Culham station staff
Culham Station staff 1917Unknown photographer, author's collection
Although Culham was a small country station it had its own signal box and facilities to handle goods and parcels traffic as well as passengers, so required the staff to service their needs. We thought it would be interesting to try and find out who had worked at Culham over the years - certainly up until the end of the Great Western era. As a starting point we looked for staff transferring to or from Culham as reported in the several hundred copies of the Great Western Railway Magazine within our collection and, unless noted otherwise, this is the source of transfer information quoted in the tables below. A few GWR staff records have been found and used to fill in some of the gaps.
Reference to census records also gives an insight into employees of the railway, but these records can be difficult to trace, are often misleading, and only providing a snapshot every ten years means many people fall 'between the gaps'. The census from 1921 was not available for searching at the time of writing, the one from 1931 was destroyed by fire during the war and one was not taken in 1941, so there is a big gap. Despite the station at Appleford having closed in 1849,
the census of 1861Railway staff living in Appleford in 1861
in the order in which they were recorded
Thomas Hart (21) Railway Policeman
James Townsend (28) Railway Labourer
John Cowley (27) Engine Driver Railway
George Barnett (34) Railway Switchman
John Lovelace (31) Railway Guard
Robert Pointer (36) Railway Labourer
James Reeve (43) Railway Policeman
William Reeve (20) Engine Cleaner
James Reeve (15) Engine Cleaner
Thomas Austin (37) Railway Labourer
Moses Butler (34) Greaser Railway
Benjmin Jones (34) Railway Labourer
William King (33) Railway Porter
William Norman (35) Railway Policeman
Walter Porter (24) Railway Switchman
Stephen Welch (35) Railway Guard
William Viner (16) Engine Cleaner
James Panter (47) Railway Labourer
Joseph Reynolds (22) Railway Labourer
Thomas Clifford (27) Railway Labourer
William Wedlake (28) Railway Guard
Thomas Belcher (20) Engine Cleaner
James Butler (36) Greaser Railway
shows the village remained home to a number of railway families. Some may have been associated with the station at Culham, but their place of work is not noted.
The photograph featured here is labelled on the back as being taken in 1917, and at first we thought it might show Station Master G.W.Townsend and staff. However, he left Culham in February 1917 and so, judging by the trees being in leaf, this could well have been taken a few months later to record the arrival of F.H.Barley, who took over from him as Station Master.
The following tables are by no means exhaustive, and may contain many errors, but they are a start and will be expanded as more information comes to light. It is interesting to note that several staff left Culham to return later and it would appear that sometimes the signalboxes at Culham Station and Appleford Crossing both fell under the general classification of 'Culham' with signalmen known to have moved between the two.
We would love to hear from any readers who may be able to provide more information. As such, we are grateful to Linden Collins for details and photograph of his relative Anthony Borlase, A.B.MacLeod for the photograph of George William Townsend and family, Jack Walker's son for identifying his father's photograph, and Paul Denton for kindly passing on information from members of the Great Western Study Group who include Reg Instone for his background to William Kempin.
~~ Hover over any highlighted name to see more background ~~
Station Master
| Start date | Transfer
from | Left date | Transfer
to |
|---|
Henry Charles Fenn
1861
GWR Register of Clerks records transfer as Station Master from Hanwell to Culham.
1861
Census shows him as being a Railway Station Master, single, aged 21, and lodging with Frederick Webber (Railway Clerk) and his wife. The address given is 'Railway Station'.
1862
Under the column 'Date and Cause of leaving the Company's Service' is the entry Dismissed January 1862 with no explanatory remarks.
|
Feb 1861 | Hanwell | Jan 1862 | dismissed |
Henry Blythe
1862
GWR Register of Clerks notes his transfer from Faringdon to be Station Master at Culham.
1868
Oxford Chronicle report of Saturday 15th August notes him as being the Station Master.
1871
Census records him, aged 30, as living in a 'Railway Cottage' with his four year old adopted son and Susannah Horne, the 21 year old Housekeeper. His occupation is recorded as Clerk - Railway Station Master.
1871
GWR Register of Clerks notes his transfer from Culham to be Station Master at Maidenhead.
|
Mar 1862 | Faringdon | Oct 1871 | Maidenhead |
William Edward Bradshaw
1873
In a report on Saturday 5th April, Jackson's Oxford Journal notes him as being Station Master at Culham
1910
Upon his retirement the Great Western Railway Magazine reports in July 1910 as him as being appointed Station Master at Culham in 1872 having been Chief Clerk at Wolverhampton, later transferring in August 1875 to Bridgend
|
1872 | Wolverhampton | Aug 1875 | Bridgend |
James Joseph Barron
1881
GWR Register of Clerks notes his transfer from the Booking Office at Oxford to be Station Master at Culham.
