Burnham-On-Sea’s MP has this week given her backing to a unique project that aims to celebrate the town’s railway heritage.
Tessa Munt was in Burnham on Monday to visit the team behind the Buffer Stop Memorial Project.
As we reported here last week, the project hopes to install a set of old railway buffers in Pier Street, where the town’s former railway line previously ended.
Tessa told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “My father was a railway enthusiast and I can remember him talking about the services that would run between Weymouth and South Wales.”
“The railway was an important part of Burnham’s history and the idea of introducing a tourism attraction here with a history trail based around these railway buffers is fantastic.”
“It would be a lovely additition to this corner which is used so much by people coming in and out of the town. I give my full support to the project and have already made a donation and hope that others will follow as well.”
The project’s leader, John Strickland, welcomed Tessa’s support. “We’re really pleased to have her backing and hope that it raises further awareness of the project and encourages more people to come forward and support us,” he said.
“We’ve been working on the project for over three years – the support and interest has been very encouraging but we need residents’ help to ensure the buffer stop gets installed and is in place as soon as possible to form the start of our forthcoming Heritage Trail around Burnham.”
The project group – comprising of John Strickland, Terry Temlett and Ann Popham – hope to raise enough funding to install the buffers on an area of land at the top of Pier Street where it meets The Esplanade.
“We definitely need the support of local residents to get the project completed,” said John. “There are several ways that residents can help us – firstly, we encourage residents to write to Burnham Town Council’s Clerk, Denise Emery, at the Council Offices, The Old Courthouse, Jaycroft Road, TA8 1LE to show their support.”
“Also, to help our fundraising, we very much welcome donations in our collecting tins at the S&D Pub, Wetherspoons, The Royal Clarence, GW Hurley’s newsagents, The Railway Hotel. Cheque can also be made payable to ‘Burnham Buffer Stop Memorial’ and sent to 1 Wordsworth Close, Burnham-On-Sea, TA8 2QB.”
The railway station in Pier Street was opened on 3rd May 1858 with the name ‘Burnham’ and it was not until 12th July 1920 that the suffix ‘on-Sea’ was added. Burnham’s railway station closed to regular passenger traffic in October 1951, although summer excursions continued until 8th September 1962.
