MIDDLETON TOWERS
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If you have any photographs of Middleton Towers from the past or present that you would like to donate, please feel free to contact me or Middleton Towers Restoration Group.
Full credit will be given for your donation.
Three miles and fifteen chains from King’s Lynn, we arrive at Middleton Towers, the second station along the Lynn Dereham Route. Situated on the outskirts of Leziate and near the village of Middleton, the station was opened on October 27, 1846, under the supervision of Mr. John Sutherland Valentine. Initially, the Lynn Dereham line only extended to Narborough and Pentney, making Middleton station one of the first stations constructed along the line. The remaining section of the line was completed to Dereham by 1847.
During its early years, Middleton Towers was one of several stations on the line that operated as a request station. The station featured a single platform with freight sidings adjacent to the passenger platform, a level crossing with a substantial set of ornate wooden gates, and a signal box situated on the opposite side of the gates from the station itself. A sign on a gate post indicated the distance to the crossing gates as three miles and eleven chains.
Originally known simply as Middleton in November 1924, the station was subsequently renamed Middleton Towers.
In the past, Middleton station was situated over a mile away from the main village, and local villagers would take a pleasant walk to reach it. Presently, Middleton Towers station remains the sole operational section of the abandoned railway, transporting silica sand from a nearby quarry. Middleton, like all other stations on this line, ceased passenger service in 1968.
Despite its current state of disrepair and inactivity, Middleton Towers holds promise for restoration. I am honoured to be a member of the Middleton Towers Restoration Group, founded in June 2021 under the guidance of Alex Brammer.
Alex Brammer, a dedicated individual who has dedicated countless hours to this project, has primarily worked independently, collaborating with Network Rail to secure the necessary resources.
I would like to give a personal thanks to Alex.
Alex and his team of volunteers are committed to transforming this historical site into a museum. They have made substantial progress towards their objective.
If anyone can spare some time or donate a few pounds, we’d really appreciate it. Even an hour of your time or a small donation can make a big difference.
Middleton Towers Maps
©National Library of Scotland
Historic map showing Middleton Towers station after 1968 with the line after the sand loading bay shown as dismantled.
©National Library of Scotland
Google Maps.
All photographs below were captured on a Sunday when services were not operational. We obtained authorization from Network Rail, and on several occasions, a Network Rail representative accompanied us, we wore full personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times.
PLEASE REFRAIN FROM ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THIS SITE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!!!
Middleton Towers
Looking towards Kings Lynn we can see some of what was said to be the old cattle loading area and the area to the Left of the track was where the Signal box was once sited.
Middleton Towers Restoration Group banner alongside a banner from William George Grab Hire, who has been instrumental in the restoration project with help with waste disposal.
Middleton Towers Crossing gates
Situated to the west of the station are the Middleton Towers crossing gates. The date when these gates were originally installed is unknown, it has been said that an accident occurred at Middleton Towers in the early 1870s when a freight train damaged the gates after running through them while they were closed. These gates have likely been replaced since the 1870s. Making the age of the gates Photographed unknown
On May 18, 2024, the Downside gate was sadly demolished due to an unfortunate accident. The damaged gate has since been replaced, along with the Upside gate, by Network Rail in late 2024.
The two pictures below were taken while volunteering for the Middleton Towers restoration group with Network Rail on site. I was wearing full PPE and had permission to be in this area.
The Downside Gate
The downside post has a sign that states "3 Miles 11 Chains".
The up side gate
I found this drain near the station, close to the level crossing. It shows a locally made drainage system by the Savages of King’s Lynn, who are renowned for their fairground engineering.
Middleton Towers Crossing gate lock.
May 2024 Accident.
On May 18, 2024, the Downside gate was sadly demolished due to an unfortunate accident due to a freight service catching the gate on its exit from Middleton Towers. Network Rail at first replaced the old wooden gate with a temporary metal gate and have now replaced the Downside gate with a new bespoke 28-foot gate complete with ironwork. The process of ordering and completion took around 16 weeks. Thanks to Alan White, Infrastructure Maintenance Engineer from Network Rail, for all the information and for replacing the gate to the same specifications as before, maintaining the old appearance.
Credit-©Alan White Infrastructure Maintenance Engineer from Network Rail
Temporary metal gates were installed on Sunday, May 19, 2024.
The new crossing gates.
November 24, 2024, Network Rail wonderfully installed the new crossing gates at Middleton Towers, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the station's renaming from Just Middleton to Middleton Towers.
Locomotives at Middleton Towers
On September 10, 2023, a charter passenger train, pulled by double-headed Class 66 units, travelled to Middleton Towers level crossing stopping just out side the level crossing.
Class 56 Double Header 56301-56103 19.4.25
Fen Tiger" tour on 12th July 1986
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Phil Richards Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0
Thanks to Steven Ashling and Michael Rhodes for sharing the two pictures below of a Royal visit to Middleton Towers station, sourced from the Middleton Towers Railway Station Restoration Group Facebook page and used with permission.
©Steven Ashling and Michael Rhodes via the Middleton Towers restoration group Facebook page
©Steven Ashling and Michael Rhodes via the Middleton Towers restoration group Facebook page
Middleton Towers Station
Middleton Towers station pre-restoration.
The photos seen below were photographed by me at various times between 2020 and 2024 possibly before the Middleton Towers group was founded & before any restoration work had started.
First site visit to Middleton Towers
On Sunday, April 23rd 2023 with permission and wearing full PPE, we made our first visit to Middleton Towers station to Photograph the condition of the old station.
The station has been neglected for a long time and has been left to the elements but the footings and structure have been deemed in a fit state so with plenty of hard work Alex and his team will get this old station back to how it looked in its original state.
Middleton Towers filled in sidings
Middleton Towers toilets.
Waiting room toilets
Middleton Towers platform sign posts.
The disused freight wagon.
What was found stored inside the old freight wagon
The inside of this old wagon have since been cleaned out.
24th September 2023 revisit
In September 2023, Me, Alex, and a building surveyor revisited the site to capture additional photographs for the building surveys of the old waiting room and canopy.
Alex and his team have now cleared all the remains of the roof.
Work begins
On the 21st.July 2024 i revisited the site after volunteers had had a tidy up and repainted some of the station.
Safety nets & Heras fencing have been installed.
After Alex and his dedicated team of volunteers cleared the old roof, they uncovered some relics from Middleton Towers.
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to William George Grab Hire for their assistance with the disposal of various items during the cleanup.
The volunteers have lovingly repainted the old station posts.
Previous layout of the front fence with no access to Middleton Towers.
One of the volunteers has installed a new access gate to the front of the station for easier and safer access.
March 16th 2025 we revisited the site for some drone shots for the Building contractor
The aerial photograph below depicts the vicinity where the volunteer team cleared the former flat roof and disposed of debris adjacent to the former waiting room.
Thank you for visiting our page dedicated to the history and renovation of Middleton Towers.
This page will be updated as the restoration progresses.
Individuals interested in volunteering, donating funds, or providing their time are welcome to contribute. Regardless of the size of your contribution, your efforts are greatly appreciated. Please visit the Middleton Towers website and follow the Middleton Towers Restoration Group by clicking the links below.
Off to East Winch
Departing Middleton Towers, the railway led towards the next station on the route, East Winch. This section of the railway, spanning 5 miles and 15 chains from King's Lynn, was a brief journey on a single-line track located approximately 2 miles from Middleton Towers.
The brief journey was through scenic countryside, passing by farms and rural landscapes without encountering any intersections on the way.