1881
Census records him, aged 30, as being a Railway Station Master living with his wife and four young daughters in Culham. The exact address is not clear, but the placing of the record puts it as being close to the station rather than in the village of Culham.
1882
GWR Register of Clerks notes he Resigned 13th September 1882.
|
Mar 1881 | Oxford | Sept 1882 | resigned |
Anthony Borlase
Anthony Borlase
Date unknown
Image - courtesy of Linden Collins
1884
GWR Register of Clerks records transfer as Station Master from Southam Road and Harbury to Culham.
1886
GWR Register of Clerks notes transfer to Moulsford.
He did move around a bit thereafter, being made Station Master at the (then) new Cholsey and Moulsford station, Basingstoke, Newbury Goods dept., and finally Thatcham from where he retired on 26th February 1919.
|
Dec 1884 | Southam Road and Harbury | Aug 1886 | Moulsford |
Francis William Keys
1886
GWR Register of Clerks records transfer to be Station Master at Culham, from the Goods Dept. at Newbury.
1889
Under the column 'Date and Cause of leaving the Company's Service' is the entry Dismissed - Paid to 6 Oct '89 with an additional note See Board minute no 19 of 13 Nov '89.
|
Aug 1886 | Newbury | Oct 1889 | dismissed |
| W E Davies |
Apr 1890 | Reading Sup'ts Office | ? | ?
|
William Frederick Knutton
1891
GWR Register of Clerks records transfer to be Station Master at Culham, from Passenger Dept. at Oxford.
1893
GWR Register of Clerks records transfer to Worcester (Division?).
1918
He did move around a bit thereafter, and on Saturday 26 October, the Reading Mercury reported that he had been appointed stationmaster at Oxford where he was to remain until 1924 when he took charge of Reading.
1924
The November edition of the Great Western Railway Magazine reported his death It is with much regret that we record the death, which occurred at his home at Oxford, on August 4, of Mr.William F.Knutton, station master at Reading. Mr.Knutton took up his position at Reading only in February last. He left duty in April to undergo an operation at Oxford and returned in July, but was soon taken ill again. Mr. Knutton joined the Company’s service in the traffic department at Banbury, and subsequently went to Devizes. From Devizes he was advanced to the divisional superintendent’s office at Reading, where he remained for three years. He left Reading in 1885 for Oxford, and at the age of 25 was appointed station master at Culham. Subsequently he was station master at Winchester, and then at Evesham, in Worcestershire, and at Salisbury. Prior to his appointment to Oxford in 1918, Mr. Knutton was in charge of the railway work at the munitions depot at No. 14 Filling Factory, Rotherwas, near Hereford.
|
Apr 1891 | Oxford | Feb 1893 | Winchester |
| William Bartlett |
? | ? | Nov 1894 | Marlborough.
|
| H.S.Kench |
Nov 1894 | Newbury | ? | ?
|
George William Townsend
George William Townsend and family
Taken at Culham in about 1914
Image - A.B.MacLeod, Chris Leigh Collection
1898
GWR Register of Clerks records transfer as Station Master from Wantage Road to Culham.
1901
Census records him, aged 34 and his wife Louise, aged 29, as boarding with Charles Lewis and family at 'Station House'. His occupation is given as Railway Station Master.
1903, 1907 and 1911
Kelly's Directory notes him as being Station Master and Insurance Agent
1911
Census records him, now 43, his wife and two young children living at the postal address of 'Culham Station'.
1917
On Saturday 17th February, the Reading Mercury carried a short report that the station staff made a presentation to Mr. G.W.Townsend, who had been stationmaster at Culham for nearly 20 Years, upon his leaving following promotion to Hanwell.
|
Jan 1898 | Wantage Road | Feb 1917 | Hanwell |
Francis Henry Barley
1917
Great Western Railway Magazine in April notes his transfer to Culham from Didcot where he was a clerk.
1917
In the GWR Statement of Clerical Positions it is noted that F.H.Barley is the Station Master at Culham. At the foot of the same page it is recorded that G.W.Townsend is Station Master at Hanwell.
1921
Census records an F.H.Barley, Station Master aged 32y11m, and family living in Culham.
1949
The Western Region Magazine in January reports his retirement MR. F. H. BARLEY, station master, Thatcham, has retired after 44 years' service, 13 of which were served at Thatcham and 18 years in a similar capacity at Culham. He was presented with a pair of binoculars subscribed for by the staff and friends. Mr. Barley has well maintained a family tradition of railway service. His grand- father and father had 50 and 45 years Great Western service respectively.
|
April 1917 | Didcot | Jan 1936 | Thatcham |
Arthur C Smith
1939
The National Register of 1939 shows him aged 41, having been born on 23.2.1898, and his wife living in 'Station House, Culham', his occupation being Railway Station Master.
|
Mar 1936 | Kensington (Addison Road) | Nov 1941 | Lambourn |
| E W Franklin | Nov 1941 | Whitchurch | June 1947 | Goring |
Fouracre
early 1950s?
