DEVELOPMENT – BUILDING AT BLAENAVON HIGH LEVEL STATION (Step 1.4.1)

Building at Blaenavon (High Level) Station (uploaded 17 June 2009)

In late 2008 it became clear as the grass and undergrowth was removed from the platform surface at Blaenavon - High Level station, that the bones of the original waiting room remained. Although the building had been demolished to the level of the original platform, the foundation walls still remained. These walls were massively thick, and although their geometry was complicated, with some picking about, a clear footprint of the building emerged., and of overall dimensions about 13m x 4m.

After a final flurry, by 1 April 2009 the platform itself had been completed, the funders came, inspected the work, were satisfied, and went away again.. At the time work on the bridges further up the line was in full swing, so that the building team, and their works train was marooned at the station. Now the extension to Blaenavon - High Level (BHL) was not intended to include a comprehensive building. The construction of such a building had been planned for construction only after a period of operation over the new line and after we had amassed some funds. It had been intended that if there was to be a ticket office at all, it would only be a simple 6ft x 4ft wooden shed. Vandal attacks in February and March of 2009 soon made it clear that such a modestly fortified structure would stand little chance of survival. The building was not planned as part of the extension work (Step 1.2 etc.), but as part of the, as yet, unfunded, Step 1.4 (Infrastructure improvements at Blaenavon – High Level). But the best laid plans of mice and men……..

Here is Blaenavon (High Level) station in Edwardian times. On the left is seen the main station building, with a water tower at the far end of the platform. Behind that is the goods shed. There was also a loco shed here. On the right is the recently rebuilt platform with its high signalbox in the foreground, behind that is the waiting room – the building in question. It clearly has a canopy.

This happy and far more recent photo, probably taken just after World War II, shows the canopy still in place. At the south (that is, the nearest) end of the building we see a typical LMS ‘Hawkseye’ announcing ‘Blaenavon’. These were introduced around 1935. There is another Hawkseye on the running in board at the far end of the station. Behind the signal box steps appear to be pigeon baskets – pigeon racing was a popular sport at the time, and the so-called North Road Federation is still active in the area

We make no apologies for repeating the image found at the head of the ‘Platform –page 1’ page. The canopy has now been removed leaving seven vestigial supports. Note the position and number of windows. The previous picture suggests that the Hawkseye obstructs the most southerly window. This is an, as yet, unresolved oddity.

An impression of the planned station building. Its primary purpose is to show the relative positions of doors and windows. Unlike the original it is intended to provide planked uppers, mounted on a bevel topped brick dwarf wall (hence the need to recover certain bricks). Window details are not shown, nor is a chimney shown. The number of pillars is minimised in this sketch, though more are likely in order to provide aesthetic balance

Here are the north and south elevations showing the planked ends, and the position of the proposed canopy. Details of the canopy are likely to change. It is shown as 2m wide, but may be extended to completely cover the width of the platform. The 1 in 80 slope of the platform towards the rear, and this contrasts with the 1 in 20 slope towards the front edge that existed originally. Railway Group Standards insist on a rearward slope, and we were not inclined to argue for Grandfather Rights with the Railway Inspectorate, since the upper surface is ‘new build’!

Since it had never been planned to tarmac over the old station building, it was necessary to build up the walls a little, since the new platform surface was over a foot higher than its predecessor. This was done in order to provide an ‘edge’ up to which the tarmac could be laid. These walls were massively thick, and although their geometry was complicated, with some picking about, a clear footprint of the building emerged., and it soon became possible to accurately establish the overall dimensions. What was perhaps more interesting, was that the original building sat on a series of cellars, and, during demolition, the walls had simply been pushed into them.

