Station Fireplace Restorations
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Reinstating History
As the close of the 2011 season permission was granted by Ian Longworth, Director of Transport for Isle of Man Railways, to commence work on returning the station masters' office to its original configuration - as part of the 1994 restoration this room had been split into two to form a small booking hall and internal ticket hatch, which saw the fireplace boarded over and blocked, the surround being knocked out and the original ticket hatch sealed up.
The workshop staff donated a cast iron fire surround similar to the original and this was installed by volunteers (arriving by rail on the footplate of a locomotive!), with period tiling also provided at their expense; the original exterior ticket hatch was also recommissioned as part of these works as well as replacement floor covering across the whole room and freeing up of the rear doorway which had not been used for a number of years.
Further Works & Funding
A modern electric stove was provided for the office in the intervening time, and by the beginning of 2025 owing largely to the sponsorship of Bushy's Brewery, work again began on the fireplaces; registered building consent was applied for and the decision taken to install a multi-fuel stove in the waiting room rather than an open grate, including a flue liner and cowl to improve efficiency. This brought to a close a long-term project which sees the office fire now once more in regular use.
In the office the open fire was to be retained and StoveTech (I.o.M.) were contacted to provide quotes for the work required on both hearths; accordingly the Friends Of... agreed the expenditure of £3,000.00 to complete these works so both fires could serve for many years to come. This too will keep the building dry, as it can get damp in the winter months effecting the fabric of the structure.
Fundraising & Volunteering
The office fire was lit for the first time in many years in December of 2011 and remained in use the following winter when the railway operated during a series of bus strikes; modern legislation however intervened and by the end of 2012 it had been deemed unsuitable for further use until a new concrete sub floor was provided. Fundraising for this then commenced in earnest but it was not until 2025 that the relevant hurdles had been jumped for completion.
In the meantime the waiting room fire which had also been recommissioned by the group with all fuel for it funded by donations, was in need of attention. A similar set of suitable period glazed tiles were purchased and installed on the surround to make good the frontage and the fire once again used on a regular basis in shoulder season. The office went on to be converted into a gift shop in 2017 for which the fireplace provides a backdrop.
Thanks & Acknowledgements
These works have been on the priority list for the group for several years and would not have been possible without the assistance of a number of parties, namely:-
Culture Vannin Graham & Rosie Faragher
Isle Of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association
Stovetech (I.o.M.) Limited Department Of Infrastructure
The Tile Gallery (2012) Limited Grant Taylor
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