Step back in time at abandoned £35K train station next to A55 with hidden tunnel nearby

An old railway station abandoned 72 years ago will go up for auction next month with a guide price of £35,000-£45,000. As the building has never been converted, the interior is part-derelict but retains the feel of a classic railway halt from the past.

Trains last called at the two-tone brick station in Pentre Berw, Anglesey, in 1952, though the track remained in use until 1993. It lay on the southern end of Anglesey Central Railway (ACR) which ran 17.5-miles from Amlwch to Gaerwen. The railway is now being restored slowly by enthusiasts.

Pentre Berw station is tucked away on the edge of the village. The old railway line still runs alongside it, now overgrown and, in places, deep in mud. Just a few yards away is a tunnel running underneath the A55 which carries the disused line from Gaerwen to Llangefni.

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Inside, the original fixtures and fittings give a taste of what life was like for passengers alighting in Pentre Berw. There were two waiting rooms – one was specifically allocated for ladies and had its own entrance from the platform. The larger of the two still has a period fireplace and an internal window connecting to the ticket office, where a large countertop remains in place.

An intriguing feature for potential buyers is the size of the toilet room – it’s the largest in the entire building and can currently only be accessed from the outside. Toilet cubicles are still present in a double-height space that could be replicated in the other rooms if ceilings are stripped out.

There’s another small WC in the ladies’ waiting room, beyond which is the station’s old lamp room. Its function dates back to the days when the stationmaster had to refill the oil lamps needed for signalling and platform lamps before gas or electric lighting came along.

The Pentre Berw stop was commonly known as the Holland Arms railway station because of the proximity of a hotel by that name. Originally, the station was a just a wooden building.

This was replaced by the brick building that’s now up for auction. Its construction was commemorated via a stone plaque, dated of 1891, built into the façade and still present. Sign up now for the latest news on the North Wales Live Whatsapp community

At one point a second platform was added and a small goods yard was built. According to author Geraint Jones in the book Anglesey Railways, from 1908 the train line also served as the junction for the Red Wharf Bay branch line.

ACR closed to passengers in 1964, and to freight services in 1993, since when the track has been slowly reclaimed by nature. Regarded as one of Anglesey’s greatest unused assets, in recent years it’s become a battleground between groups with conflicting ambitions for the line.

While the Friends of Lôn Las Môn envisage a multi-user track for walkers, runners, cyclists and horse riders, heritage buffs are determined to reopen the line not only to provide a link with the past but to give north Anglesey an economic boost through tourism.

As Lein Amlwch, an ACR support group, has a 99-year lease on the line from Network Rail, it is firmly in the driving seat. Its volunteers are laboriously clearing the line and the pace has picked up this year.

The Gaerwen-Llangefni section, on which Pentre Berw station lies, is scheduled last for clearance. For trains to run on this section again, a new bridge in Llangefni will need to be built.

Some have suggested that Lein Amlwch should consider a bid for Pentre Berw station itself - Anglesey residents have even offered to contribute. But the hammer price could rise beyond the guide price and significant renovation costs will also be needed, making it a tricky proposition for the railway group without a benefactor.

Otherwise, the building could make a delightfully quirky home for someone, subject to planning consent. It’s not clear who owns the platform itself – but in theory this would provide an unusual alfresco spot for dining and entertaining.

The station would be ideal for some who loves railways, history or unusual homes – or all three. Some would like it to become a craft brewery – if only so it could be named "Pentre Brew". Get the best island stories from our Anglesey newsletter - sent every Friday

• Pentre Berw railway station is being sold via online auction by All Wales Auction. Provisional bids are needed by Thursday, July 11, unless sold or withdrawn prior to this date. For details, contact Williams & Goodwin estate agents, Llangefni, on 01248 751000.

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