The only reference so far found is a mention of Mr. Fouracre being the Station Master at Culham in the book, 'Signalling Days', by Harold Gasson, a local railwayman who wrote a series of four books about his life on the railway. This third book was originally published by Oxford Publishing Co. in 1981. Whilst the reference is undated, the context suggests some period in the early to mid 1950s.
|
1947? | ? | ? | ? |
Signalman
| Start date | Transfer
from | Left date | Transfer
to |
|---|
Charles Tarrant
Charles Tarrant is the great grandfather of the broadcaster Chris Tarrant, and was the first signalman at Culham.
1874
No staff records have been found, but The following extract from a report in the Reading Mercury of Saturday 12th June 1915 confirms his early days at Culham.
At the G.W.R. Station, Reading, on June 3rd, a pleasant gathering of railway officials took place ..... advantage was taken of the occasion to hand a suitable gift to ex-District Relief Signalman Mr. C. Tarrant who retired from the company’s service last February, after serving 42 years. Mr. Tarrant, joined the G.W.R. Company’s service in February, 1873, at Steventon, as a policeman (as signalmen were at that time termed). From there he went to Culham in July of the same year, thence he was removed to Kirtlington (now called Bletchington), and in November, 1874, he was sent back to Culham to open the new signal-box, which at that time was an undertaking of considerable importance. After being at Culham nearly four years, Mr. Tarrant was removed to Didcot as a district relief switchman......
1936
The November issue of the Great Western Railway Magazine from this year carried a long article recalling "The Boys of the Old Brigade" which included this entry for Charles Tarrant.
'Old age, as seen in the person of Mr.C.Tarrant , of Reading, is far removed from the fretful state Shakespeare had in mind when he wrote "Crabbed age and youth cannot live together". Hale and hearty (except for a touch of "screws" in his legs), upright as a post, with white hair, rosy cheeks, and a merry twinkle in his eye, this eighty-five years old veteran is a pleasure to look upon and to talk with. He joined the Company’s service in 1873 as a policeman at Milton Crossing, near Didcot, and still has the truncheon which then formed part of his equipment. He subsequently moved to Kirtlington (now Bletchington) and Culham before his appointment as district reliefman in the old Reading division. Recently, he called to mind a hundred signal boxes in which he did duty during his thirty-five years on relief work. Sometimes he was sent outside his division ; he recalls a week spent at Llandderfel during the visit of Queen Victoria, and a turn of duty at Swansea when Mr. Gladstone was giving an address there. He retired in 1915, but returned to the service for a further four years in consequence of the war, thus completing forty-seven years with the Company. He is blind in one eye but can read with the other without the aid of glasses. Walking and reading are his chief delights ; he is still able to enjoy a stroll of several miles.'
Whilst not covering his period at Culham, census records show that in 1881 he was living in Wallingford but had moved to Reading by 1891.
|
Nov 1874 | Kirtlington (Bletchington) | ? 1878 | Didcot |
Alfred James Holt
Born on 10th November 1853 he first entered service in May 1873 and worked as a signalman for ten years before being promoted to Didcot.
His son, John Alfred Holt, would later follow as a signalman at Culham.
|
Oct 1874 | ? | Dec 1884 | Didcot |
William Henry Hamblin
He first started as a Porter at Culham and returned after working as a signalman for a short time at Didcot.
1891
The GWR staff record confirms his brief stay as a signalman at Culham before moving on to Savernake.
It is thought he moved back to Culham in March 1901, possibly staying for at least the next 20 years, working also at Appleford Crossing during that time.
The only other references found relating to W.H.Hamblin appeared in the 'Ambulance Notes' section of the Great Western Railway Magazine from January and February 1922. The January edition notes that he was class secratary at Twyford. It was recorded in the February edition that he was one of a number of receipients of the Company's gold 'efficiency' medal for fifteen years' ambulance service. This suggests that he had left Culham by then.
|
May 1891 | Didcot | Dec 1891 | Savernake |
John Wedlake
After starting as a Lamp Boy at Culham he worked as a Porter at a number of stations and spent a few months at Reading as a Shunter. The record then shows that he was Away - Ill for ten months before returning to work as a signalman at Steventon in November 1891, quickly moving back to Culham.
1891
The final entry against his name in GWR staff records shows him returning to Culham for the third time, now as a signalman. There is a red stamp alongside Commended August 1911.
Note:- Signalman Holt also received a commendation dated August 1911.
1901, 1911 and 1921
The census returns for these years show him living in Appleford aged 33, 45 and lastly 54y5m when he is recorded as being a signalman (at Appleford Crossing?).
