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King Street - Station Buildings
Building the Network
In the second half of the Nineteenth Century, Wellington became an important rail junction and passengers could travel directly to many more locations than is now possible. When rail services between Wellington and Shrewsbury commenced, a new line to Stafford also opened, diverging from the main line to the north of King Street bridge. From just past that point, another branch opened in 1861 that was served by Wellington Station, running from a junction at Hadley southwards to Coalport, via Oakengates (which then had two stations). Earlier, in 1853, a line was sanctioned that travelled down through Ketley, Horsehay and Buildwas to Much Wenlock and Craven Arms over the Wenlock Edge. This route was opened in stages from 1857 onwards and was fully operational by November 1864, when a celebratory dinner was held at the Bull's Head Hotel in New Street to mark the event. The final part of Wellington's rail network was added in 1867, when the GWR opened a new route to Crewe, which left the Shrewsbury line at Orleton Lane, travelling through Admaston, Hodnet and Market Drayton before entering Cheshire.