Tetbury branch line

The Tetbury branch line was a seven and a half mile long single track branch railway line that ran from Kemble railway station on the Great Western Railway's Golden Valley Line to Tetbury via five intermediate stations, Jackament's Bridge Halt, Rodmarton Platform, Church's Hill Halt, Culkerton Halt, and Trouble House Halt.

In 1843 the Cheltenham and Great Western Union Railway opened between Swindon and Cheltenham providing a station at "Tetbury Road" (close to the present Thames Head Inn) but this was 7 miles from Tetbury and there was local concern that the town was missing out on the opportunities that its own station would bring. In 1845 the Wiltshire & Gloucestershire Junction Railway deposited plans for a Tetbury branch and in 1863 this company was authorised to construct a line from Stroud to Christian Malford Halt through Tetbury and Malmesbury and work started on 1 June 1865. Due to disagreements between the two major shareholders, the Midland Railway and the Great Western Railway (GWR), work was stalled, and in 1871 the company was wound up. Further proposals in 1871 by the South Midlands Railway and in 1879 by the South Wales and Southampton Railway also failed to bring a line to Tetbury. Finally a proposal by the GWR to build a branch line from Kemble to Tetbury, was authorised by Parliament in 1884 although it was not until March 1887 that tenders for construction were invited. The contract for building the line was awarded to John Harrison & Son of Brighton and in November 1887 the first sod was turned without ceremony. In 1888 tenders were invited for the construction of Tetbury station and alterations at Kemble. Harrison’s bid being considered too high, the contract was awarded to Claridge & Bloxham of Banbury at a value of £1,719, but a little later Harrison & Son were awarded the contract for the goods shed, the engine shed and the cattle pens. The building of the line progressed smoothly if, in the opinion of Owlpen in the Tetbury Advertiser, "at a snail’s pace." The major work was the rock cutting into the spur of land at Tetbury to provide a flat area for the goods yard. In March 1889 the "Son" of Harrison and Son died and on 3 Apr 1889 Mr Harrison Senior handed over all his contracts to Charles Reed and Charles Blaber, both of Brighton. Reed managed the completion of the line and the building of the goods shed receiving his final payment on completion of the contract in August 1890. The line opened with great celebration on 2 December 1889. On opening the line had only one intermediate station, at Culkerton.

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