1939
He was born in 1866 and stayed at Culham until he retired and his death aged 72 on 10th April is recorded in the June edition of the Great Western Railway Magazine.
|
Dec 1891 | Steventon | 1931? | retired |
George Hickman
1885
The GWR Register of Uniformed Staff from June 1885 records him as being a signalman at Culham, born in October 1846 and first entering GWR service in December 1864. It is understood that he actually started as a signalman at Culham in August 1875 and was pensioned, whilst still at Culham, in November 1903.
1901, 1911 and 1921
The census returns from these years show him living in Appleford aged 54, then 64 and lastly being a retired signalman aged 74y8m.
See also George Hickman who started at Culham as a Telegraph messenger in 1890 and was probably his son.
|
August 1875 | ? | Nov 1903 | pensioned |
George Smallbone
1885
The GWR Register of Uniformed Staff from June 1885 records him as being a signalman at Culham, born in January 1853 and first entering GWR service in July 1875.
He possibly returned to Appleford Crossing in January 1887.
|
June 1885 | ? | Aug 1886 | Radley |
George Garrett Ackland
1885
The GWR Register of Uniformed Staff from June 1885 records him as being a signalman at Culham, born in January 1866 and first entering GWR service in December 1883. He was promoted to Oxford in January 1887.
|
June 1885 | ? | Jan 1887 | Oxford |
George Elkington
1901
The census shows him living in Clifton Hampden, but does not record his occupation.
1911
The census shows him aged 51 and now living in Culham.
1916
The November edition of the Great Western Railway Magazine records his commendation, with gratuity, for 'special vigilance and prompt and judicious action in emergency'.
1921
The census shows him, now aged 61y5m, living in Culham and working as a signalman at Culham Station.
1939
The National Register records his date of birth as 22/1/1860 and that he is a Railway signalman - retired living in Abingdon.
No other records found but it is thought likely that he worked at Culham from the 1890s, or possibly as early as 1885, until his retirement at 65 in January 1925.
|
circa 1890 | ? | Jan 1925 | retired |
Alfred Edward Webb
1901
The census shows him living in Clifton Hampden, but does not record his occupation.
1911
The census shows him aged 46 and still living in Clifton Hampden. Also recorded is his son Arthur, aged 23, working as a shunter in Didcot.
1918
The January edition of the Great Western Railway Magazine records his commendation for 'special vigilance and prompt and judicious action in emergency'.
1921
The census shows him, now aged 56y9m, working as a signalman at Culham Station and living in Clifton Hampden.
1939
The National Register records his date of birth as 13/9/1864 and that he is a Railway signalman - retired living in Clifton Hampden.
1950
The January edition of the British Railways Magazine, Western Edition, records his death the previous October aged 85.
No other records found but it is thoughrt likely that he worked at Culham from the 1890s until his retirement at 65 in September 1929.
|
circa 1890 | ? | Sept 1929 | retired |
John Alfred Holt
He returned to Culham as a signalman after working variously as a Porter and a signalman at a number of stations, having started at Culham as a Lad Porter. Whilst being attached to Culham Station it is understood that he first worked the Appleford Crossing box and was promoted to the station box in November 1903. His father, Alfred James Holt had been one of the first Signalmen at Culham when the box was opened. By 1913 he was working at Appleford as his service history has a reference to damaging the Crossing gates.
1901
An entry against his name in GWR staff records shows him returning to Culham as a signalman in March 1901. The census of that year shows him living in Appleford aged 27.
1911
The 1921 census records him aged 37 and still living in Appleford. He is noted as being a signalman at Appleford (Crossing).
1921
By the time of the 1921 census he is shown as being aged 47y8m, living in Appleford and working as a signalman at Appleford (Crossing?).
It is not clear what happened thereafter as no further transfers, or his leaving, are noted. However, there is a red stamp alongside Commended August 1911 which shows him based at Culham.
Note:- signalman Wedlake also received a commendation dated August 1911
|
Mar 1901 | Bramley | circa 1938 | retired? |
Walter Lavis
1921
The census of this year records him as Signalman, Culham Station aged 32y8m.
|
pre 1921? | ? | Feb 1922 | Fritwell |
Albert William Neadham
1921
The census of this year records him as Signalman, Appleford Crossing aged 48y7m and living in Appleford.
His service record shows he entered railway service in June 1896 and was born on 24.11.1874.
He is possibly the son of Ernest Albert Meadham.
|
pre 1921? | ? | Feb 1922 | Fritwell |
| H Mosdell | Aug 1927 | Reading | Nov 1929 | Radley |
| F T Rixon | Nov 1928 | Reading | Aug 1936 | Oxford |
Greville E Membury
1929
The Great Western Railway Magazine from the November records his transfer from Upton to Culham.
1930
The March edition of the Great Western Railway Magazine records his transfer from Upton to Loudwater. This may well be an error as there is no record of him leaving Culham and returning to Upton in the meantime.
