ECCLESTON
is a beautiful little village, about two miles from Chester, much resorted to by the inhabitants of that city, and by strangers, from its vicinity to Eaton Hall. The chief object of attraction is the church, built in 1810 by the late Marquis of Westminster. The interior of the church is chaste and handsome; in the north transept is the mausoleum of the Eaton family, and opposite to it their pew: over the altar is a fine painting, by Westall, of the Dead Christ.
CHAPTER VII.
THE GENERAL RAILWAY STATION
is situated in Flookersbrook, and is the terminus of five different lines of railway—viz., the London and North Western; the Chester and Holyhead; the Chester and Mold; the Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction; and the Great Western: four of which companies contributed, in rateable proportions, towards the erection of the building. It is one of the most extensive railway establishments in the kingdom, and the works comprise a large and elegant passenger and arrival shed, with all suitable offices, and adjoining which is a most commodious spare carriage shed, a goods depôt, gas works, water works, and three engine sheds. The whole was designed by C. H. Wild, Esq., C.E., and Mr. Thompson, of London, and carried out under the supervision of Robert Stephenson, Esq., C.E., M.P.
The Passenger Shed occupies a space of ground nearly a quarter of a mile in length, and presents to the city an elegant façade 1,010 feet long, or a frontage, including the house and carriage landings, of 1,160 feet. It is built of dark-coloured bricks, relieved with copings and facings of Stourton stone. At each end of the station, and projecting from the main building, there is a shed for the arrival of trains, each 290 feet long by 24 feet broad, covered with an iron roof; in these sheds cabs and omnibuses await the arrival of all trains.
On the inner side of the building is the General Departure Platform, extending 740 feet in length by 20 feet in width; this and three lines of rails is covered with an exceedingly chaste and elegant iron roof, of 60 feet span, designed and carried out by C. H. Wild, Esq., C.E. Behind this shed again, but visible from the general platform through the arches, is the spare carriage shed, 600 feet long by 52 feet broad. The whole arrangements of the buildings are admirably adapted to carry on, with comfort to the public and with facility to the employés, the immense business that has so suddenly been brought to the city by the convergence of so many railways at this point.
The Goods Depôt is situated immediately behind the passengers’ building, and fully accords with it in style. It consists of a shed, 180 feet long and 120 feet wide, with four railway entrances; and containing three platforms or decks, furnished with 18 cranes and light weighing machines, and the waggons are run alongside the decks to receive or discharge their loads.
The extent of land purchased by the general station committee for station purposes is about 75 acres; and within the station precincts there are more than 7 miles of railway line, with 51 turntables. The gross cost of the land and buildings has been about £240,000. A spacious hotel will soon be erected on the land opposite to the station.
The affairs of the station are superintended by a committee of 8 gentlemen, who are elected from the boards of the four contributing companies, and their views are carried out by their manager and secretary, R. L. Jones, Esq., who has so well organized his large staff of officers and men, that the arduous and responsible duties devolving upon him are performed, not only with the greatest efficiency, but also with a most satisfactory courtesy and convenience to the public.