Tai Sesion / Station Houses

[Admin (Matt)]

75 dwelling estate c1898, built by LNWR Co. for the employees of the railway


Clarence Street




Orme View and Orme Terrace looking out onto Bangor and over the station below.

[matt2]

Forming Clarence Street (pictured above), Belmont Street, Orme Terrace, Orme View and Belmont House.

At the end of 1913 the LNWR owned no fewer than 9,022 dwelling houses or cottages, far more than any other railway company in Britain. In those days before mass council house construction this probably made the LNWR the largest landlord in the country, possibly in the world. War conditions meant that construction of dwellings virtually ceased after 1915 , and the widespread provision of municipal council housing estates from 1919 onwards made further new railway property mostly unnecessary.

Similar estates were established in Willesden, Saltney Ferry, Patricroft, Carnforth and Oxenholme.

Belmont Estate land.
London and North Western Railway (1880 -1923)
London Midland & Scottish (LMS) Railway Co (1923 to 1948)
British Railways (1948 - 1966)

Also of note is that The British Railways Board sold most of the estate to the Council in 1966 to supplement the social housing stock in the wake of the falling numbers of people employed by the railways in Bangor. It is at this point that many were extended and WC/Kitchen/Bathroom facilities were upgraded.  

The design and layout of the estate is unique in Bangor more reminiscent of Northern English cities

[Admin (Matt)]

View showing the station houses estate before virtually any other development in Ffriddeodd

Also captures the The Railway Institute.

1886 saw the establishment of the local branch to forward the social needs of the railway workforce championed by Mr Pacific Brown who campaigned for a purpose built venue.

'The Railway Institute' was the First Railway Temperance Hall in North Wales c1893 and was extended in 1905. The original section was built by Watkin Jones from the design of Mr W Lloyd Jones CE of the Railway Works Department on Land given by Lord Penrhyn.

Today the Institute is still in use, although I imagine they don't follow the temperance movement ethos (urging reduced or prohibited use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements typically criticise excessive alcohol use or promote complete abstinence).

Watkin Jones was Established in 1791, Carpenter Huw Jones began it all with a journey from Penmachno to Bangor – where his son, the first Watkin Jones, expanded the family business from carpentry into building, joinery and undertaking.






Robert Stephenson's bust which was in the Institute, now believed to have moved to the new Institute building in the former health clinic, Sackville Road

[Gareth H]

We always called it "Tai Station" using Welshlish as did my Dad (born there 1906). Outsiders called it "Spike Island" a reference to the railings that mostly surrounded it.

[Admin (Matt)]

Original and replaced stacks

[Admin (Matt)]

From a 3 page vellum indenture, linen plan, dated 24th January 1888 between The London and North Western Railway Company and Elizabeth William of Victoria Place, Bangor, Carnarvon (widow). The plan shows the Slate Tard, Engine Shed, signal box and the mouth of the tunnel. It has the seal of the NWR and the signature of the Secretary, the signature of Elizabeth and a witness. The third page has the signatures of Charles Hull and William Arthur Dew stating that the value of the land is correct.

[Admin (Matt)]

DEMOLITION of the Institute -  January 2016