Restoration Rewarded- A Celebration of Railway Architecture

The development of Britain's railway network resulted in the construction of countless superbly designed stations, viaducts, tunnels and other important structures. The early railways took a pride in the impression that they gave to intending passengers and often employed notable architects to design these impressive buildings and, as the railway companies expanded, they often employed in-house architects. Whilst groups such as the Victorian Society were at the forefront of campaigns to see buildings retained, there remained a fundamental problem of encouraging owners to preserve them and, more importantly, restore them to the highest standards. Recognising that highlighting good practice in restoration could be achieved through an awards scheme, the Best Restored Station Competition was launched in 1979. In this, the 40th anniversary year of the awards, Restoration Rewarded recalls some of the classic buildings that have been featured in this fascinating annual competition.