MAY 2025

Ashby de la Zouch Station

This station was built for the Midlands Railway in 1849 on its line between Burton and Leicester.

Ashby was fashionable in the Regency period as a Spa and the station building echoes earlier

buildings, the Ivanhoe Baths (opened 1822) and the Royal Hotel (opened 1828) Both buildings were

designed by Robert Chaplin.

John Sydney Crossley (possible in collaboration with Robert Chaplin) designed the station building on

a similar neoclassical theme, which accounts for its refined classic form, with pillared portico,

shallow bay windows and square end pavilions.

The station was built near the remains of the horse drawn Ticknall Tramway which previously

connected the Ashby Canal with the Ticknall line quarries.

The station forecourt was also a terminus for the 1 metre (3 ft 6 ins) gauge Burton to Ashby Light

railway tramway which closed in 1927. Tram lines for the operating electric double deck trams are

still visible on the approach to the building.

Following the opening of the railway in May 1849, Thomas Cook ran the first ‘Picnic Party’ to Ashby

attracting over 1100 passengers to the Town. Daily postal services from London to Ashby de la Zouch

were introduced from 1856.

Alfred Everett was stationmaster from 1873 (where there were only 10 passenger trains per day)to

his retirement on 22 July 1908 (where passenger trains per day had increased to 50/60)

George Marsh (Great, Great uncle of Ashby Civic Society committee member Goff Lewis) was a

Coachman/ Groom/Chauffeur at the Royal Hotel during the early 1900’s, and would regularly

transport passengers (and their luggage) from the station to the hotel.

During the nationalisation of 1948 British transport the line passed to the London Midland Region of

British Railways. Subsequently, British Railways withdrew passenger services and closed Ashby

station on 7 September 1964 (but the line continued to be used for freight services).

The Urban District Council purchased the station building in 1968 and was sold by auction in 1972.

The buyer had planned to turn the station building into a family home but instead was granted

planning permission in 1975 to erect 5 houses (Station Mews) with the main building to be used as

offices and one flat. The station was then occupied by Mike Osbourne Insurance Services.

The station building is currently used by Bluesky International (since 2017) as private offices and is

listed Grade II* Blusesky International is a leading aerial survey and geographic data company.

Ashby Stationmasters (timeline)



1851 - Ebenezer Weston

Until 1862 - Botterell Jordon

1862 - 1866 William E. Oldham

1870 - 1873 John Joseph Mumford

1873 - 1908 Alfred Everett

1908 - 1922 Thomas William Coltman

1922 - 1931 William Cope (formerly stationmaster at Duffield)

1931 - 1937 A H Glastonbury (formerly stationmaster at Denby)

1937 - W.Slater

1964 – Closed for passengers