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Goods shed to be revamped following £216k award

Marcus BootheWest of England
Christopher Hil A black and white photo of a railway station. This picture has many different outbuildings surrounding the railway tracks. Next to the track is a long platform Christopher Hil
The museum will have interpretive panels inspired by photos taken in the 19th Century

A goods shed at a heritage railway is to be refurbished and a new exhibition opened following a six-figure Heritage Lottery award.

Dean Forest Railway's Parkend facility in Gloucestershire will feature an installation that will tell the story of its history.

Ian Pope, the railway's chair, said he was "delighted" with the £216,000 in new funding, while Tim McLennan, chair of the Dean Forest Railway Society, said he was "extremely pleased".

"This will see the goods shed become another jewel in the crown of Parkend station, offering more opportunities for our passengers to learn about the history and background of our railway and the wider area," McLennan added.

Christopher Hill This picture has a green and brown shed and a railway track in vision. The shed has multiple windows The shed has wooden steps leading to the front door. Other green outbuildings surround the shed. Christopher Hill
The goods shed is a building at a railway where items like coal, timber and parcels are loaded

The railway said the goods shed expansion would be "substantial".

Christopher Hill, honorary curator of the Dean Forest Museum, said the heritage railway has collected about 4,000 artefacts.

Currently the museum has about 2,000 on display but once the expansion is complete it is hoped more can be shown, including a recreational goods clerk's office with paperwork from the 19th Century.

The lottery grant, museum bosses added, would cover the "majority of the project costs", supplemented by support from Forest of Dean Railway and the Dean Forest Railway Society.

The money will also be crucial for fixing wear and tear.

"One of the major things we have to do is fix the original slate roof. It's an historic building but it's in need of real repair," added Hill.

BBC Archive Picture of a black steam train carrying multiple carriages. The train has the conductor and passengers leaning out the window as it approaches the station. The train is surrounded by trees and bushes. BBC Archive
Dean Forest Railway was awarded £216,000 to refurbish site and create a new exhibition

This "major milestone" for the museum will strengthen its mission to preserve the railway, which will offer "more opportunities for our passengers to learn about the history and background" of the Forest of Dean's industrial history, said McLennan.

Hill said he wants the refurbishment to attract people of all ages.

"We are hoping the grant will help us get costumes for children and school groups - Victorian and Edwardian outfits and maybe even 1930s kit."

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