Culham Station in the news
Press reports 1874-1899
Relabelled portmanteau
Saturday 15th May 1875, Jackson's Oxford Journal
'Thos. Turner, bricklayer, and Frederick Allen, carpenter, both of Oxford, were charged on remand with stealing, on the 16th of January, a portmanteau, the property of Mr. E. G. Aniphlett, of Brasenose College.'
It would appear that the two defendants relabled a portmanteau whilst on Didcot station. It was originally consigned From Paddington to Oxford, but had been relabled for delivery to Culham station where it was collected by them. It was later found by a shepherd under a hedge. He carried it to Culham station and gave it to a porter who took it to the Station Master.
In evidence, the owner confirmed - 'It was addressed, and labelled From Paddington to Oxford. On reaching Oxford he found that his portmanteau had not arrived there. He saw it again on the following Monday at the Great Western Raltway Station. It was then empty, with the exception of a few books. From the appearance of it, he could see that the lock had been forced, and the label had been changed to From Didcot to Culham. He had not recovered any of the contents up to that time. The pormanteau produced was his property. In addition to his clothes there were a box of cigars and a pair of spurs in the portmantean when he despatched it from Paddington.'
The case was committed for trial at the Borough Sessions with Allen being allowed bail, but Turner being refused in consequence of a previous conviction.
Landslip
Thursday 21st October 1875, Banbury Guardian
'LANDSLIP ON THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. - Owing to the recent heavy rains, a landslip occurred on the Great Western Railway, between Culham and Radley on Thursday. Four or five waggons of a goods train were thrown off the line, and the tracks were torn up for about a mile. A single line only could be opened, and the traffic was considerably interrupted during the day.'
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Flooded railway line near Oxford in 1875
The Pictorial World, November 27th, 1875. Author's collection
Floods and Gales
Saturday 27th November 1875, The Pictorial World
The whole country had been lashed by severe gales which led to flooding in many areas. This particular weekly paper carried a series of four drawings illustrating the effects at Hastings, Wandsworth Road, Maple Durham Mill in Pangbourne, and the G.W.Railway near Oxford. Click or tap on the thumbnail image to see an enlarged view of the whole page.
Line blocked by deep snow drifts
Saturday 22nd January 1881, Oxford Times
This issue carried a report on the chaos brought about by the heavy snow around the country. It records that 'The line was found to be apparently blocked near Culham, on Tuesday evening. The train which started from London at quarter-past two that afternoon, was unable to get through. In this train several members of the family of the Dean of Christ Church were travelling, and as it was impossible to reach them from Oxford, there was considerable uneasiness as to their condition. We understand that news reached Nuneham House that trains were blocked between Radley and Culham, and Mr. K.W.Harcourt, M.P., would have kindly thrown his house open the belated passengers. It need scarcely be said that the welcome offer was unable to be reached. One person, we hear, endeavoured to walk home, but failed in the attempt. Curiously enough, some time elapsed before ths state the line at this point reached Oxford, for three trains were sent out one after the other on Tuesday afternoon all of which met with the same fate. The first to be embedded was the 4.50 p.m. up express which got within yards of Culham station.'
Other papers report that some passengers were trapped all night near Radley and that several hundred men were engaged in clearing the way.
More chaos and blocked lines resulted from a similar great blizzard in 1888 with the Thames valley suffering an arctic 'white out'. Trains were embedded in deep snow drifts both on the main line near Didcot and on the line to Oxford around Culham and Radley.
Fatal Accident
Wednesday 31st October 1883, Oxfordshire Weekly News
'FATAL ACCIDENT. - A sad accident occurred at Culham station, on Saturday, the 20th inst., a man, named John Scarrott, of Friar's Wharf, Oxford, being killed by a passing train on the level crossing. As the evidence given at the enquiry shows, the deceased, while in the waiting-room on the up platform, mistook an approaching train for the one by which he intended to return home, and attempted to cross the line, when the engine struck him and hurled him some distance, death being almost instantaneous.' The victim was 38 years old and married with seven children. The report continues by emphasising the lack of a footbridge ... 'The unfortunate affair emphasises the need of bridges at these country stations where there is only one booking office and passengers have to go from platform to platform by a level crossing. A bridge has recently been erected at Radley, and although at Culham fewer passengers cross the line, as it is not a junction, a similar improvement will no doubt be carried out here.'
