BRANCH LINES:

Listed Signal Boxes

by John Hinson

In was fortunate enough in the 1970s to take part in an project to choose the best examples of each architectural type in Britain for listing, although not all were accepted – it was thought we had chosen far too many! A proportion had to be excluded, but since then, far more than that number have been added by various authorities, seemingly on a random basis and frequently duplicating some of those already chosen. Some of these have been chosen for other reasons, perhaps as a well-known landmark or as part of a greater project – e.g. a station. Nevertheless, it is a great shame that certain types seem to have no place for the future (other than by the efforts of individuals) such as the variations of early Great Eastern Railway types when an unreasonably large number of very similar London & North Western Railway boxes are listed – most of them on the same line! Little though seems to have been given to any signal box designs of the South Eastern or London, Chatham & Dover Railways, and representation of the standard designs of the Big Four companies and British Railways is weak. Whilst some of the apparent duplication of types may be because the signal box classes as part of a “group” where an entire station has been given listed status, at least one has later been de-listed and demolished. One or two have succumbed to vandalism, too.

Listing of buildings has complexities and I do not claim to know all of the restrictions that may apply, despite living in one. You can list a building and then subsequently move it, but you can rarely list a building that has already been moved. Buildings not within visual range of the public will not normally be listed, unless dating from before 1840 which rather rules most signal boxes out. Contrary to some opinions, the listing of any building does include any fixed contents* and planning permission is required for alterations thereto. Therefore lever frames and other equipment should be retained if present at the time of listing. However, there is nothing to stop Network Rail applying for permission to remove equipment and I would doubt this permission would be denied if there was a good operational reason to do so, but one would hope it would be stored safely for future reinstatement. Furthermore, operational railway buildings are exempt from the usual requirements for planning permission and it is possible that this is the reason that at least one box has been altered out of all recognition and another has had its original frame removed.

* – except, apparently, in Wales where automatic inclusion of “fixtures and fittings” does not apply.

The list is in approximate geographical order by railway company, starting in Kent and working anti-clockwise around London.

Records showing listed buildings are not all in one place so it is probably impossible to identify every listed signal box but I think those shown must represent the vast majority. If you spot any not listed here or can update the status given above, please contact me with supporting evidence, so that they can be added.