Railway Inn

So many times over the years have I driven past this sad old building. It’s on London Road, the main road into the centre of Carlisle. I have been fascinated to watch it get more and more derelict. At one time it had a For Sale sign, but now it just appears to have been abandoned. One day I thought - I will go into the new retail park next door and then walk back to take a photo. But I never did.

Then this morning we were stopped in traffic for some reason and I could take a picture without getting out of the car. It is still a rather lovely building, built in the red sandstone that most of the buildings in Carlisle are and it was obviously once a hotel. The puzzling thing is that it is the Railway Inn and yet Carlisle railway station is almost a mile away. Not terribly convenient, one might think.

However, a little research reveals that the first Carlisle station was on London Road opposite this building. This station was opened in 1836 and was the terminus of the Newcastle & Carlisle Railway. The Inn was built at the same time and opened in 1837. It must have been a rather grand building and actually had its own bowling green attached. 

Then in 1863 the station was moved closer to the city centre, the Citadel Station, which is used today, was built and the London Road station was closed. The Railway Inn remained and eventually became a public house. It was closed in 2005. It is a Listed Building, so presumably it will just be left, unless someone comes along to develop it. Interesting that the Inn sign is still there and is in good condition.