Five day Railfest steams into Barnstaple to celebrate 170th anniversary of the Tarka Line

The five-day free Railfest to mark the 170th birthday of the Barnstaple to Exeter line kicked off at the town station today (Thursday, August 1) with a re-enactment of the official opening of the railway all those years ago.

A tongue-twisting Victorian speech by Lionel Thomas Bencraft, town clerk from 1843 to 1883, from the original opening ceremony was read out by town clerk Rob Ward, joined by today’s Mayor of Barnstaple, Councillor Janet Coates and Barnstaple’s vicar, the Reverend Canon Dr Benjamin Williams. (Full text of the original speech below!)

The recreation of that milestone in history in 1854 was the signal for Railfest to get underway, organised by Barnstaple Town Council and celebrating the railway heritage of Barnstaple, the anniversary of the line and the wider rail history of North Devon.

Above: Barnstaple Guildhall is currently home to intricate model railways depicting the rail heritage of the town and wider North Devon.

There are plenty of things going on up until Monday (August 5) at town centre locations including the Guildhall, Pannier Market, library and the Quay, with a Rail Trail for walkers of all ages offering stamps at each location and the opportunity to find out more about the town’s heritage.

Speaking on Friday, the mayor Cllr Coates said: “I was delighted to be invited to open Barnstaple Town Council Railfest earlier today.

“This town-wide celebration of the 170th anniversary of the Barnstaple to Exeter line, gives us all a valuable opportunity to learn about and celebrate Barnstaple's historical link with the railway.

“I hope everyone will take the chance to see all that is on offer at various venues around the town, over the next few days.”#

Above: Barnstaple Mayor Janet Coates and North Devon MP Ian Roome at the Railfest exhibition in the Guildhall.

At the Mayor’s Parlour in the Guildhall there is an exhibition looking at the history of local railways in a little more depth.

The main exhibition upstairs in the Guildhall features the Dartmoor oo9 group’s active model railway display of Barnstaple Town Station, plus models of Pilton Yard, Parracombe Halt and Lynton Station, as well as plenty of historical information and railway relics.

North Devon’s new MP, Ian Roome, dropped in to the Guildhall to see the exhibition and wish everyone a good Railfest in the coming days.

He said: “It’s great to see the railway heritage of Barnstaple and North Devon celebrated and well done to the town council for organising such an engaging and comprehensive look at this important part of our history.

“But the railway is just as vital to us in Barnstaple and North Devon today, with what we now call the Tarka Line still going after these 170 and still hugely popular with local people and visitors alike.

“It is still a much-needed transport link and in due course it would be wonderful to see heritage lines such as the Lynton to Barnstaple Railway return to full service too.”

Above: Barnstaple Guildhall is currently home to intricate model railways depicting the rail heritage of the town and wider North Devon.

Above: A model of the Lynton to Barnstaple Railway on display at Barnstaple Pannier Market.

In the Pannier Market next door, visitors can find out more about the Lynton to Barnstaple Railway, now partially open as a heritage line at Woody Bay Station and work continues to reopen more of this iconic railway.

Alongside Railfest the Pannier Market is hosting a Victorian Fair on Sunday, August 4 and Monday 5. This will feature various Victorian-themed events including stalls, crafts, games, music and poetry.

All the Railfest events are free to visit so why not drop in and find out more for yourself in the coming days? Keep up to date with news on the Barnstaple Town Council Facebook page.

The speech by Barnstaple Town Clerk Lionel Thomas Bencraft on the 1854 opening of the Barnstaple to Exeter Railway

'MY LORD AND GENTLEMEN, - With sentiments of the liveliest gratification we bid you cordial welcome to this ancient Borough, the Metropolis of North Devon. We felicitate you on the interesting occasion of our meeting – interesting to you, because it celebrates the completion of a great work which you have conducted to its successful issue, by the combined operation of enlightened enterprise, untiring energy, intrepid perseverance; and yet more interesting to us, inasmuch as it consummates out long-cherished oft-deferred hopes, by extending to us a participation in the advantages of one of the noblest improvements of the age.

'We will not advert to the vicissitudes which have made the history of the North Devon Line so remarkable in the annals of Railway Enterprise, further than heartily to congratulate you on the indomitable resolution which has sustained you in them, and we express our hope that the procrastination of the work has enabled you to effect your purpose at a smaller expenditure than its earlier execution would have involved. Now, however, that through your triumphant exertions we have outlived “the Winter of our Discontent,” we had you as harbingers of a Spring-time of rich promise, and we encourage the confident assurance, that, under the quickening impulses which will be inspired by the North Devon Railway, the trade of the district will be excited to unwonted vigour, dormant resources will be disclosed, and the acknowledged attractions with which nature has do profusely gifted this favoured locality, will command deserved homage, and an amount of traffic will thus be created, which, while it will chiefly benefit the locality, will also return to you and your shareholders a liberal percentage on the capital you have invested.

'The enthusiasm which this auspicious occasion has kindled, not in this borough alone, but in the several municipalities and neighbourhoods around us, and of which the animated scene before us is a faint expression, will afford you a pledge that North Devon regards the attainment of your public spirited object as the dawn of a brighter era, with the blessings of which in future time her sons will honourably associate your names and the event of this happy celebration. Again we beg, in behalf of our fellow townsmen and neighbours, to offer you a hearty welcome.'