Christmas has come and gone, but volunteers continue to labour, as the year draws to a close. From the quagmire emerges the base courses of brick which outline the building’s footprint. 1796 29 Dec 08

On a bitter 4 January, a forlorn sight, as the last train for at least six months leaves BHL in a cloud of smoke. On the left the Warflat stands full of building materials, whilst an early view of the platform gives a hint to the daunting size of the job ahead 1820 4 Jan 09

Although the demolition had, naturally enough, caused essentially complete destruction, it also yielded a number of useable bricks, including a number of specialised ‘bevel’ bricks that we particularly wanted to retain. It was also soon determined that, if we were aiming to re-construct something like the original station it would make sense to preserve as many of the original features as was reasonably possible. In particular, and for reasons additional to simple preservation, we would try and preserve the cellars. Excavations started early on, but is became increasing clear as the full extent and depth of the cellars emerged that finding somewhere to put the arisings would become problematical. There was also the danger that trespassers would be in danger of falling down the holes that were being created, so barriers round the holes would be needed. There seemed little point in constructing barriers for their own sake, and so dwarf walls were constructed which would in turn form part of the re-constructed building.

Heavy snow and cold weather extended into early April, days before year one of the contract drew to a close. During the previous few months, additional courses of bricks had been laid in order to delineate the extent of the tarmac covering. 2212 6 Apr 09

A fortnight later, a hazy sun begins to warm things up, spirits rise, and on the trees early leaf buds unfurl. Already the front dwarf wall is up, as well as most of the south wall. Ultimately a brick skin will cover the first five courses of blocks, rising from the existing brick courses 2334 19 Apr 09

Yet another week passes and the leaves on the Silver Birch are almost fully out. Within the building the covering of weeds and topsoil (and building materials) has been removed revealing a ‘brickfield’ containing incalculable numbers of bricks and tons of rubble, and of total volume about 60m3 all of which must be removed and sorted by hand. 2356 26 Apr 09

At the northern end of the building, excavation has been more rapid and volunteer Charles is in danger of disappearing from view. The bottom of the cellar is about 7ft 6ins (2.3m) below the level of the platform outside. Emerging into view is the foundation of a fireplace, something we are keen to retain. In the background the Warflat wagon which previously carried builders materials now teeters under the weight of re-useable bricks – and there are many more to come! 2359 26 Apr 09

The north east corner of the building threw up some interesting but possibly insanitary items during excavations. It had clearly been a gentlemen’s lavatory in its time, and a stone channel and rendered rear wall marked the position of a urinal, in the opposite corner was the site of a quadrant shaped sink let into a corner. Behind a stud wall was found a WC pan. Overall the floor had been paved and in the earth below a complex network of buried salt-glazed soil pipes was uncovered. Some remaining internal rendering showed obvious signs of being painted in LMS maroon. Despite the temptation to try and preserve such items, the basic brickwork was in poor condition and had to be completely dismantled. 2393 2 May

A ‘before and after’ comparison shot which shows some subtle but important changes since 19 April (see two images above). The south dwarf wall is complete , the north wall has been started and finished, and returns have been built into the back wall. But most importantly the fence along the back wall has been removed. The posts here put up major resistance to being removed, but finally yielded 2418 4 May 09

Each of two ‘proper’ cellars contained a single window. Despite some fragments of wooden jambs and cills remaining, the lintels had completely disappeared and the walls above had collapsed. This caused some concern about how we would construct the rear wall, but the chance discovery of some sections of steel H-beam of just the right length on the Furnace Sidings site allowed an effective bridge to be constructed 2420 4 May 09

Volunteer Wayne rests against the steel bridging pieces that span the two cellar windows. There are in fact four sections here – two above each window 2434 9 May 09

Another ‘before and after’ shot, this time for comparison with the image two frames above. It shows courses of bricks newly laid, with the 550mm dwarf wall on top The medium term plan is to convert the space into a unisex disabled lavatory, however, at the back, some of the space will be used to build a room in which an electrical generator will be installed. 2422 4 May 09

This shot shows the first course of blocks advancing along the steelwork that bridges the remains of the two cellar windows. In due course the windows will have some of their stones re-set and will receive pre-stressed concrete lintels cast into place.. This will then allow the height of the cellar walls to be made up to the underside of the steel beams 2437 9 May 09.

