Halifax Railway Station Horton Street Halifax

NEW RAILWAY STATION HALIFAX – The new railway station which has been in course of erection for the past year and a-half, was publicly opened on 23rd June. It was a joint station of the Lancashire and Yorkshire, and the Leeds, Bradford, and Halifax Railway Companies. The building is in the Italian style of architecture, with a frontage of 236 feet It consists of a centre and two wings. The former is brought out about 3 feet, and the latter about 6 feet. The principal entrance is through a very neat portico, which consists of four columns, and finished on the top of the blocking with four carved vases, one over each column. The entrance doorway under the portico is bold and handsome. An elaborate cornice runs through the entire length of the building, with carved lions' heads in the top mould.

There is a general entrance at the station for passengers of all classes, 25 ft. 6 inches long by 15 feet wide. On each side are booking-offices (only one of which will be used at present). Each booking-office is 24 feet long by 15 feet wide, and has a neat staircase into the rooms above. Both offices are fitted up with Spanish mahogany desks, booking counters, etc., complete. The first-class ladies' waiting-room is 21 feet by 15 feet The waiting-room for the 2nd and 3rd class ladies is the same size as the other, all of which are fitted up with conveniences. The 1st class gentlemen's waiting-room is 21 feet by 21 feet The 2nd and 3rd class gentlemen's waiting-room is the same size, and fitted up with seats round the room, and the walls are boarded for 6 feet high. The porters' room is 21 feet by 13 feet, fitted up with seats round the walls, which are boarded 6 feet high. The inspector's office is 12 feet 3 in. by 11 feet, and is neatly fitted up. The parcel office is 16 feet by 15 feet, and the lamp-room is 18 ft. 3 inches by 11 feet. This room is lighted from the roof. At the south end is the station-master's house, which consists of dining-room 16 feet 6 inches by 16 feet, parlour 21 feet by 13 feet, staircase 10 feet by 9 feet, and lighted by a dome light from the roof; scullery 10 feet by 7 feet, and four bed-rooms. There is a good yard attached, as well as good cellarage. There are rooms in the roof over the whole of the waiting-rooms, lighted from the roof, which are to be used as store-rooms. The platform is next the station. It is 323 feet long, and 21 feet 4 inches wide. It consists of polished landings of a very large size. The platform on the opposite side is 450 feet long and 18 feet wide. This platform is also covered with large landings. The iron roof is 73 feet wide, and is longer on one side than the other. There are 53 rafters; those next the station are 6 feet 3½ inches apart, but those on the opposite side are only 5 ft. 9½ inches apart This is occasioned by the curve of the roof, which follows the curve of the rails. The roof is about 330 feet long. There are two rows of skylights the whole length of the roof, with ventilators. The station is built of Ringby stone. The platforms will be lighted by 14 large copper lamps suspended from the roof. There will also be 30 copper lamps at different parts of the station.

The whole of the works have been executed by Messrs George Thompson and Co., railway contractors. The architect is Mr T Butterworth, of Manchester. Mr Knox has had the management of the building department. [Civil Engineer and Architects Journal Volume 18 1855 page286]

In 1885 the station was altered by William Hunt, regional architect to the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. This involved bringing a siding platform round the front of the building. The front elevation thus became a platform elevation, with the addition of an awning, which has obscured its ground floor for nearly one hundred years.

Reference           Civil Engineer and Architects Journal Volume 18 1885 page 286