Western SectionWolverton to New Bradwell Wolverton is the 'Western Gateway' for the RailwayWalk and the reason for the original railway branchline. The coming of the London to Birminghamrailway necessitated a central station to check andrepair the trains and Wolverton, halfway andaccessible to bringing in building materials via theGrand Union Canal, fitted the bill. From 1866 goodstrains passed along the route and in 1867, railwayworkers were able to catch the train from theirhomes in New Bradwell to Wolverton Works.

Milton Keynes Museum1847 Victorian farmhouse andbuildings converted into museum ofthe local area and for the new city.

Secret GardenOpened in 2005. Planting and mosaicsremember site's former use as fourvillas to house important RailwayWorks managers and the stationmaster.

Railway MuralClose to Wolverton Station, this longblack and white mural of a steam trainis the work of the late Bill Billings,completed in 1984.

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Mid SectionNew Bradwell to Great LinfordThis section between stations was the steepest part on the line. As water tomake the steam was in short supply at Wolverton, the one train or NewportNobby as it was affectionately known filled up at New Bradwell, except forMondays when the water was needed for the housewives' wash day. Once full,it slowly climbed from New Bradwell as the line prepared to cross over theGrand Union Canal. Once over the canal the railway descended to GreatLinford station located at Great Linford Wharf.

Bradwell WindmillBuilt c1810 by SamuelHolman and costing£500, Bradwell Windmillhad a very short lifespan operating onlysixty years before itclosed. It is unusual inhaving a fireplace (flourdust is notoriouslyexplosive!).

New BradwellPlanned town dating from 1858 asadditional housing for workers forWolverton Works. St George’s Church,built in 1843, was the first church inthe world built by a railway companymainly for its workers.

Artworks-mkC13th church overlooks aC17th courtyard of stablesand barn. This and nearbyalmshouses were createdby Lord Mayor of LondonSir William Pritchard. Todaythe courtyard forms theArtworks- mk arts andcrafts centre with artistsstudios.

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Eastern SectionGreat Linford to Newport PagnellGreat Linford station was really only used by workers andschoolchildren, especially in the later years when buses and otherroad traffic became widespread. Newport Pagnell was theterminus of the line and although attempts were made from 1865to extend the line to Olney, financial problems saw the line onlyreach Bury Field and the project was abandoned. The branch linesurvived through the wars thanks to the goods yard at NewportPagnell but decreasing use finally led to its closure. The lastpassenger train left Newport Pagnell on 5th September 1964.

Newport PagnellDating from Roman timesand previously a Civil Wargarrison town andterminus for the branchrailway line, Newport is abusy market town withspecialist shops, leisurefacilities, parks andriverside walks.

Black Horse pubNear this location wasGreat Linford Wharf,where goods wereunloaded and takenalong the arm toNewport Pagnell andsurrounding area.

Hanson Environmental CentreFormerly on the site of a gravel pit, thisenvironmental study centre was set up toresearch how gravel pits could bereturned to centres for conservation andwildlife. As it is a sensitive site, publicaccess is limited to organised school visits,pre-booked groups and permit holders.

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Western Section Mid Section Eastern Section

l Milton Keynes MuseumMcConnell Drive, Wolverton, MK12 5ELSat 11am-4.30pmMuseum of local history featuring Victorian house, streetof shops, telephones, ww2 garden, transport & farming.

l Discover Milton Keynes Revisited at Milton Keynes MuseumMcConnell Drive, Wolverton, MK12 5ELSat 11am-4.30pmAnother chance to see many recent exhibitions from theLiving Archive and Discover Milton Keynes Showcase.

l Roman DayBancroft Roman Villa (Car park in Constantine Way)Sat 10.30am-1pm Free admission with booklet/voucherStep back in time and celebrate the roman era in MiltonKeynes. Voucher at: www.mkheritageopendays.com

l Wolverton Park Heritage Open DayOld Wolverton Road, Old Wolverton, MK12 5QBSat 11am-4pmHistoric former railway shed that once housed the royaltrain – now a mixed use community.

l Bradwell Windmill Open DayMill Lane/Nightingale Crescent, New Bradwell, MK13Sat 11.30am-4pmRare opening of one of the most unusual and importantheritage buildings in Milton Keynes. Guides available.