The advance continues around the back wall of the lavatory. On the right can be seen remaining courses of bricks that make up the rear wall of the fireplace. In due course a solid floor will be installed here. Would it perhaps be more than happy co-incidence that the room most likely to be affected by frost, was built immediately behind the fireplace? 2439 9 May 09

They say ‘Ne’er cast a clout till May is out’, and winter has its final fling as heavy – and cold – rain engulfs the works. Such weather brings an abrupt halt to block-laying. Along the front, recovered red bricks will be used to encase the dwarf wall, provided they can be cleaned up satisfactorily. These will be topped-off with the blue bevel bricks also shown. 2454 16 May 09

As the walls continue upwards it became advantageous to positively identify the positions of the doors and windows, so temporary wooden frames were erected to keep things straight and in good order 2462 16 May 09

The first day of June brought gloriously hot and sunny- weather. In the heat and dust, working here was reminiscent of the excavation of an Egyptian tomb - even if the archaeology was not of the same standard! However, together with the luxuriously green leaf-growth and clear, deep blue sky this was a memorable day on which to work. This image also shows that most of the back wall having reached a height of 990mm. 2518 1 June 09

Still with an incredibly blue sky and clear views of the Clochdy ridge, the block wall climbs on upwards, constrained where necessary by its wooden frames. 2513 1 June 09

This is the most southerly ‘cellar’. Whilst there is no doubt that this cavity was covered with a suspended floor, we were rather surprised to find broken fragments of glazed sanitaryware, a lead water pipe and another salt-glazed earthenware soil pipe. Perhaps, in those happy non-PC days, this was the Ladies’ Waiting Room – complete with a W.C. for their exclusive use. By the time that several feet of rubble had been removed it was clear that we had reached virgin soil, rather than demolition rubble. There is no obvious means of entry into this ‘non-cellar’, and, unlike the two proper cellars, the walls had not been whitewashed. Special measures are to be adopted here to ensure a free flow of air under the floor in order to keep wet- and dry-rot under control. 2808 9 June 09

After a brief exploratory dig earlier in the year, the floor of the first cellar is reached a second time…In a two-hour outburst by two visiting volunteers from the PWay crew, each very much younger than the elderly volunteers that work at BHL regularly, a huge amount of material was chain-ganged out of the cellar. One or two further such sessions would see the complete floor exposed 2813 14 June 09

An incorrect delivery of timber saw work delayed on the waiting room and, as a result, effort was re-directed to improve the situation at the signal box. The existing Heras panels, temporarily installed to prevent trespassers falling into the hole left by the locking room, are both unsightly and probably ineffective, and certainly not suitable for semi-permanent use. There are no plans to construct a signal box here at present. We had planned to clear the locking room, and leave it open for viewing for a few years, with a low safety wall round it. There is however the possibility that two signal boxes may be secured, one of which may be suitable for use at BHL. If need be, it will be a simple matter to knock the wall down in due course, however this cannot happen till completion of Big Pit branch is in sight and this is scheduled for April 2011. This is not an arbitrary decision but set by the period during which funding is being made available by HoV 2817 14 June 09

Progress mid June 09 to mid-August 2009

Despite several frustrating weekends when, due to perfectly justifiable reasons, little or nothing was done, when viewed over a period of two months the progress made has been far from discouraging, as the ten images below hopefully illustrate.

In mid to late June, ‘wallplates’ were dropped into position. Fragments of old timber suggest that the size was 2in x 4ins and this was repeated when the new timbers were installed. Blue polythene sheet, introduced to provide a damp-proof membrane obscures the timbers, but it is easy to see that there is still a huge amount of material to lift out from the cellars. However the deepening voids made it inadvisable on safety grounds to continue building the main walls. 2836 20 June 09

Outside materials and rubble from the cellars continue to amass, making access increasingly difficult. This was at the end of June and the situation was to worsen considerably before some clearance work began in mid-August . The wooden frames have been removed from the windows and doors in readiness for the fitting of the lintels. 2956 30 June 09

By early July the joist had been dropped onto the bearing wallplate, to be stabilised and positioned by noggins. Some joists in the centre remained unfitted in order to provide working space for further excavation work 2975 4 July 09

Here is an example of what happens on a frustrating day. Too wet to lay blocks, and still waiting for the flooring ply to arrive, a start was made in reconstructing the chimney and fireplace. It will not be entirely ornamental since the chimney will provide a useful support for the roof trusses. Local architectural salvage firms have a bewildering variety of fabulously atmospheric fireplaces, and we are hoping that there will be sufficient funds to purchase and fit one. 3039 19 July 07

