History of the Old Station ⋆ Ross and Cromarty Heritage

History of the Old Station

Attribution: unknown (The ruin of Free Church in Jamestown)

History of the Old Station, Strathpeffer

Highland Railways Company had proposed that the line from Dingwall to Kyle of Lochalsh should pass through Strathpeffer but, due to objections from a local landowner, Sir William Mackenzie of Coul, the line ran to nearby Achterneed and so, from 1870 when a station opened there, visitors to Strathpeffer had to travel two miles by horse and trap from Achterneed to the Spa village.

Attribution: unknown

In 1897 the Highland Railway Company ran five trains a day on the branch line from Dingwall to Strathpeffer [see The Peffery Way]. The first train, at 7.40 am, was a mixed/mail passenger train. The journey took ten minutes.

After the death of Sir William these objections were removed and the ever-increasing popularity of the Spa meant an alternative site for a station was sought. The Station in its present central position in the village was built for the Highland Railway and opened in 1885, when the old station was renamed Achterneed. Until the first World War Strathpeffer Station served visitors to the popular holiday village in the heyday of the “Strathpeffer Spa Express”, but wartime occupation of the hotels and changes in travel habits meant that Strathpfeffer never fully regained its former glory. Mounting debts and lack of patronage brought about the closure to passengers in 1946 and to freight in March 1951. The Old Station was renovated in 1986 and now houses the Highland Museum of Childhood and various other craft outlets.

Attribution: unknown

Timeline of the Station

The Highland Museum of Childhood has produced a timeline of the station based on photographs, archives and memories, and the information below is quoted courtesy of their leaflet The Old Station Strathpeffer.

1884-1914 The Station’s Heyday
The branch line and station were built in 1884, opening June 1885. Murdoch Paterson, well-known architect and civil engineer was responsible for the design. The building included a stationmaster’s office, ticket office, waiting room, and offices/stores.

1914-1918 World War I The station was in use for wartime activity including bringing casualties by train to one of the four US Navy hospitals in the village (see Strathpeffer home page).

1918-1940 The Decline of the Station
The Highland Railway was absorbed into London, Midland and Scottish (LMS) Railways in 1923. In the 1930s a platform was built at the east end extending away friom the tracks towards the Goods Shed.

1940-1944 World War II
The station was in use for wartime activity.

1951-1980 After Railway Closure
After closure the station became mainly a coal depot until the early 1970s (see photo above). There was also an upholsterer’s workshop in the building.

1980-1990
The building included a cinema, toilets and a number of craft shops, including a cafê from the mid 1980s.

1990-2016
The Highland Museum of Childhood was established. The cafê continued to be popular. The basement under the entire station was filled in. Gents and Ladies toilets were available. Renovations took place in 1980 and the Goods Shed was built in 2010. The latter is an educational unit established by the Museum of Childhood.

Click on photo album to view thumbnails and then click thumbnail to see the full size images

Strathpeffer » Strathpeffer Places » Strathpeffer Commercial

Belgian Chocolate Factory

This building is now the Red Poppy restaurant.

The Craft Shop in Strathpeffer

Dunraven, Golf Course Road, early 1900s.

Dunraven, Golf Course Road, early 1900s. Dunraven dates from 1901 and was originally built by two sisters, Catherine and Aline Corbett, who saw the need to provide hotel accommodation for the many visitors who came to "take the waters" in this spa village. Following World War I the hotel became convalescent accommodation for wounded servicemen, and after World War II the Church of Scotland established it as a care home for the elderly until it closed in the 1970s and reverted to being a hotel. The building has been upgraded over the years and combines many original features with 21st century requirements.

Mackay's Hotel (2004)

The Pavilion after a 21st century refurbishment

The Pavilion after a 21st century refurbishment. It is now a venue for concerts, drama, art and food fairs, weddings etc.

The Pavilion - side view.

The Pavilion - rear view.

Adjacent to the Pavilion is the former Pump Room (open during the tourist season and staffed by volunteers).