l New Bradwell Heritage Group Open DayCommunity Centre, Church St, new Bradwell, MK13 0DASat 10am-4.30pm, Guided walks at 10.30am & 2.30pmLocal exhibition, family history. Bring along your old newBradwell photos to make a free calendar. Refreshments.

l Artworks-MK demos & open studiosartworks-MK, Parklands, Gt Linford, K14 5DZSat 10am-4pmExhibition/Open Studios. Free workshops; activities,bicycle bazaar, craft, vintage & homemade goods for sale.

l Camphill Community Centre Open DayJaponica lane, Willen Park South, K15 9JYSat 2-5pmCamphill Open Day. See workshops in action, buyproduce. Café on site. Stunning new wooden Chrysalistheatre.

l Aston Martin ExhibitionLibrary, St John Street, Newport Pagnell, MK16 8HQSat 9am-1pmAston Martin & Newport Pagnell – exhibition highlightingthe town’s links with the prestige car manufacturer.

l Newport Pagnell Historical Society MuseumChandos Hall, Silver St, Newport Pagnell, MK16 0EWSat 2-4.30pmFun and Games in newport Pagnell exhibition. Museumlocated in historic hall. Artefacts, information and stories.

Heritage Open Days Events along the Railway Walk Route

For full listings on all venues and events go to:www.mkheritageopendays.com

Please note some events also open onother days. Check website for details.

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Railway Walk – Timeline of Selected Dates

4000BCStone tools found on the Bancroft

Mausoleum site are evidence ofactivity during the Neolithic –

a traverse (chisel) shaped arrowhead used for hunting birds and

two ground stone axes.

2000-800BCOn the present day site of Blue

Bridge stood an imposing roundhouse. This building was part of a

Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Agefarmstead and was home to the

first permanent settlers in the area.

43–450ADRoman occupation of Britain.

Development of Bancroft Villa. Overseveral hundred years the villa

developed into a large complex ofbuildings. The villa was adjacent to

the Roman road Watling Street (A5).

1300–1400Bradwell Abbey site of 12th century

Benedictine Priory with buildingsincluding the 14th century CruckBarn and Pilgrim’s Chapel. Later

farm buildings added in 17thcentury.

1400–1700St Andrew’s church at Great Linford

dates to 14th century. The ManorHouse dates to the 17th century.

The Lord Mayor of London, SirWilliam Pritchard, built the core ofthe present Manor House in 1678.

1700-1800Mail coaches and canals dominate.Grand Junction Canal opens 1800(renamed Garand Union in 1929).

1964Last passenger train runs

5th September. Lineclosed.

Artworks-MK 1988Artists studios opened in

Great Linford.

1970-78Heritage organisations established across

the city, the basis of heritage provision todayand at Stacey Hill Farm (now Milton Keynes

Museum). Concrete Cows made.

196722,000 acres of North

Buckinghamshiredesignated to become

new Milton Keynes.

M1 Motorway 1959First section from London

to Rugby opens.

LNWR = London North Western RailwayNPRC = Newport Pagnell Railway Company

1817Grand Union Canal

– arm extendedfrom Great Linford

to Newport Pagnell.

Bradwell Windmillbuilt from local

limestone. In useuntil 1871.

1838LNWR create railway

between Londonand Birmingham

with central stationat Wolverton fortrain checks and

repairs. WolvertonWorks founded.

1851Wolverton

population reaches1,600 thanks to

Works.

1860Wolverton reaches

its limit. Landpurchased atBradwell for

additional railwayworkers housing.

New Bradwellformed as a result.

1863Wolverton to

Newport PagnellRailway Act passedthrough Parliamentby NPRC. Canal armclosed and basin at

Newport Pagnellfilled in to providelarge goods yard.

1865 Newport Pagnell toOlney (extension)

announced.Wolverton to

Newport Pagnellarm of the Grand

Union Canalpurchased for

railway and workbegins.

1866Line opens to

Newport Pagnell forgoods traffic.

Passenger trainsbegin a year later.

1871New Bradwell

extended to 500houses and 2,500

people.

1872Olney Extension:lines laid as far as

Bury Field, NewportPagnell but

problems see theproject abandoned

in 1875.

1875NPRC disbands after

selling the line tothe LNWRCompany.

Aston Martin 1954Took over the works ofSalmons and son (circa

1910).

lllAll images subject to copyright. With thanks to Milton Keynes Heritage Association, Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies.

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