The second cellar is just about cleared. Volunteers Charles and Russell peer triumphantly upwards from the depths 0027 2 Aug 09

A few days later, much of the temporary flooring ply had been placed in position, and one or two sheets screwed down. 0055 6 Aug 09

Volunteers Albert and Charles pose in cellar 2 (the more southerly of the pair). Now that the temporary flooring has been fitted in the is area, it has become a very dark place, lit only by a small east-facing window and the flash from the camera. Charles would be horrified to be seen in patterned trousers – this is an aliasing effect and is, mercifully, not real! 0060 9 Aug 09

A view from cellar 2 northwards into cellar 1 shows the only realistic escape is the ladder beside the base of the fireplace. The walls either side of the door will be built up and repaired in due course in order to provide additional support for the floor. 0064 9 Aug 09

The biggest and longest lintel – a pair of 6in x 4in steel reinforced concrete beams, span the space where the main, double, doors will be fitted. 0070 9 Aug 09

With more of the temporary floor in position, it has been possible to return safely to building of the rear wall which is progressing well on up to its full height 0091 16 Aug 09

Progress mid-August to end of September (uploaded 23 September 2009)

With work at a bit of a lull, whilst we wait for materials to come in, it seemed an appropriate time to make a brief report. Once again, the images will tell most of the story

With the works train pushed south beyond the platform, in aid of the photocharter on Monday 14 September, the full extent of the platform became apparent as this image shows. With the blockwork essentially complete up to the level of the canopy cantilevers,the southern 2/3 or so of the platform, and the size and position of the station building can be seen. Although some bags of rubble have been placed close to the site of the proposed platform 2, where they will be used as infill, there is still a large quantity of rubble and reclaimed bricks on the platform, that will need moving before much further progress is made. 0268 11 Sep 09

With the works train clear, it was possible to see the front elevation of the building. The purpose of this image was essentially analytical, showing, as it does, from the left, the door to the disabled unisex lavatory, two windows belonging to the staff room / ticket office, double doors to the waiting room, and the two windows to the waiting room. This dour and forbidding countenance is not representative of the final product, which will be clad with horizontal shiplap, with a brick plinth about 21ins. high capped with blue bevel bricks. Inside the building, the cellars are covered with a ¾ inch temporary plywood floor supported at 12 inch centres on 12 x 8 inch joists 0269 11 Sep 09

On Saturday 12 September the final blocks in the north west corner have brought the entire wall up to the level upon which the steel canopy cantilever beams will sit. There had been much discussion on whether to use wooden or steel beams for the job, but finally steel was selected. The steel duly arrived on 21 September. Another nine inches of blockwork will see the structure ready to receive its wooden wallplate on which the 33 roof trusses will sit, the roof trusses are due to arrive 26 September. 0282 13 Aug 09

With the photocharter due on Monday 14 September a portion of the preceding weekend was given to constructing this temporary running in board in typical thirties ‘Hawkseye’ style. Although built in relatively lightweight style but nevertheless quite substantially, within a week some of the local youngsters had crawled from their sewers, loosened the entire sign, stolen the board, and broken one of the posts – a depressing experience indeed. 0292 13 Aug 09

The building now lies at a important situation, with plans to get the roof on well before the winter and dark nights come along. However the situation is far from straightforward. The steelwork for the seven canopy cantilever beams arrived on 21 September and the 33 roof trusses, wallplate timbers and fixtures & fittings are due to arrive on Saturday 26 September – two weeks late. In terms of the construction, before the roof trusses go on the chimney must be built to the full height since this will pierce the roof, and modifications to one or two roof trusses will be needed. In order to carry the full weight of the slates the back wall must be strengthened. This will need three ferro-concrete lintels to be placed above each of the two cellar windows, and all the related stonework re-cemented into place. In turn this will need that a roofer has been identified. Fortunately we have been able to identify an experienced roofer, who has seen the job, and put forward some realistic plans with realsistic prices.

Despite the desire to see the roof on before the winter sets in, the heavyweight creosoted timbers for the LNWR style fence have arrived, and whilst there is no statutory need for a station building, there is a requirement for a fence – at least on the half of the platform south of te building. There will also be some excavation work needed to lay an underground cable needed to supply single-phase electricity to the station building, but all these tales belong to another section.

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