FROM HUMBLE TO HEADQUARTERS
Bitton station, (the current headquarters of the Avon Valley Railway) is built out of local stone and is formed of two pavilions, whilst in the recess between these two is a pierced iron canopy support. The building is not symmetrical as it originally had an additional office at the north end. The up platform had a stone built waiting shelter, cruciform in plan.
The goods yard on the down side had four roads and contained a single road goods shed and weigh bridge. From the goods yard Bitton dispatched paper to London from the Golden Valley Paper Mills, soda from the works at Keynsham and yellow ochre also from Golden Valley; coal merchants distributed coal from the station and local growers sent flowers and vegetables to the Bristol market.
Bitton station in today’s condition © Unknown
At the beginning of the twentieth century work at Bitton was indeed hard, shifts of twelve hours starting for the early turn at 7.30 am and at 10 am for the late turn. In addition to the Station Master there was a station porter, porter/signalman, junior porter, two signalmen, clerks and junior clerks, the latter earned around 8s 9d (44p) per week.
Bitton station seen in July 1958 © D Chandler Collection
An Ivatt 2MT is seen at Bitton in 1965 © R E Troop
Bitton Forecourt after initial restoration in 1999 © R Cains
Bitton Station in 1998 © Unknown
