Adaptive re-use of Heritage Railway Building
Gallery on Track displays & sells unique local Arts & Crafts in a refurbished Heritage Railway building. The 130 year history of the Train Drivers’ Barracks is on display and observable in the sympathetic adaptive re-use of a disused building.
Gallery on Track is a wonderful example of re-using a Heritage building, to open up local history to a wider audience.
The Barracks were built in 1890 to provide accommodation for train drivers at end of shift and far from their home base. Evidence of the 12 rooms, bathrooms, kitchen facilities etc can be observed by those with a keen eye for historical clues. Volunteers are happy to explain features of how and why train drivers used the barracks from the steam age to the 1970s.
An information board, supplied by Railway Heritage, gives further details.
The present Gallery showcases local Arts & Crafts talents, including painting, pottery, woodwork, jewellery, clothing, leatherwork, cards and more. Visitors are welcome to browse or buy, while viewing the heritage building’s features.
The garden in a style to match the building’s age, softens the austere surroundings of ‘railway land’. See the success of revitalising and preserving a heritage building for future generations.