Brunel’s Descendants Help Lay Foundations at Didcot Railway Centre
Visitors and heritage enthusiasts exploring the living history of the Great Western Railway can witness a significant milestone as reconstruction work begins on a historic 1850s station building. Descendants of the renowned engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel recently visited the site to participate in laying the initial plinth stones for the new Oxford Road station structure.
What to Expect from the New Oxford Road Station Project
The ongoing reconstruction features the historic Heyford station building, an early Great Western Railway structure originally based on Brunel's design for Box station. Characteristic architectural elements include a prominent booking office porch, a platform-side recessed section, and a wrap-around canopy supported by decorative cast-iron brackets featuring distinctive lion's head masks.
After being gifted to the Great Western Society decades ago, the structure was carefully dismantled by volunteers and preserved in pieces. Following years of meticulous planning, ground clearance, and the installation of modern reinforced foundations, the building is finally rising above ground level. Because the original base stones were left behind during the initial demolition, a generous benefactor's legacy has funded newly cut stone blocks tailored to modern construction standards while mirroring the historic aesthetic.
Contractors are collaborating with the site's dedicated volunteer team over the summer months to advance the building work.
To plan your visit, check out what's on exhibitions or browse the museums list to explore more heritage experiences across the region using Musemap (musemap.art). You can also plan your route directly on the map view.
