Sutton Town Station

[Mark Tooze]

Sutton Coldfield Town Station sat on the Sutton Park line between Penns and Sutton Park Stations - situated just at the top of the town centre on Midland Drive - see OS map below - Sutton Coldfield station (the one still in use) is top left - Sutton Park station is just off the top of the map:-

The station closed in 1924 - the up station platform building is still in use today as offices and is beautifully preserved:-


This is the platform facing side of the station building:-


If you do a little "urban exploring" however - you can get to the other side of the line - this is where the Sutton Park line crosses over the Cross-City line going into Sutton Coldfield station - Sutton Town station is just off-picture to the left:-

 

[Mark Tooze]

If you keep going (tip - do it in winter to avoid getting stung to death, and wear good boots....) - you can access the down platform where, incredibly the other station building is still extant - 98 years after it closed:-



This is the platform facing side:-

 

[Mark Tooze]

The building is badly vandalised (proceed with extreme care!!) - but signs of its former life still are visible:-

Tiled floors and (just visible in the corner) and original wooden waiting room bench:-

Tiled floors visible in all 3 rooms:-


Two fireplaces are still intact (well just.... - apologies for the grafitti content):-



The roof tie bars still exist (although the roof itself needs some minor repair work....)


There is still parts of one of the guttering downpipes as well - note the wonderful colouring on the brickwork:-

 

[Mark Tooze]

The fireplace chimneys stand proud above the destruction and deriliction:-



Windows peek out from under the greenery:-



The building is slowly being reclaimed by nature:-

 

[Mark Tooze]

On the plus side, you can get a better view of the platform facing side of the other station building:-

 

[Clive F]

Wonderful photos Mark. I live less than a mile from that historic station and I'd never given thought to the derelict building on the other side of the track. Being a goods only line there's not much opportunity to explore although I've had a good look at Sutton Park station just further down the line.

 

[Astoness]

smashing photos mark apart from the ones of the building in such a bad way...very sad to see

lyn

 

[mw0njm.]

see also

Disused Stations: Sutton Coldfield Station

 

[Mark Tooze]

Today I had the chance to re-visit Sutton Town Station, equipped with something a bit better than an Iphone camera and without a dog on my arm. Here are some close up photos of the building and some of its remaining fittings, plus some detailed photos of the interior - apologies if any of the graffiti offends:-

Firstly - this is how well camouflaged the building is:-



Next inside the building with the roof falling down

 

[Mark Tooze]

And some more:-







This could possibly be a ladder from an old signal post??


Fireplace in a waiting room:-


View of the chimney stack through what is left of the roof:-

 

[Mark Tooze]

And some more:-

 

[Mark Tooze]

Now for some close ups:-

A rope hanging from one of the roof support bars:-


A bird nest in the corner of the roof:-


Roof beam support:-



Nature peeks through a high window:-


Original window rope:-


Nature creeps over the roof stonework:-


Original gutter downpipe:-

 

[Mark Tooze]

And some more:-

Detail of one of the upper windows:-



Top of chimney stack - note the different types and colours of bricks:-



Rotting and crumbling roof:-

 

[Mark Tooze]

More closeups:-

Original window - joint and saw cuts still visible:-



A newish rope on the old roof truss and gas pipe - even this is being reclaimed by spiders:-


Gas / Electric pipe on one of the roof truss supports:-



Rotting roof again - but lovely grain detail on the wood:-


Window with rope and pulley:-



And a closed off gas pipe (probably for the original lighting??):-

 

[Mark Tooze]

Next - Spaghetti Junction of rusting roof support bars:-


Roof flashing trying not to go the same way as the roof:-


Rotting roof beam complete with rusty nails and many colours of moss and mould:-


Very new life on a very old wall:-


Another window with branches growing through it:-



Finally - as the wood rots away the slate tiles hang on:-

 

[Astoness]

thanks for those photos mark...how very sad to see them but just a bit more proof of the who cares about our old buildings attitude..

lyn

 

[A Sparks]

Great photos!

 

[Mark Tooze]

This building is remarkable considering it was closed 100 years ago - and still survives reasonably intact in the middle of a very built up area.

The user of this ticket would no doubt have exited through this very building after spending their elevenpence:-:-


The user of this eight-penny ticket would have used the opposite platform in 1898:-


As would the user of this tuppenny ticket from the next station down the road in 1902:-

 

[Richard Dye]

More great phots!
How far apart are the town and other station?

Thanks,

 

[Mark Tooze]

Hi Richard - very close!

Sutton Park station is on the left - the site is is now the Royal Mail sorting office. Sutton Coldfield station is in the middle, and Sutton Town station is on the right. 5 minute walk between each.

 

[Richard Dye]

Hi Richard - very close!
View attachment 188638
Sutton Park station is on the left - the site is is now the Royal Mail sorting office. Sutton Coldfield station is in the middle, and Sutton Town station is on the right. 5 minute walk between each.

Thank you!