In 1868 the Knighton Railway, Central Wales Railway and Central Wales Extension Railway were absorbed into the London North Western Railway. The LNWR was to work and maintain the railway.

 

Liverpool Daily Post 23rd March 1868

A SHROPSHIRE JURY

At the Shropshire Assizes, on  Saturday, Chie Baron Kelly was engaged nearly the whole of the day in trying a charge of assault alleged to have been committed in a railway carriage on the Knighton branch of the London and North-Western Railway. The prisoner, Thomas Griffiths, is a farmer of some position in the locality where he lives, being churchwarden of his parish and overseer of the poor; and the prosecutrix, a young girl 15 years of age, is a servant at a farm near Knighton. The evidence of the prosecutrix, which was given in a singularly straightforward manner, went to show that on the evening of the 30th December last she had been spending the Christmas holidays with her parents at Craven Arms. and went to the railway station at that place for the purpose of returning to service. Whilst waiting for the train she was accosted by the prisoner who asked her if he might get a ticket for her. She, not knowing him, declined his offer; but he persisted, and eventually she accepted a third class ticket from him and got into a carriage. He followed but did not take his seat in the same compartment. When the train reached Bucknell station, the point nearest to his home, the carriage, which had previously been full of passengers, was left empty with the exception of the prosecutrix, the prisoner, and another gentleman. The two men also got out at Bucknell, but the prisoner almost immediately returned and asked the prosecutrix if there was anybody in the carriage but herself. She replied in the negative, and the prisoner, to make sure, borrowed a lantern from one of the porters and examined the carriage, which was without a lamp. Being satisfied that she was alone, he got in and the train proceeded. As soon as it had started the prisoner made improper overtures to the girl, offering her at first a sovereign to accede to his proposals, and by degrees increasing the amount of the bribe till it reached the sum of £5. As she still declined, he forcibly threw her down on the floor of the carriage and committed the offence charged. The story of the prosecntrix was in some important respects corroborated by the railway officials, who deposed to the prisoner getting out of the carriage at Bucknell Station, borrowing a lamp from one of the porters, and eventually proceeding by the train to Knighton. The ticket-collector stated that the prisoner's ticket carried him only as far as Bucknell and that he rode to Knighton and back without a ticket, paying his fare on returning to Bucknell Station. The only witness called for the defence were witnesses as to the character of the prisoner which was stated to be unexceptionally good. The jury returned a verdict of acquittal.

 

Wrexham Advertiser 20th June 1868

A WOULD-BE JOCKEY. At the Borough Police Court, Shrewsbury, on Tuesday, David Charles Morgan, of Knighton, a lad of twelve years of age, was charged with  being concealed in a goods train travelling from Knighton to Shrewsbury. Robert Smith, a goods inspector at the Shrewsbury Station, stated that on the arrival of the goods train from Knighton that morning, about two o'clock, the boy was found concealed in a truck. He said he was working his way to Stanton, to be apprenticed to a jockey. The prisoner stated that his father put him in the truck and covered him up. The prisoner had been employed selling newspapers at the railway station, and having seen an advertisement for an apprentice as jockey, was proceeding to Stanton with the intention of applying for it. The lad was ordered to be handed over to the relieving-officer of St. Julian's till his parents were communicated with.

 

David Charles Morgan was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Morgan of 5 Bridge Street, Knighton.

 

Wellington Journal - 15th August 1868

A Young Thief - David Morgan, a lad of 12 years of age (on bail), was charged with stealing two first class tickets from the Booking Office of the Knighton Railway Station, on 13th July last. The case was clearly proved by Mr. Ravenscroft, stationmaster. Defendant admitted the charge, and desired to be delt leniently with. Sentenced to three weeks to Presteigne gaol and to have a flogging.

 

Aberystwyth Times - 4 December 1869

DEATHS - 23rd ult., aged 32, at Knighton Station, the wife of Mr E. RAVENSCROFT, stationmaster. This was Edwards first wife Catherine Emma (nee Smith). He married Mary Watkins in Knighton in 1871.

 

1871 Census

 

Station Master - Edward Ravenscroft 36

 

Edwards second wife, Mary Watkins, was the daughter of Samuel and Mary Watkins the proprietors of the Queens Head, Garth, Knighton. You can read the story of Samuels death here.

 

Edward and Mary's son Walter was drowned in the river Teme in January 1883. For more on this story, see here.

 

Edward Ravenscroft was the first official station master of Knighton. He held the post for 11 years and was also an active member of the Church choir. Born at Wem 3rd of September 1836 and died 25th October 1878. He is buried in Knighton churchyard.