There would appear to have been several generations of Membury family who worked for the GWR, nearly all as signalmen at some point, starting with F.W.Membury (Frank) who was born on 23.7 1879 and died in 1956. there followed G.E.Membury, A.R.Membury, A.R.Membury, then J.A.R.Membury (who was a goods guard) and V.Membury.
|
Nov 1929 | Upton | Mar 1930 | Loudwater |
| A J Barrett | Nov 1929 | Abingdon | Nov 1935 | North Acton |
| F H Dix | ? | ? | Oct 1931 | Saunderton |
William J Reynolds
1939
The National Register notes his date of birth as being 22.1.1902 and that he is living in Appleford.
|
Oct 1931 | Eynsham | ? | ? |
| A S Lane | Nov 1935 | Greenford | July 1938 | Oxford |
| W C Isles | Aug 1936 | Woodhay | Feb 1937 | Thatcham |
| R E Neate | Feb 1937 | Didcot | Apr 1940 | Cholsey |
| Wilfred L G West | Dec 1937 | Compton | Jan 1940 | Didcot |
D G Shackell
It is believed that this is the same D.Shackell who started as a Lad Porter at Culham in 1924 and went on to West Brompton.
No record has been found for his leaving of Culham, but the July 1947 edition of the Great Western Railway Magazine records his transfer from Cholsey to Didcot as a relief signalman.
|
May 1938 | Woodhay | pre 1947 | Cholsey? |
| Ronald L Bond | Aug 1938 | Upton | ? | ? |
| W J Elderfield | Jan 1940 | Highclere | ? | ? |
| W H Underwood | Nov 1941 | Abingdon | ? | ? |
| D C Bevan | ? | ? | May 1942 | Burnham |
Jack Walker
Jack Walker
Believed taken in the late 1940s
Image - courtesy of Pendon Museum
1945
His son suggested that Jack Walker moved to Culham in about 1945
|
circa 1945 | ? | ? | ? |
| P H Smith | ? | ? | June 1946 | Reading |
| E J Butler | Dec 1946 | Hampstead Norris | Aug 1947 | Radley |
| G Collins | Jan 1947 | Whitchurch (Lodge Bridge) | ? | ? |
| A R Woodley | ? | ? | June 1947 | Radley |
| S A Mumford | ? | ? | June 1947 | Oxford |
| H A Edwards | July 1947 | Hampstead Norris | Nov 1949 | Radley |
| D J McMiken | ? | ? | Nov 1949 | Didcot |
| A J Bowler | Aug 1947 | Chinnor | ? | ? |
| I G Jones | Aug 1947 | Upton & Blewbury | ? | ? |
| R G Crook | Oct 1947 | Cholsey | ? | ? |
| W Prior | Aug 1948 | Moreton Yard | ? | ? |
| C Butterworth | June 1949 | Moreton Yard | ? | ? |
| L D Broughton | Nov 1949 | Hampstead Norris | ? | ? |
| R Chalmers | Nov 1949 | Abingdon | ? | ? |
| A Blackman | July 1961 | Radley | ? | ? |
| V Membury | ? | ? | Sept 1961 | Oxford |
Other Staff
| Position | Start date | Transfer
from | Left date | Transfer
to |
|---|
Peter Playfair
It is believed Peter Playfair may have spent a few years as a Railway Policeman at Culham.
1851
No earlier record has been found of his time at Culham, but the Census of 1851 records him as aged 50 with the occupation of Hotel Keeper. His address is given as 'Abingdon Road Station Railway Hotel'. Presumably he had resigned his position with the GWR to change career a year or two previously.
|
Policeman | circa 1846 | ? | circa 1850 | resigned to run the Railway Hotel |
David Ireland
David Ireland
Taken at Didcot in 1917
Great Western Railway Magazine
1917
The June edition of the Great Western Railway magazine reported on three GWR pensioners who had returned to service. WE reproduce a photograph of three veterans who retired from the Great Western service some years ago, and volunteered to return to Didcot station after the outbreak of the war, to fill positions rendered vacant by men joining the Colours. They are all performing the duties of platform porters. The senior member is David Ireland, in the centre of the picture, age 73, who joined the service in 1862, and after working as "points-man" at Tackley, Kirtlington, Aynho and Culham, went to Didcot in 1864, and acted as ticket collector there until his retirement in 1910. During the whole of the 48 years' service Ireland was not absent from duty as many days through illness or other causes, apart from annual leave. Since his return to the Company's service, in December, 1914, he has not been absent from duty one day.
A Pointsman used to be responsible for manually operating the points, or switches, and pre-dated signalmen who did not come into being until the introduction of signal boxes in the 1870s.
|
Pointsman | 1862 | - | 1864 | Didcot |
Charles Tarrant
Charles Tarrant is the great grandfather of the broadcaster Chris Tarrant.
