One of Herefordshire’s more quirky holiday breaks has added to its accommodation. Rowden Mill, near Bromyard, offers an award-winning self-catering site in a former Great Western Railway station.
Built in the 1890s, removed from public service in the 1950s and then finally renovated in 1984 after falling into disarray, Rowden Mill Station has been outwardly restored to its original specifications – while internally it is now fully equipped for modern living.
The old station building and parcel office are already used for family and couple stays, but now the popular destination is offering a new place to stay.
On October 1, 2020, Saloon Coach DB 999508 moved into preservation at Rowden Mill Station. It resides at Platform two, a few meters along the line from the main platform. It sits within a wooded railway cutting set against a backdrop of the stone railway bridge.
After 21 months of conversion work, owners Cecilia and Paul have repurposed this piece of British railway history into quirky holiday accommodation.
The coach interior has wood panelled walls and sleeps four people in two bedrooms.
The main bedroom is part of one of the former saloons and has panoramic views to both sides of the track and along the green platform. The second sleeping compartment has a set of full size bunk beds and looks out onto the fern and tree lined embankment.
The owners said that after nearly two years getting it ready, the saloon coach was unveiled at the start of July, with the first guests (who had booked a year earlier) arriving on the first day of the month.
