Legacy of railway stationmaster marked through new housing development

The memory of a 19th century stationmaster will live on through the creation of a new housing development.

Wakefield Gardens in Lazonby, Cumbria, has been named after Thomas Wakefield who served as stationmaster at the village’s railway station between 1890 and 1898. Lazonby and Kirkoswald Station is on the historic Settle to Carlisle Railway and was reinstated in 1986, and the Genesis Homes team wanted to pay homage to the rich history of the station with its new housing development.

Development Director Scott Edwards said: “For many communities up and down the line, the Settle to Carlisle Railway means a great deal and it plays a huge role in connecting smaller villages in our area. It was interesting to find out more about the history of the railway line and see how vital it has been to the village of Lazonby over the years, and we were keen to recognise that when it was decided we would build in the village."

“The Wakefield family played an important part in the development of the railway for more than half a century, and we’re delighted to keep the memory of the family alive by naming the development in their honour.”

Thomas was just 14 years old when he started his railway career when he was taken on as a junior clerk at Clay Cross Station, in Derbyshire, following in the footsteps of his father Thomas snr, who had worked as a railway store keeper.

Having moved to work at stations in Staveley, Derby and Langwathby, Thomas jnr moved to nearby Lazonby in February 1890 where he served in the role of station master until transferring to Yorkshire and Chapeltown Railway Station nine years later.

Scott said: “Learning of Thomas Wakefield’s life and responsibilities within the local railway system has been absolutely fascinating, and it’s really important that the roles of such people are kept in the public domain. We’re indebted to the Midland Railway Society and the Lazonby History Society, particularly historian David Occomore, for their help in researching Thomas jnr’s life in more detail.”

Wakefield Gardens is the second development Genesis Homes have named in homage to local rail history following its successful Sanders Brow development in Armathwaite.

The development was named in respect of John Holloway Sanders who served as an architect for Midland Railways and designed a number of railway stations on the Carlisle to Settle Line, including Armathwaite and Lazonby and Kirkoswald, both in 1876.

Homes at Wakefield Gardens are now on sale, with a total of 59 homes available. The development consists of a mix of two to five bedroom homes and two bedroom bungalows.