1873
No staff records have been found, but The following extract from a report in the Reading Mercury of Saturday 12th June 1915 confirms his early days at Culham.
At the G.W.R. Station, Reading, on June 3rd, a pleasant gathering of railway officials took place ..... advantage was taken of the occasion to hand a suitable gift to ex-District Relief Signalman Mr. C. Tarrant who retired from the company’s service last February, after serving 42 years. Mr. Tarrant, joined the G.W.R. Company’s service in February, 1873, at Steventon, as a policeman (as signalmen were at that time termed). From there he went to Culham in July of the same year, thence he was removed to Kirtlington (now called Bletchington), and in November, 1874, he was sent back to Culham to open the new signal-box.....
|
Policeman | July 1873 | ? | ? 1873 | Kirtlington (Bletchington) |
Walter Thomas Davis
1874
His GWR record shows that he first started in 'Goods' at Paddington during 1867. Several moves later saw him arrive at Culham from where he went to Hungerford, still classed as 'Goods'. From there he transferred to Pangbourne in late 1877 to become the Station Master.
|
Goods | Dec 1874 | Basingstoke | June 1876 | Hungerford |
George Hickman
1947
The August edition of the Great Western Railway magazine reported on a retirement. MR. G. HICKMAN, signalman, Steventon, who retired last winter after 56 years' service (including 44 years in the same signal box) has since been handed a sum in treasury notes with the best wishes of his colleagues in the district. He started as telegraph messenger at Culham in 1890 and served at Fenny Compton, Reading, Burghclere and Midgham before settling at Steventon.
See also George Hickman who started as a signalman in the mid 1880s and was probably his father.
|
Telegraph messenger | 1890 | - | ? | Fenny Compton |
| B Baldwin | Ganger | ? | ? | Feb 1928 | retired |
| Frederick J Clifton | Ganger | ? | ? | July 1932 | retired |
| William A Prior | Sub-ganger | Jan 1933 | Steventon | ? | ? |
| Kenneth W Deadman | Motor driver | ? | ? | Feb 1947 | Didcot |
| F W G T Jennings | Sub-ganger | ? | ? | Aug 1942 | Didcot |
| S Collett | Ganger | Mar 1949 | - | ? | ? |
| A Beesley | Ganger | Feb 1961 | Didcot | ? | ? |
Clerk
| Start date | Transfer
from | Left date | Transfer
to |
|---|
Charles Longstaff
1855
The GWR Register of Clerks shows him starting as a Booking Clerk at Culham before transferring to Abingdon, Didcot, then Oxford from where he was to resign in July 1859.
|
Dec 1855 | - | May 1856 | Abingdon |
Arthur Fry
1856
The GWR Register of Clerks shows him starting, aged 28, as a Booking Clerk at Didcot in 1854 before transferring to Abingdon and then to Culham between May and September 1856. From Culham he did a few months at Market Drayton before transferring to Oxford as a Goods clerk, and finally to Abingdon in 1859 from where he was to resign in February 1863.
The Census of 1861 shows him living with his wife and family in Thames Street, Abingdon.
|
May 1856 | Abingdon | Sept 1856 | Market Drayton |
Frederick Webber
1861
Census shows him living with his wife at 'Railway Station' with his occupation given as Railway Clerk. This implies he was working at Culham, but no other record has been found to support this.
The Census also records that Henry Charles Fenn Railway Station Master was a lodger at that time.
|
1861? | ? | ? | ? |
C A Mullington
1917
The GWR Register of New Clerks shows him starting as a Booking Clerk at Culham.
He was to return to Culham later.
|
June 1917 | - | May 1921 | Oxford |
L Bash
1917
The GWR Register of New Clerks shows him starting as a Booking Clerk at Culham.
No other records found.
|
Aug 1917 | - | ? | ? |
John D Midwinter
1921
The census shows him, aged 33y1m, living in Culham and being employed as a porter.
1939
The National Register records him him as having been born on 25.5.1890, living in Culham and being employed as a Goods Railway Porter.
It is thought likey that he was employed at Culham Station.
|
pre 1921? | ? | post 1939? | ? |
Reginald Ernest Gibson
1921
The Great Western Railway Magazine shows him moving to Culham and later to Bourne End.
The census of this year records him living in Sutton Courtenay and as having been born in Bayswater in 1903.
|
May 1921 | Paddington | Nov 1921 | Bourne End |
C A Mullington
1921
The Great Western Railway Magazine shows him returning to Culham.