 

Edward Ravenscroft - 20th February. The will of Edward Ravenscroft late of Knighton in the county of Radnor Foreman to William Banks and Son Manufacturers who died 25th October 1878 at Knighton, was proved at Hereford by Mary Ravenscroft of Knighton, Widow the Relict the sole Executrix. Personal effects under £100

 

Goods  -  Manager - John Abley 29

                 Guard - W. O. Hadden 25

 

Office Clerk - David Jarman 18

 

Locomotive - Driver - Harry Buxton 27

                       Cleaners - George Owen 18 & Thomas Roberts 22

                       Stoker - Joseph Gibbs 20

 

Inspectors - Isaac Udell 51

                     John Harrington 36

 

John Harrington was taken on as Inspector on 14th September 1872. He was salaried at £9.2s per month he died on 14th July 1886 by which time his wage had risen to £10 pm. (John was the husband of Sarah A & father of Ada & Emily Harrington in later censuses) - (John Harrington, of full age (30), Inspector on Railway, married Sarah Ann Long, 20, on 6th April 1865 in Holy Trinity Church, Newport, Monmouthshire)

 

John Harrington died in Knighton in July 1886. He was 51 years old. He was buried on 17th July in Knighton old cemetery.

 

Flags man - Thomas H Moss 30

 

Points man - John Bound 24

 

Porters - Alfred Read 20

               Charles Abbot 19

               George Fowler 25

               James Davies 24

               William H Thorning 21

 

Carter - David Wozencroft 32

 

Plate Layers - John Corbett 56

                        John Pryce 51

                        Robert Jones 24

                        Samuel Jones 36

                        Thomas Langford 39

                        Thomas Williams 41

 

Labourers - Charles Watts 22

                     George Morgan 43

                     Walter Pinches 22

                     William Davies 20

 

Knighton railway was originally only a single track but was doubled in 1871.It was reduced to a single track again when the line was rationalised in the 1960's

 

Shrewsbury Chronicle - 17th November 1871

KNIGHTON. SINGULAR RAILWAY ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN DEATH. —On Wednesday morning week, about a quarter to six o'clock, an accident happened between this town and Weston Ballast Works, where many men are employed for the double-line of rails in getting material for filling and ballast. Many of the men residing in Knighton, the ballast engine is sent to Knighton each morning to fetch the men to work, Weston being three miles distant. On the morning in question it went as usual, about 5.30, when the engine came in contact with some trucks and waggons, which had not been braked the previous evening by some remissness, and so escaping from the station, there being a slight incline, they had gone some distance to where the engine, with driver, stoker, and cleaner met them. The waggons toppled over on to the engine and tender, and it was only through the strength of the tender that the men were not smashed. The driver escaped with a shock, the stoker (J. Davies) with a severe cut down the face; but Thomas Jones, the cleaner, was crushed severely across the thighs, and his skull was fractured. He died on Monday. Mr. Covernton was the surgeon in the case, and did what could be done under the circumstances.

 

On the 1st of January 1875, William Mills became station master on a salary  of £5.16s.8d. a month. By 1st January 1887 this had risen to £9.3s.4d. He was struck off on 10th February 1890 due to ill health. On 17th May 1890 he returned to work.

 

Eddowes's Journal - 15th October 1879

AWFULLY SUDDEN DEATH. - On Saturday morning, between nine and ten o'clock, as Edward Townsend, head porter at Knighton station, was talking to a shunter named Lee, on the station platform, he suddenly fell down as if in a fit. Mr H O Brown, surgeon, was quickly in attendance, and pronounced life extinct, the cause being heart disease, for which Townsend had been under medical treatment. Great sympathy is felt for his widow, whom he leaves with one son.

 

Cardiff Times - 17 January 1880

FATAL ACCIDENT NEAR KNIGHTON An inquest was held on Wednesday on the body of a man named Bishop residing at Bucknell, who was killed on Tuesday morning. Deceased, who was a platelayer on the London and North-Western Railway, was at work on the up-line, but upon hearings the approach of the passenger train from Craven Arms, he crossed over to the siding, but as soon as the passenger train had passed, he re-crossed to the up-line, and it is supposed that the noise and steam from the passenger train prevented him hearing or seeing the approach of the local goods train from Knighton, which passed and knocked deceased down, scalping him, cutting off his right foot, and breaking his right leg. Death was immediate. A verdict of "Accidental death" was returned.

 

The death was registered in Knighton. The gentlman in question was 53 year old Richard Bishop. Richard, his wife, Mary Ann (nee Woodhouse), and their 2 daughters, Mary Ann and Sarah J lived in Nettledale, Bucknell.