Thank you to Kevin Morris NDDC Conservation Officer for the station description which is taken from the Application of Listing folder.

General Description

Shillingstone Station, built for the Somerset and Dorset Railway, is a refined version of the Dorset Central Station Design on the Dorset Central Railway. Built predominantly in red brick (in a variant form of flemish bond) with cream or gault decorative brickwork, it is a fairly modest single storey rectangular building with welsh slate roof and chimney stacks.

The station is the only remaining example of an original station specifically designed for the Dorset Central Railway

Opened in 1863, the remaining buildings comprise the main station building, attached toilet/waiting room block together with timber boarded lamp house/post r9om. Both the ‘up’ and ‘down’ platforms survive together with evidence of the various operational equipment required for a busy local station including a gas lamp base (there were originally ten in total) and a large concrete and steel framed building (of twentieth century origin) which served as a grain store. Also remaining are posts for the station sign and iron railings along the ‘down’ platform. On the ‘up’ platform side, a decorative wooden canopy is situated along the full length of the main station building. The station had no electricity right up to the time of closure relying on oil lamps for lighting.

The documented history suggests and visual evidence indicates that the station building was extended to provide additional accommodation in the early part of the 20th century (at the southern end of the building.) Subsequent minor changes have also taken place to cater for changing demands of a busy local station, however, the building retains its essential elements and interest as an historic building.

Access to the station is currently gained via a small industrial estate at the northern edge of the village on the eastern side of the A357.

Description of the main Station Buildings

Front Elevation ( ‘up’ platform side)

 The most prominent feature to the front elevation is the decorative timber canopy on the ‘up’ platform, a feature missing at all the other Dorset Central Stations except Blandford. This was erected in honour of royalty, Edward VII used the station for his visits to Iwerne Minster House (designed by Alfred Waterhouse and now Clayesmore School), between 1901 and 1910. The detailing is typical of many railway canopies with pierced toothing and is largely intact. The structure is supported on five chamfered timber posts with gallows brackets. Later iron fixings provide additional support adjacent to the main station building. The roof has been replaced in recent years with corrugated asbestos.

The elevation contains two windows and four door openings. Two windows and the central door are dressed with quoined gault brickwork with gauged arches. The two doors within the later extension are set within plain brick reveals with simple bath stone lintels above The northern most entrance is a later insertion set within a brick reveal with concrete lintel.

Further to the above, a simple string course of brickwork runs the full length of the building below window sill level and a slightly projecting brick plinth provides a visual base for the building.

Rear Elevation

Six openings, five windows and a single door punctuate the rear elevation. Two openings appear to originate from the initial construction and repeat the pattern on the front elevation. A smaller and apparently later window exists at the northern end of the building. This is set within a plain reveal with concrete lintel. At the southern end, two windows within the later extension repeat the pattern on the front elevation. The original doorway has been modified. ‘Whilst the original arch remains, a later concrete lintel has been inserted below with brick in-fill between.

This elevation also contains the projecting brick string course and plinth for the full length of the building.

Flank Elevations

The northern flank elevation is only partially visible, as it has attached the ladies and gents waiting rooms/toilets. The exposed brickwork is plain although a decorative parapet gable-end incorporating a decorative brick fmial in contrasting brickwork.

The southern elevation, incorporating the later extension is also plain and without the decorative parapet gable. A single opening in a plain brick reveal exists with simple stone lintel

The Roof

The roof is covered in natural welsh slate in even courses. A rolled-top blue clay ridge tile caps the roof between the gable ends and chimney stacks. The earlier portion of the building contains two symmetrically opposed stacks with gault brick quoin detailing, over sailing and corbel courses. The later extension has a similarly proportioned and detailed stack without contrasting brickwork.

Interior

An internal examination reveals the interior of the building to be currently ‘open plan’, with centrally dividing walls and chimney breasts removed by a former industrial occupant. Steel lintels support each chimney stack. It is evident that the majority if not all of the 19th century and later window casements (together with vertical sliding sash in the southern elevation) and four panel doors exist behind the timber ply boarding. The ladies lavatory, which is accessed internally, remains complete.

Attached Buildings

Attached to the main station building on its northern flank are the former gentlemen! ladies toilets. This is a simple brick structure with blue brick dressing to the corners, the roof is flat set behind a short parapet. A single door exists on the front elevation (facing the platform) which is set within a simple reveal with gauged brick gault arch over.

An enclosed link (with corrugated iron roof, and used for oil storage) joins the toilet block to the lamp house/post room. The latter structure is rectangular in form with painted weather-boarding and gabled roof with Welsh slate dovering. A single door (planked) and two windows exist on the southern elevation with a further door and window opening on the northern elevation. A further door provides access directly to the platform on the eastern elevation.