No other records found until the note of his transfer a few months later in the magazine from January 1922.
|
Nov 1921 | Oxford | Jan 1922 | Lambourn |
| H Bush | Jan 1922 | Abingdon | Sept 1923 | Didcot |
| Leslie C H Beard | ? | ? | June 1925 | Didcot |
| F E Plumridge | May 1925 | Didcot | May 1926 | Didcot |
| V E H Fenner | ? | ? | Sept 1926 | Wiveliscombe |
| F H Duke | Nov 1926 | Paddington | Oct 1927 | Paddington |
| F D Johnson | ? | ? | July 1929 | Oxford |
| T May | ? | ? | Aug 1936 | Didcot |
Lamp Boy
Lad Porter
Porter
| Start date | Transfer
from | Left date | Transfer
to |
|---|
W Wedlake
Believed to be the father of James, John and George.
1907
The November edition of the Great Western Railway Magazine carried this entry which outlines his career. We regret to record the death of Goods Guard W. Wedlake at the age of 77. He had been pensioned for six years. Mr. Wedlake was born at Dunster, Somerset, in 1832, and commenced his railway career as Porter at Windsor in 1852. He was removed to Abingdon Road (now Culham) before the present Radley station was opened and when the Abingdon branch trains used to run to a point near Nuneham Bridge. He went to Wolverhampton as goods guard in 1856 and three years later was removed to Didcot, where he remained until his retirement in 1903 after 51 years’ service, during 47 of which he acted as goods guard. The funeral took place at Appleford on October 3rd, and was attended by representatives of all grades at Didcot, four goods guards acting as bearers. Mr. Wedlake left five sons, all of whom joined the service, and three are still on the staff.
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circa 1856 | Windsor | 1856 | Wolverhampton |
William Lynes
1868
Oxford Chronicle report of Saturday 15th August notes him as being a Porter at Culham
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1868? | ? | ? | ? |
Henry Rosier
1873
Interestingly, his staff record clearly shows that he started at Culham as a Porter in July 1873 and moved that same month on to Didcot.
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July 1873 | - | July 1873 | Didcot |
Charles Lewis
Charles Lewis
Taken on his retirement in May 1915
Image - Oxford Journal Illustrated
1874
The first GWR staff record we have found shows him starting as a Porter at Newbury in October 1874. The GWR Register of Uniformed Staff from June 1885 records him as first entering service with the GWR in July 1875 and being born in November 1851. He transferred to Culham in April 1875.
1881
Census shows him living in Appleford with his wife and two daughters, Nellie and Mary, and being a Railway Porter.
1891
Census shows the family has moved to the 'Station Master's House' close to the station. (Station House was not built until 1898). The family has grown to include a young son, Alfred Thomas.
1901
Census now records him, aged 49, living at 'Station House', so they must have moved in when it was newly built. Of the children, only Alfred, shown as being a Railway Messenger, is still at home. There are two lodgers, George Townsend who is the Station Master, and his wife.
1911
The census shows Chales Lewis is now aged 59, the lodgers have left and Alfred, now 25, is a Railway Porter also now at Culham. A granddaughter, Nellie Lewis Sweetzer is living with them also. She is the daughter of their daughter Nellie who married the son of Walter David Sweetzer who was a Porter at Culham from December 1895 to August 1896.
1915
The Oxford Journal Illustrated of 19th May reported that Charles Lewis had retired after 43 years service. He was still living in Station House at the time. It is likely that he would have vacated Station House upon his retirement and moved with his wife to live in 'The Bungalow'. This is next to the Railway Hotel and on the opposite side of the track to Station House.
1921
The census of this year records Charles Lewis as being a retired Goods Porter now aged 69y6m.
1936
The November issue of the Great Western Railway Magazine from this year carried a long article recalling "The Boys of the Old Brigade" which included this entry for Charles Lewis.
'Twenty one years ago Mr. Charles Lewis resigned from the service of the Company. He joined at Paddington in 1872, two years later was transferred to Newbury as a Porter, and in 1875 took a similar position at Culham, where he remained until his retirement in 1915. He lives in the little bungalow in the Culham station approach road, which he has occupied for nearly forty-six years, and has happy recollections of his working days at the adjacent station. He recalls with modest pride an occasion when he was instrumental in saving a woman and child from being run down by a train —an act of heroism upon which he was congratulated by the divisional superintendent. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis celebrated their diamond wedding three years ago, and although both are afflicted with deafness, they live happy and contented lives.
1939
The National Register shows Charles Lewis and his wife still living in 'The Bungalow, Culham Station'. His date of birth is noted as being 30.11.1851.
1944
The January edition of the Great Western Railway Magazine recorded his death on 29th November 1943 aged 91.
| April 1875 | Newbury | May 1915 | retired |
Thomas John Hazell
1882
The first entry found in GWR staff records shows him starting as a Porter at Culham before transferring to Moulsford as a signalman.
