Help Us Save Heighington Station – a World First!

UPDATE

Since we launched our campaign in early 2024, we’ve been overwhelmed by all the help and donations we’ve received. In addition to the total here on Just Giving, we have with other donations and offers of grant aid, raised some £120,000. Thank you to everyone. Unfortunately, the support we had hoped for from the Community Ownership Fund is no longer available due to the change in UK Government. We are working with partners to find a new way forward and from Thursday 14th November Heighington is officially on the Historic England Heritage At Risk Register. All donations are helping us commission surveys and prepare plans to take the project forward, so please keep giving and we hope t have some good news very soon!

Heighington Station in County Durham, UK, is one of the Stockton & Darlington Railway’s (S&DR’s) pioneering railway buildings, designed and built between 1826-7 at a key moment when what we now know as the modern railway network was developing. This building was a recognition by the railway company that users of the railway needed somewhere sheltered to wait on trains, to obtain refreshments and to act as a collection point for goods and parcels being transported by rail.

The world’s first railway station is now at considerable risk and a programme of restoration is required before 2025 for the 200th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. Despite repeated vandalism it survives on the longest continuously used modern railway line in the world between Darlington and Shildon. Let’s save this building for the local community and the world.

It’s national importance is recognised in its grade II* listing, read more about it here: https://historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/in-your-area/north-east/worlds-first-railway-station-awarded-upgraded-listing-status/ .

How can you help?

We are seeking grants from a number of sources to help purchase the building and carry out the initial conservation and repairs and to bring it back into use. A second phase will see an application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England to undertake longer term conservation works and a wide range of activities to engage local communities and visitors.

Its new use needs to provide enough income to maintain it. We would like to return it to hospitality as a Georgian Inn, but, if necessary, we will consider other options that will protect it as we develop a business plan and engage with the public.

Please help us save this internationally important building by donating to our cause below.

We also welcome a show of support to help demonstrate to funders that people care. Sign the support petition here: https://forms.office.com/r/9sfYKNLbHr

If you'd rather give without making an online payment or would like to talk about major sponsorship or help in kind drop us a line at: info@sdr1825.org.uk for a further discussion.