Despite this, Culham had to wait many more years before a bridge was eventually built. The above report suggests that Radley itself had to wait ten years from opening before it was given a footbridge.
A footnote to the report gives an interesting insight into the history of the crossing at Culham and confirms the dangers of such crossings. Concluding ... 'It appears that this is not the only death which has been caused at this station. A woman named Fanny Gosling was killed in November 1845, when crossing the line at a level crossing near the Railway-bridge which was then used, and for which the present crossing has been substituted.' We may assume therefore that when the broad gauge station first opened the foot crossing was adjacent to the ticket office, being moved at an unknown date to the other end of the platforms where it can be seen on a postcard from 1904.
Fall from train
Saturday 14th August 1886, Jackson's Oxford Journal
'FATALITY THROUGH FALLING FROM A TRAIN ON THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. - A deplorable occurrence happened on the Great Western Railway on Monday evening. Miss Florence Nutting, of Essendene, Leamington, a lady between 26 and 27 years of age, who has recently returned from a visit to her brother in Australia, left home on Monday morning with a friend named Miss Mitchell for the purpose of spending a few hours with her sister, who resides at Kensington, In the evening they booked from Paddington for Leamington by the 4.46 fast train, travelling in a first-class compartment. The circumstances, so far as we have been able to glean, are that shortly before the train reached Culham Station Nutting asked her friend to give her a book from the rack, and it is stated that Miss Nutting got up to take it from her, and leaned against the door of the carriage, which flew open, and she fell into the six-foot way. A gentleman who was looking out of the window two compartments away saw the lady fall, and by means of the cord commnunicated with the guard, and the train was stopped. Before this, however, could be done, the train had gone a considerable distance towards Oxford. The guard and the officials at Culham immediately proceeded to the spot where the lady had fallen, and she was lifted to the embankment, and her injuries attended to as well as was possible. As soon as the train reached Oxford, shortly after six o'clock, the accident was reported to the Station Master (Mr. Davis), who ordered an engine and carriage to be sent to bring the sufferer to Oxford. This was done, and Miss Nutting was conveyed to the Radcliffe Infirmary. It was found that she had sustained very severe injuries to her head and body, besides a broken ankle, and from the first very faint hopes were entertained of her recovery. Her friends were telegraphed for, and speedily came to Oxford. In spite of the most skilful treatment Miss Nutting never recovered consciousness, and succumbed to the injuries at twenty minutes to ten on Wednesday night.'
Paternity case
Saturday 5th March 1887, Oxford Times
'THE CULHAM STATION AFFILIATION CASE. - William Kempson was again summoned to show cause why he should not contribute towards the support of the illegitimate child of a single woman named Alice Wingfield, living at Berrick. Complainant said; I am a single woman, and on the 4th of November last was delivered of female child. William Kempson is the the father. I have never had intimacy with any other man.' Several winesses testified to seeing them together, with one stating - 'I saw them together in improper positions on the bridge one starlit night, between the latter end of February and the middle of March last.'
The Magistrates made an order for the defendant to pay 1s.6d per week. It is believed that young Mr. Kempston was a porter at Culham station at the time.
Queen delayed
Thursday 21st June 1888, London Globe
It was reported that 'The Queen, Prince and Princess Henry of Battenberg, Princesses Victoria and Louise of Schleswig-Holstein. and the Royal children, arrived at Windsor shortly after nine o’clock this morning, the journey having been slightly delayed by a goods train which had gone off the line at Culham.'
