TIMELINE

Year

Month

Event

1675

Property belonging to Miles Archer at Oxenholme assessed for 9 hearths

1710

Oct 6

Presentment by John Archer, esqr., that the highway leading from Pottbeck to Oxen Holme is very ruinous; order for repair before 1 December, by the inhabitants under pain of £10 fine. Kendal Order Book, 1696–1724.

1735

Dec 4

John Archer, doctor of physic and one of his majesty’s justices of the Peace for the county, died at Oxenholme. “He was a worthy man, an honor to his profession, an impartial magistrate, an amiable friend, a delight to his acquaintance, an happiness to his country.” Memento mori, published by Thomas Cotton, Kendal.

1841

Jun 6

Census: Only 1 household (Oxenholme Farm) with total population of 13 (9 males & 4 females)

1846

Sep 18

Official opening of 20 mile section of railway from Oxenholme to Lancaster and 2 mile section from Oxenholme to Kendal

1846

Dec 15

Main line from Oxenholme to Carlisle completed

1847

Mar

Branch line from Kendal to Windermere completed

1851

Mar 30

Census: Only 1 household (Oxenholme Farm) with total population of 12 (8 males & 4 females)

1851

May

Eleanor Hayhurst drowns in the canal close to Highgate Settings bridge

1853

Oct 14

Queen Victoria stops at Oxenholme Station

1861

Apr 30

Census: Just 8 households with total population of 40 (19 males & 21 females).

1862

George Teasdale granted licence to sell spirits at Oxenholme Station Inn

1868

Platelayer John Cross killed half a mile from Oxenholme Station

1871

Apr 2

Census: Just 8 households with total population of 35 (22 males & 13 females).

1871

Dec 9

James Armer gatekeeper killed at Oxenholme Level Crossing

1872

The parish of Natland, including Oxenholme, is formed – until then, Natland was a chapelry of Kendal

1872

In an Act (35 Vict., c. 87) for conferring additional powers on the London and North-Western Railway Co., leave was given to make a new road, instead of the existing level crossing at Oxenholme station, commencing from and out of the turnpike road leading from Kendal to K. Lonsdale at a point thereon 30 yards west of the point where that road crosses the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway on the level, and terminating by a junction with the same road at a point thereon 110 yards or thereabouts east of the said level crossing. They may stop up and discontinued as a turnpike road or public highway and appropriate to the purposes of their undertaking so much of the beforementioned existing turnpike road as extends for a distance of 5 yards on each side of the Railway.

1875

Head Porter Thompson Holmes loses arm

1878

In an Act (41 Vict. c. 181) for conferring further powers on the London and North-Western Railway Co., leave was given to acquire certain lands, houses and buildings lying on both sides of and adjoining the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway at the Oxenholme station on that railway. And certain other lands in the township of Natland lying on the west side of and adjoining the said railway, 400 yards or thereabouts south of the said station.

1878

William Phillipson, who attended the mail bags, was killed at Oxenholme Station

1880

Stewardson Martin, a workman for the station alterations, was killed at Oxenholme Station

1880/1

Oxenholme Station & Oxenholme Railway Shed rebuilt

1881

Apr 3

Census:

1885

Helmside Cottages built

1890

Jan 1

John Pears foreman porter killed at Oxenholme Station

1890

Station Road constructed and Oxenholme House built

1890

Jul 19

Thomas Howson 36 killed near Helmside Bridge

1890

Oct 16

William Langhorn porter killed at Oxenholme Junction

1890

Oct 25

John William Royston breaksman 36 killed near Oxenholme Station

1891

Apr 5

Census:

1896

Jan 15

John Dobson foreman porter 36 killed at Oxenholme Station

1896

Natland Terrace built

1897

Hill Place built

1901

Mar 31

Census:

1906

Helmside Road, linking Helmside and Natland Terrace, constructed and Mission Hall opens

1909

John Park shunter has lower limb amputated after accident at Oxenholme Station

1909

Jane Page found drowned in canal

1911

Apr 30

Census:

1913

Dec 1

Oxenholme Breaksman Harry Paine critically injured at Wigan and died Dec 5

1914 –

1918

First World War

1915

Jun 28

Private George Francis ‘Frank’ Askew dies at Gallipoli

1917

May 27

Private Douglas Swan Tweddle dies in France

1918

Mar 28

Private Alexander Cragghill dies at the Battle of Arras

1920

Jan 8

William Green killed at Oxenholme by Preston Express

1920

Jan 25

Private Herbert Nixon dies in Southern Russia

1921

Bolefoot building starts

1921

Natland and Oxenholme Women’s Institute formed

1923

London & North Western Railway (LNWR) becomes part of London, Midland & Scottish (LMS) Railway

1925

Ernest Nevinson dies following accident in Oxenholme shunting yard

1937

Electricity reaches Oxenholme

1938

Richard Hill  injured on railway

1939 –

1945

Second World War

1948

London, Midland & Scottish (LMS) Railway becomes London Midland Region (LMR) of British Railways

1951

Mission Hall closes

1958

Refreshment Room at Oxenholme Station transfers from British Transport Catering into private ownership of Jane Elizabeth Wilson. While under BTC control it was run by Miss M Place who lived at No 2 cottage. It had a beer cellar.

1962

Jun

Engine shed closes. Its last Shedmaster was W. Walker.

1962

Refreshment Room at Oxenholme Station closes. Sadly closure of the goods shed took away some of its trade.

1965

Feb 10

Armed man shoots three policemen at Oxenholme Station, killing Police Constable George William McKinley Russell, aged 35

1968

Road bridge raised in readiness for electrification

1969

Station closes to goods traffic

1971

Five people injured when Glasgow to Manchester express hit local train at Oxenholme Station

1971

Railway main line electrified

1973

Signal boxes at Oxenholme Station removed

1974

May

HM Queen Elizabeth II  arrives at Oxenholme Station

1977

Refreshment facilities return to Oxenholme Station

1985

May 25

HM Queen Elizabeth II  arrives at Oxenholme Station in the Royal Train to visit the Lake District and are received by Lord-Lieutenant for Cumbria, Sir Charles Graham, Bt

2013

Jul 17

HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH The Princess Royal visit Oxenholme

2015

Feb 10

Service to commemorate Police Constable George William McKinley Russell murdered at Oxenholme Station 50 years previously