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May 1880 | - | May 1881 | Moulsford |
William John Yendell
1885
The GWR Register of Uniformed Staff from June 1885 records him as being a Porter at Culham, born in July 1866 and first entering GWR service (probably at Culham) in November 1880
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Nov 1880 | - | Nov 1885 | Kirtlington |
James Church
1882
The first entry found in GWR staff records shows him starting as a Porter at Culham, aged 18, before transferring to Pangbourne.
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Mar 1882 | - | Nov 1882 | Pangbourne |
William Thomas Kelpin
1880
William Thomas Kempin, born on Jan 19, 1867, was the son of Alfred Kempin, a Porter at Paddington. By 1871 Alfred had become a Guard at Oxford, and the family moved with him. William joined the GWR in October 1880 as a Slipper Boy at Oxford, and from September 1883 a Lad Parcels Porter. He was appointed Porter at Kirtlington and transferred to Culham in November 1885, in a swap with W J Yendell, but then in August 1886 (aged just 19½) was transferred away after rather serious indescretions to Pontypool Crane Street (see Culham in the News 1887). He resigned from GWR service in October 1887. |
Nov 1885 | Kirtlington | Aug 1886 | Pontypool |
William Frederick Fowler
1887
The first entry found in GWR staff records shows him starting as a Porter at Culham, aged 24, before transferring to Winchester as a Goods Porter.
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Oct 1887 | - | Feb 1888 | Winchester |
William Henry Hamblin
1888
The first entry against his name in GWR staff records shows him starting as a Porter aged 20, being born on 20.3.68, at Culham before transferring to Didcot as a signalman.
He would later return to Culham as a signalman.
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July 1888 | - | Jan 1889 | Didcot |
Alfred Shepherd
1890
GWR staff records show him starting as a Porter at Culham, before transferring to Devizes for a year. By 1895 he had become a signalman working at Tilehurst.
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Mar 1890 | - | Nov 1890 | Devizes |
Ernest Albert Meadham
1891
GWR staff records show him starting as a Porter at Culham, before transferring to Woodborough in Wiltshire, later becoming a signalman there. He then spent four years as a signalman before becoming variously a Passenger Guard and Inspector, mostly alternating between Paddington and Taplow.
On December 31st 1892 he was cautioned for being late on duty and delaying a train.
Possibly Albert William Meadham's father.
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July 1891 | - | Mar 1893 | Woodborough |
John Owen
1892
GWR staff records show him starting as an 18 year old Porter at Culham, before transferring to Wantage Road. He transferred to Reading as a Shunter in April 1896 but was injured in the July, presumably seriously as there is a terse note simply stating Deceased 1897.
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Nov 1892 | - | June 1894 | Wantage Road |
Albert Higgs
1894
GWR staff records show him starting as an 20 year old Porter at Culham, before transferring to Didcot as a signalman.
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June 1894 | - | July 1895 | Didcot |
Walter David Sweetzer
1895
GWR staff records show his full name as Walter David Jarveny Sweetzer and that he started as a Porter, aged 18, at Culham. He transferred to Highclere to become a signalman.
The National Register of 1939 records that he had returned to live in Abingdon working as a signalman and was born on 7.9.1877. It is not clear but he was presumably not working out of Culham.
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Dec 1895 | - | Aug 1896 | Highclere |
John Geater
1896
GWR staff records show him starting as a 21 year old porter at Culham before transferring to Reading to become a Shunter.
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Aug 1896 | - | Jun 1898 | Reading |
William John Burr
1897
GWR staff records show him starting as a 19 year old porter at Culham before transferring to Tilehurst.
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Dec 1897 | - | May 1898 | Tilehurst |
Herbert Edward Penny
1898
GWR staff records show him starting as a 19 year old porter at Culham before transferring to Woodhay as a Signal Porter.
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Oct 1898 | - | Jan 1901 | Woodhay |
George William Flatman
1899
GWR staff records show him starting as a porter at Culham before transferring to Shrivenham.
1901
Census records him, age 26, as a Railway Porter boarding with a family in 1 Station Cottage.
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Nov 1899 | - | July 1901 | Shrivenham |
Alfred Thomas Lewis
He is the son of Charles Lewis, the long serving goods porter at Culham.
1910
GWR staff records show him having started as a Lad Porter at Didcot in August 1902, and then as a porter there from June 1905, transferring to Culham in 1910.
1911
The census shows him aged 25 and living with his parents.
1914
GWR staff records show him becoming a Goods Porter in February 1914, still at Culham.
1921
The census shows him now living in Sutton Courtenay, so presumably still working at Culham.
1939
National Register shows him and his family living in Clifton Hampden with his occupation being Goods Porter, Railway. His date of birth is noted as being 13.12.1885.
It is not known when he left Culham as no other staff record has been found.
|
Feb 1910 | Didcot | ? | ? |
? Hudson
1914
Recorded in accident book as 'Porter Hudson, Fell from a train in motion' on 3rd October.
No other records found.
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1914? | ? | ? | ? |