This collision actually took place near the level crossing at Appleford as the Aberdeen Journal of Saturday the 23rd reported, 'On Thursday a luggage train broke away on the Great Western Railway at Appleford crossing near Oxford, and came into collision with another luggage train, considerable damage being done to rolling stock and both lines being blocked. Breakdown gangs were immediately sent to the scene of the accident, but some time elapsed before traffic could be resumed.'
The delay to this special train may have been made slightly more embarrasing as the report goes on to say 'Her Majesty was accompanied by Mr. Neele, traffic manager of the North Western Railway; Mr. Burlinson, assistant-superintendent and Mr. Spagnoletti, of the Great Western line.'
Fatal accident
Saturday 7th September 1889, Jackson's Oxford Journal
A very long report appeared in this paper covering '... an inquiry at the Radcliffe Infirmary into the cicumstances attending a fatality which occured on the Great Western Railway on the previous Wednesday afternoon ...' Alfred Goddard, a 12 year old boy returning to London after a short stay in Oxford, fell from the 3.55 express from Oxford after passing Culham station, not far from where a similar accident occurred three years previously. He was found and taken by goods train to Oxford but later died from his injuries.
The report describes the use of the communication cord to alert the guard and driver. The communication cord would have literally been a cord running along the outside of the carriages through guides and it could only be reached through an open window. The cord would have been attached to a bell in the locomotive and also at the back for the guard. Whilst crude it was better than nothing, early trains had no means of communication between guard and driver at all. It is also interesting to note that a passenger '... pulled the cord two or three times and saw the guard, just as the train was stopping, on the step of a carriage and told him what had happened.' One wonders what the guard was doing there!
The article also included a sad postscript to the story. The boy's parents had asked to be excused from attending the inquiry as '... they were in poor circumstances, and wished to attend their son's funeral, and they did not want to lose two days' earnings.'
Homecoming of son
Saturday 28th September 1889, Jackson's Oxford Journal
'FESTIVITIES AT BURCOT HOUSE. - Burcot House, the seat of Mr. J. Spencer Balfour M.P., was the scene of pleasureable excitement on Thursday and Friday last, the occasion being the celebration of the coming of age and welcome home of Mr. Balfour's son. On Thursday evening he arrived at Culham Station, after a seven months' tour round the world. A triumphal arch had been erected near the station gate, the young man and his father being met at the station and driven to Burcot; upon arriving thereat the horses were taken off and the carriage drawn by the parishioners, Mr. Balfour being carried into the hall on the shoulders of his friends. Later in the evening the Rev. N. C. S. Poyntz (Vicar) on behalf of the villagers presented Mr. Balfour with a silver cigarette case, suitably inscribed, and a hunting flask, in commemoration of the event. On Friday the village of Burcot was 'en fete', the day being regarded as a half-holiday. Dinner and tea were provided in a large marquee in Mr. Balfour's grounds, and sports and amusements entered into. There was also a grand display of fireworks, and a concert in the Institute, The village was gaily decorated.'
Whilst not directly being linked to Culham station, the Balfour story makes fascinating reading. Briefly, in 1886 Jabez Spencer Balfour bought Burcot House which he altered and enlarged. He then went on to buy up much of the village and surrounding farms, both building and demolishing various properties including the old wharf which at one time marked the nearest place to Oxford which was navigable by commercial craft. After several tries at becoming an M.P. and after a stint representing Tamworth he was elected to represent Burnley in 1889. Burcot House hosted lavish parties and attracted many high ranking visitors. In the meantime, he had been building a property and business empire with (it seems) the takings from a Building Society he had set up. Inevitably the whole thing came crashing down in 1892 amid great scandal and he absconded to Argentina whilst still a sitting Member of Parliament. It is estimated that the total company liabilities would be equivalent to almost half a billion pounds today. Questions were asked in the House and he was eventually brought to trial in 1895 after a somewhat dubious move by Scotland Yard, serving eleven of a fourteen year prison sentence. J.S.Balfour died in 1916 and was survived by his wife and their son James and his family. After the trial Burcot House and all other assets had been sold, it was demolished in 1956.
