Chapter VII · THE GENERAL RAILWAY STATION

is situated in Flookersbrook, and is the terminus of five different lines of railway—viz., the London and North Western; the Chester and Holyhead; the Chester and Mold; the Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction; and the Great Western: four of which companies contributed, in rateable proportions, towards the erection of the building. It is one of the most extensive railway establishments in the kingdom, and the works comprise a large and elegant passenger and arrival shed, with all suitable offices, and adjoining which is a most commodious spare carriage shed, a goods depôt, gas works, water works, and three engine sheds. The whole was designed by C. H. Wild, Esq., C.E., and Mr. Thompson, of London, and carried out under the supervision of Robert Stephenson, Esq., C.E., M.P.

The Passenger Shed occupies a space of ground nearly a quarter of a mile in length, and presents to the city an elegant façade 1,010 feet long, or a frontage, including the house and carriage landings, of 1,160 feet. It is built of dark-coloured bricks, relieved with copings and facings of Stourton stone. At each end of the station, and projecting from the main building, there is a shed for the arrival of trains, each 290 feet long by 24 feet broad, covered with an iron roof; in these sheds cabs and omnibuses await the arrival of all trains.

On the inner side of the building is the General Departure Platform, extending 740 feet in length by 20 feet in width; this and three lines of rails is covered with an exceedingly chaste and elegant iron roof, of 60 feet span, designed and carried out by C. H. Wild, Esq., C.E. Behind this shed again, but visible from the general platform through the arches, is the spare carriage shed, 600 feet long by 52 feet broad. The whole arrangements of the buildings are admirably adapted to carry on, with comfort to the public and with facility to the employés, the immense business that has so suddenly been brought to the city by the convergence of so many railways at this point.

The Goods Depôt is situated immediately behind the passengers’ building, and fully accords with it in style. It consists of a shed, 180 feet long and 120 feet wide, with four railway entrances; and containing three platforms or decks, furnished with 18 cranes and light weighing machines, and the waggons are run alongside the decks to receive or discharge their loads.

The extent of land purchased by the general station committee for station purposes is about 75 acres; and within the station precincts there are more than 7 miles of railway line, with 51 turntables. The gross cost of the land and buildings has been about £240,000. A spacious hotel will soon be erected on the land opposite to the station.

The affairs of the station are superintended by a committee of 8 gentlemen, who are elected from the boards of the four contributing companies, and their views are carried out by their manager and secretary, R. L. Jones, Esq., who has so well organized his large staff of officers and men, that the arduous and responsible duties devolving upon him are performed, not only with the greatest efficiency, but also with a most satisfactory courtesy and convenience to the public.

CAB FARES.

Not exceeding three persons; to or from the Railway Station in Brook-street—from or to any part of the city, within the point where the Whitchurch and Northwich roads turn off—Abbot’s Grange and the College—the Sluice House, including Crane-street and Paradise-row—the Maypole in Handbridge, and the New Bridge toll-house, One Shilling. The same distance; four persons, One Shilling and Sixpence. Any distance beyond the Borough, One Shilling per mile. No gratuities allowed to be demanded by the drivers of any cars plying within the Borough boundary, and no charge to be made for luggage not exceeding 100 lbs. in weight.

FARES TO OR FROM ANY OTHER PART OF THE CITY.

Not exceeding three persons; any distance not exceeding 1 mile, One Shilling; and at the rate of One Shilling per mile for every additional mile; and Sixpence for every additional half-mile or fractional part of half a mile. For four persons; any distance not exceeding 1 mile, One Shilling and Sixpence. For four persons; any distance exceeding 1 mile, and not exceeding 2 miles, Two Shillings. For four persons; any distance exceeding 2 miles, at the rate of Two Shillings for the first mile, and One Shilling per mile for every additional mile, and Sixpence for every additional half-mile or fractional part of half a mile.

BY TIME.

Not exceeding 1 hour, Two Shillings and Sixpence; and Sixpence for every 15 minutes and fractional part of 15 minutes beyond the hour. In all cases it shall be at the option of the owner or driver to charge by time or distance.

THE POPULATION OF CHESTER.

According to the Census, taken March 31st, 1851, the following is a statement of the population of each parish.

PARISHES OF MALES. FEMALES. TOTAL.

St. Oswald 3,243 3,430 6,673

St. Peter 430 518 948

St. Bridget 360 501 861

St. Martin 232 304 536

Trinity 1,499 1,875 3,374

Little St. John’s Hospital 39 12 51

Cathedral Precincts 145 232 377

St. John 3,995 4,492 8,487

St. Mary 1,620 1,688 3,308

St. Michael 346 429 775

St. Olave 265 253 518

Township of Great Boughton (Borough portion) 445 514 959

Spittal Boughton 69 89 158

Chester Castle 507 84 591

POPULATION OF CHESTER IN

1811 17,472

1821 19,949

1831 21,373

1841 23,375

1851 27,616

DISTANCES FROM TOWN TO TOWN IN THE COUNTY OF CHESTER.

The names of the respective Towns are on the top and side, and the square where both meet gives the distance.

Distance from London.

Altrincham 180

Chester 31 Chester 182

Congleton 21 33 Congleton 162

Frodsham 24 10 29 Frodsham 192

Knutsford 7 25 14 17 Knutsford 176

Macclesfield 16 38 9 28 12 Macclesfield 167

Malpas 37 15 30 24 33 35 Malpas 169

Middlewich 16 20 13 18 9 18 24 Middlewich 167

Mottram 17 48 25 40 22 16 51 31 Mottram 187

Nantwich 28 20 18 24 21 23 12 12 43 Nantwich 164

Northwich 13 18 19 12 7 20 26 6 30 17 Northwich 174

Parkgate 36 10 42 16 31 45 26 30 53 30 28 Parkgate 190

Runcorn 24 15 36 6 16 28 30 20 41 27 14 20 Runcorn 188

Sandbach 19 25 9 23 11 17 22 5 41 10 11 35 25 Sandbach 162

Stockport 9 40 20 33 14 12 44 23 8 35 22 45 33 25 Stockport 179

Tarporley 25 10 25 15 19 26 14 10 42 9 12 20 16 15 34 Tarporley 172

Tarvin 25 6 27 10 19 32 18 14 42 14 12 16 12 19 34 4 Tarvin 178

HOTELS.

The principal Hotels in Chester are—the Royal, at the Eastgate; the Albion, in Lower Bridge-street; the Green Dragon, in Eastgate-street; the Feathers, in Bridge-street; the Blossoms and the Hop-pole, in Foregate-street; the White Lion, in Northgate-street; the Liverpool Arms, in Brook-street, near the Railway Station; the Ermine, at Flookersbrook, near the Station; the Golden Lion, Foregate-street; the Saracen’s Head, near the Exchange; the Kitchen, at the Eastgate; besides many others of very good repute.