The Old Tramway Revived

Andrew Fincham – Chair of OTR Community Interest Company

Monday 19 April, 6pm

It is unlikely that any resident of Stratford upon Avon is unfamiliar with the Tramway Bridge, which spans the River Avon a hundred yards down from the much older Clopton Bridge. Many will know that an early railway once ran along this to Shipston-on-Stour, and ultimately on to Moreton-in-Marsh.

This talk is in two parts: the first explores the history of that railway, its pioneering role in transport engineering and infrastructure, and its ultimate end in the Warwickshire undergrowth. The second part concerns the future of the tramway route as a repurposed resource – helping to make cycling safer, promote health, provide facilities for leisure, and perhaps even to restore commercial ties between Stratford and Shipston. The plans for the project offer an opportunity for local contributions to the on-going discussion as to how best to make use of this historic landmark.

Dr Fincham is a social and economic historian of early modern Britain, researching the eighteenth century at the University of Birmingham.

The video of the presentation may be viewed on the Stratford Society's YouTube channel.