Currently building is the Red Poppy restaurant

Peffery House, The Old Station Yard, Strathpeffer

Peffery House, The Old Station Yard, Strathpeffer. Peffery House is the purpose-built administrative headquarters of the Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board. (HOST). The architectural firm of Matheson, Mackenzie and Ross, in Dingwall, was commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Ross and Cromarty Enterprise to design and supervise its construction. Sited adjacent to the Old Victorian Station, the one-and-a-half storey building is designed to reflect and blend with the character of Victorian Strathpeffer. It was built by Morrison Construction of Inverness and was completed in May 1997. The 20 members of HOST's staff work in the areas of marketing, visitor services, research and personnel, using state-of-the-art computer and telecommunications links. http://www.host.co.uk

The Square, Strathpeffer.

Spa Petrol Station, now closed to the public (Oct. 1999) owned by Spa Motors.

Spa Motors (Coach Hire)

Founded in 1963 by Norman MacArthur as an Agricultural and Mechanical Engineering Business, in an old farm steading in the Kinettas area of Strathpeffer. In 1970 the business took a change in direction, the purchase of its first coach (a Bedford SB), and a service contract to convey school pupils from Achiltibuie/Ullapool to Dingwall Academy Hostels Nowadays transformed into a family partnership with a 26 vehicle fleet. Operations include - school, service and works contracts, Day Tours, British and European Holiday programmes. Also excursion programmes for Cruise liners berthing at local ports, Clan Gatherings and Conferences.

Afternoon tea at the Highland Hotel.

The Highland Hotel

The Highland Hotel occupies a prominent position overlooking the village square. It was built in 1911 by the Highland Railway Company to encourage passengers to use the Perth to Inverness railway line. During the First World War it was used as a convalescent home for wounded service men. In 1923, under the Railway Grouping Act, ownership of the hotel passed to the London Midland & Scottish Railway Company. During the Second World War the hotel was used as an army billet and for some years afterwards as army married quarters. In the 1950s the hotel was sold by British Railways and has had several owners since then. The current owners are part of the Shearings Coach Group and the hotel is now mainly used for touring coach parties.

The three pupils of Fodderty Primary 7

The three pupils of Fodderty Primary 7, who took the photographs in this section. Ruaridh McCready, Martin Gray, Kieron Wallace. Sept. 1998

The Strathpeffer Hotel (1998)

The Ben Wyvis Hotel (1998)

"the paper shop"

Known locally as "the paper shop" this building has served the village in many guises over the years, housing at different times the Post Office, a hairdresser's and a draper's, while the rear of the building provided accommodation for at least two families (complete with outside toilets which are still in situ). A traditional village shop selling everything from a needle to an aspirin but also providing for modern needs with video rentals, gifts and tourist souvenirs, Clan Heritage Tartan Scroll printing and, essentially, a National Lottery terminal.

Spa Pharmacy (left) and Hairdresser and Strathpeffer Crafts (right)

Spa Pharmacy (left) A traditional Pharmacy which contains many original features. It was originally two shops, the left hand side being the butcher's shop. It was opened as a Pharmacy around the early 1880's by a London Drug Firm, possibly Allen and Hanbury's. The appointed manager, Mr. T. Wellwood Maxwell, finally bought it in 1890 and remained there until 1936. Bought by the present owner's family in 1958. Mrs Margaret Spark has been the popular pharmacist for many years. Hairdresser and Strathpeffer Crafts (right) As with the rest of the Square Shops, these two were built in the 1840's as the spa began to develop. Has been both a Fruit Shop and a Sweet Shop. During the 1930's there was a small Sweet Factory behind the present building which supplied Confectionery. Originally there was accommodation above each shop but, apart from the Newsagent, all upstairs space is now for storage.

The Tourist Office in the Square.

The Tourist Office in the Square. The present tourist office opened in 1988 and stands in the village square. There is a staff of two and it is open from Easter to Mid-October. It is a busy office and gets many enquiries from quite far afield; the people who come into the office are mainly looking for accommodation. There are lots of pamphlets covering a wide range of places to visit and things to do in Ross and Cromarty plus many more for a wide surrounding area. They also have books and postcards for sale. It should be noted that the building is now (2015) occupied by "Square Wheels" a popular venue for the cycling fraternity.

The Shieling

Mackay's Spa Lodge Hotel (2004)

Evolution pillar in course of construction.

Wood carver's shop, Old Station.

Wood carver's shop, Old Station. For a number of years Mr Alistair Brebner had his wood carving premises here, creating memorable sculptures. His outstanding sculpture is the Evolution Pillar which remains beside these premises although Mr Brebner has retired from business. [See 'Features' to view more of Mr Brebner's work.]