you know when this kiln was erected ?

Do you have family or friends who know about this kiln ?

Thanks for the info.

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Permalink Reply by Stephen on January 15, 2013 at 18:04

I came across a reference to the 'kiln' in one of the ES Tonks books.

I believe I had said previously that the 'kiln' was a brick kiln on another thread. I was wrong

The 'kiln' looks like a brick kiln but was going to be used as a calcining kiln for the ironstone. I assume had the building been used for calcining ironstone the stone would have been barrowed in.

I would have thought that it would have been a very smokey environment and not much stone would have calcined. I don't know what the dimesions of the building were. It is somewhat small.

I have had experience of working with calcining iron ore and it is a filthy horrible working environment.