Peterborough has appeared on our blog before now, in this post about the death of platelayer James Spridgeon, and in this post about railway deaths in Peterborough more generally. The latter post was written by Sophie Michell, who returns in the post below – we’re always pleased to have returning authors!
Here Sophie publicises an exhibition focusing on Peterborough’s relationship with the railway, at Peterborough Museum over the summer of 2024. Sophie has been involved in the exhibition, and will be giving one of the talks – which will draw on her PhD and wider research. She’s also meant that the Railway Work, Life & Death project has been able to feed in, so our thanks to Sophie! If you head to the exhibition or a talk, pick up a project information sheet to find out more about what we do.
The first railway came to Peterborough in June 1845, wending its way along the south bank of the Nene, and connecting the city to Northampton. It was impossible to imagine at the time that this single track presaged a railway boom unlike any other, even as the Great Northern and Midland railway companies battled in Parliament to get authorisation to build what became the East Coast Mainline.
Within fifteen years, Peterborough was a railway hub with a whole suburb built to the north of the city, to staff the new railway yards. The city centre saw a minimum of twelve trains an hour passing through the Crescent crossing. When the Crescent Bridge opened in 1913, it became a city landmark more familiar to visitors than the beautiful cathedral. The railway remains a focal point in the city, with more than four million people passing through a year.
This summer, Peterborough Museum are marking the city’s railway heritage with a major exhibition. The exhibition includes a diorama of the lost East Station, a rail trail taking younger visitors to Railworld Wildlife Haven, and dozens of artefacts and stories.
There will also be a programme of evening talks:
- On 1st August, Keith Alexander and David Hands will discuss the history and present life of Nene Valley Heritage Railway.
- Brian Pearce MBE will talk about the history of railways in Peterborough in his lifetime on 8th August, and the development of both the Nene Valley Heritage Railway and Railworld.
- On 19th August, Sophie Michell will discuss about the social history of the Victorian railway, using original sources to illuminate the earlier years of railway in the city.
- Brendan Fox will talk about Peterborough’s lost tram network on 5th September.
- Finally, on 19th September, Tim Hobman will discuss the history of railway wagons.
The exhibition runs 13th July 2024 to 21st September 2024. Entry is free, although the museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Peterborough Museum is on Priestgate, PE1 1LF.
All talks run from 6-8pm and include a tour of the exhibition. For more information, or to book, please visit: https://peterboroughmuseum.org.uk/events/peterborough-railways
Sophie Michell (@SophieMHistory)
Sophie Michell is a postgraduate researcher at the Open University, studying the investigation of sudden death in Victorian Peterborough.