The Freight Shed - Self Catering Accommodation

Exmoor Excellence Awards 2007 - Finalists

The property owned by Alison and Duncan Waller is located high on the Brendon Hills in the eastern part of the Exmoor National Park.

The Freight Shed - Exterior

The Freight Shed - Interior

The old station is surrounded by fields in a secluded location down a lane off the B3224 between Raleghs Cross and Wheddon Cross. Station Cottage is approached by a gated driveway which passes by the Freight Shed some distance from the main residence. There is a parking bay for guests next to the accommodation. The accommodation is suitable for two persons but not additional babies, toddlers or children. Dogs are welcome by arrangement but numbers subject to space limitations.

The garden between the old platforms

The property is set in large colourful cottage style gardens with the unusual feature of a sunken lawn and flower beds between the former station platforms.

The old stone freight building has been converted to provide accommodation consisting of a porch leading to a large light and airy studio type main room with a separate shower/toilet and kitchen. The tiled floors have Baluchi prayer rugs and the rafters are exposed in the high pitched ceiling. All the rooms have electrical heating and double glazed windows. The main room has a wood burning stove.

Windows in the north and south walls give views over gardens and open countryside.

Aerial view of the old railway terminus

The main room has a double bed and comfortable seating. There is a wardrobe, chest of drawers, drop leaf table and chairs. A TV with Freeview and a DVD player are provided.

The fitted kitchen has an electric hob in the working surface and a microwave/grill/oven together with a refrigerator and a washing machine.

The water supply is from nearby springs which is tested at regular intervals by the local authority. Hot water for washing is provided by an immersion heater and the shower is self heating.

Guests are welcome to make use of the garden and garden furniture which includes a table, chairs, sun brolly and barbecue. The lawn between the station platforms makes a nice sun trap on fine days.

The Freight Shed in Winter

Mobile telephone reception is erratic throughout Exmoor. Reception is variable at the Freight Shed but a signal for most of the servers can usually be acquired in the driveway. A conventional phone is available in emergencies at Station Cottage.

There is ample space in the porch for drying outdoor gear. Secure bicycle storage is available in an adjacent outbuilding.

LOCAL HISTORY

Early human activity in the area is evidenced by a Bronze Age barrow in a nearby field. Iron ore was mined in the immediate vicinity from early times. The Iron Age surface workings are visible in the same field. Industrial scale mining started in the 1840's and a railway line was constructed to carry the ore from the Brendon Hills via Raleghs Cross down to the port at Watchet for shipment to the steel mills in south Wales.

The West Somerset Mineral Railway Company, as it was enacted, built the station at the end of the line at Goosemoor in about 1864. The station was known as Gupworthy Terminus. The iron ore was brought to the station by wagon or tramway from the mines nearby. On the other side of the lines from the station itself was a stone built freight shed intended to store goods such as coal, lime and seed brought up the line for sale to the local farmers. A ticket office on the same platform issued weigh bills for the iron ore loaded out on the rail wagons.

The railway was disused by 1900 when cheaper iron ore was available from abroad. The lines were removed during the First World War. The station was a farm until about 1970 when it became a private residence. Some signs of the Victorian industrial activity in the area can be detected by careful observation. However, the pit shafts, adits, spoil heaps, miner's village and chapels have mostly been absorbed back into the tranquil landscape.