Severe flooding
In the winter of 1894 the country suffered major floods which were naturally covered by many newspapers. Whilst not directly involving Culham, these two reports cover the major floods which severed the main line just South of Oxford.
Flooded railway line near Kennington in 1894
Published by Varsity, Oxford City. Author's collection
Thursday 22nd November 1894, North Devon Journal
This report reads 'During Thursday night the flood waters continued to rise, and the breach which had been made on the Great Western Railway, near Kennington, was further enlarged. It was manifest that the line was in a dangerous state, for upwards of mile. There therefore was no alternative but to await abatement of the flood before anything of a permanent character can be carried out. Arrangements were made for despatching passengers, mails, parcels &c,by road to Radley, Culham, and Littlemore, and vice versa. The London and North Western Company have kindly undertaken to allow the principal express trains to London to proceed on their line. In the outskirts of the city, and even in some portions of the city proper, many hundreds of houses were flooded, and the inmates compelled to live in the bedrooms. The tradesmen delivered goods to them from punts and vehicles, the various articles being drawn to the upper windows by means of basket.'
Saturday 24 November 1894, Reading Mercury
'The flood water at Oxford having subsided several inches on Saturday, it was found possible on Sunday morning to repair the damage caused to over a mile and a quarter of the permanent way of the Great Western Railway, and a large staff of workmen began operations as soon as the water was clear of the line, and the railway was practically restored by noon. During the morning, as on Friday and Saturday, the train service was supplemented by the use of omnibuses and brakes, in which the passengers and their luggage was conveyed a distance of 6 or 8 miles to and from Culham and Littlemore.' At that time there was a direct rail link between Oxford and Princes Risborough via Littlemore, Wheatley and Thame which afforded an alternative route to London until its closure in 1963.
The line had been flooded several times before, but following the floods of 1894 openings were made to give flood water a passage under the railway and the trackbed was raised by some 14 inches - as much as the Abingdon Road bridge would allow.
Stolen window frame
Saturday 8th December 1894, Jackson's Oxford Journal
'THEFT AT CULHAM. - Charles Wheeler. carpenter, Appleford, Berks, was charged with stealing a window frame at Culham on Nov. 28th, value 2s., the property of John Reynolds'.
Mr Reynolds was the landlord of the Railway Hotel, and had taken delivery of two frames at Culham station. Taking one he had left the other in the goods shed standing against some timber. The accused was seen to take the frame but threw it down and ran away when challenged by Police Constable Parker who was on duty nearby that evening.
The report concludes - 'Inspector Smith handed in a list of previous convictions against the prisoner, who was now fined 12s and 18s. costs, or 14 days' hard labour.'
Appleford Collision Inquiry
Saturday 10th September 1898, The Morning Post
This newspaper carried a report on the result of an inquiry into an accident which happened on August 14th between Appleford level crossing and Culham. A coal train was approaching on the up line from Oxford when an axle on one of the wagons broke resulting in several being derailed. At that moment the down passenger train from Paddington ran into one of the wagons with the engine and several carriages leaving the rails. The report continues, 'No passenger was injured, but the driver and fireman were hurt by a falling signal post, and the guard was thrown down and shaken.' The hapless enginemen would have had no protection as locomotives at the time were not provided with cabs. The railway was absolved of blame despite the observation that '... but the axle was one that should not have been under a ten-ton waggon.'
Broken rail
Saturday 7th January 1899, Banbury Beacon
'NARROW ESCAPE FROM A RAILWAY CATASTROPHE. — But for timely discovery on Wednesday afternoon week a serious accident in all probability would have occurred on the Great Western Railway. A permanent-way inspector, who was walking along the Oxford branch between Radley and Culham stations, found one of the down metals broken. Information was immediately transmitted to Didcot Junction and elsewhere, and the traffic which was unusually heavy, was worked on the up line. This caused much delay and inconvenience to passengers, many of whom were returning from their Christmas holidays.'
