What are the opening hours?

Monday 12pm - 4pm Tuesday 12pm - 4pm Wednesday 12pm - 4pm Thursday 12pm - 4pm Friday 12pm - 4pm

Carnforth Station Heritage Centre

Name: Carnforth Station Heritage Centre
Address: Carnforth, LA59TR, GB
Telephone: 01524 735165
Price range: Not applicable

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Carnforth Station Heritage Centre

Heritage Centre

Operating as usual

15/12/2022

Christmas / New Year Opening Hours

Closed Sat 24th - Tues 27th inc
Open Wed 28th - Fri 30th inc from 12.00 - 4.00pm
Closed Sat 31st Dec - Mon 2nd Jan inc

From Tuesday 3rd Jan 2023, the Centre will be open Monday to Friday between 12.00 and 4.00pm

02/12/2022

24/10/2022

BAY BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2022.
Delighted to announce that the Heritage Centre has been shortlisted for the 'Tourism Visitor Attraction Award'

10/10/2022

Winter Opening Hours from 17th October
Monday to Friday 12.00 - 16.00

26/09/2022

New Exhibition in the Link Gallery from 4th October to end of December

12/09/2022

State Funeral - Monday 19th September.

As a mark of respect, the Heritage Centre and Refreshment Room will be closed all day

01/09/2022

Theatre by the Lake, Keswick - 14 Sept to 8 Oct
www.theatrebythelake.com/event/brief-encounter/

01/09/2022

BRIEF ENCOUNTER IN KESWICK
As part of a co-production with Stephen Joseph Theatre and the Octagon Theatre, the show has already been getting great reviews from audiences in Scarborough.
The cast will be arriving at Theatre by the Lake, Keswick very soon, ready for more romance in the Emma Rice stage adaptation of Noel Coward's original Brief Encounter, some of which was filmed here in Carnforth.
More details www.theatrebythelake.com/event/brief-encounter/

20/10/2021

New in our 'Lean To' Gallery - wander through Wonderland with us, where you could find things becoming 'curiouser and curiouser'.
To browse or to buy? Will you be tempted? You'll see lots of familiar characters along the way to help you decide.

03/06/2021

'The Lean-To' exhibition / retail area, featuring Crafts, Curios and Collectables is proving very popular - lots to see and very easy on the purse!!

20/05/2021

Welcome back!
Good to see so many visitors this week after such a long time. Even Carnforth Ted had a wonderful surprise when his cousin 'Big Eddy' called in to see him.
We are now open Monday to Friday 12.00 - 16.00 - please note that the Refreshment Room remains closed at the moment.

11/05/2021

We are delighted to confirm that the Heritage Centre will finally re-open on Monday 17th May - Carnforth Ted can't wait to see everyone.
A strict one way system will allow all exhibition areas to be available including our new area featuring 'Crafts, Curios and Collectables'
In order to remain Covid secure the following will apply:
Open Monday to Friday 12.00 - 16.00.
Visitors to 'sign in' on arrival and wear face masks at all times.
Social distancing to be observed at all times.

Please note that the privately owned and operated Refreshment Room has been sold and the new owners will be re-opening it as soon as possible.

We look forward to welcoming you and thank you for your support during these difficult times.

30/10/2020

November edition of 'Best of British' includes an excellent article celebrating the 75th Anniversary of 'Brief Encounter'
Available at all good newsagents or direct from https://shop.bestofbritish.co.uk

09/10/2020

Flying Scotsman just arrived from Bury prior to complete lockdown🤔

11/08/2020

Time for repairs

05/08/2020

We are delighted to have been recognised in the new Tripadvisor 'Travellers Choice' Awards for 2020.
'Travellers Choice' recognises businesses that earn consistently great user reviews, and the winners are among the top 10% of businesses on Tripadvisor.

12/02/2020

The most romantic car-free itineraries in the UK

Delighted to be included.

‘Love your planet’ is the message from environmental charities this Valentine’s. Ahead of the day, our car-free columnist maps out trips by train and bus

08/11/2019

John Reynolds 🇬🇧 on Twitter

Two awards on the same night.

“Congratulations to Carnforth Heritage Centre, winners of Visitor Attraction of the Year! ”

08/11/2019

Marketing Lancashire on Twitter

“The winner of the Small Visitor Attraction of the Year is Carnforth Station Heritage Centre ”

06/11/2019

'The Home of Brief Encounter'
Just having the platform signs adapted following our proposal being accepted by Arriva North - look good don't they

16/05/2019

Welcome to Carnforth - the 'Brief Encounter Special' is unveiled.

06/11/2018

Great Canal Journeys - Episode 5 will be shown this Sunday, 11th Nov on Channel 4 at 8.00pm highlighting Lancaster Canal and the Lakes - hopefully the filming at the Heritage Centre will also be included.

10/07/2018

Writer, broadcaster, actor and former M.P Gyles Brandreth paid us a visit yesterday.

30/05/2018

Timothy West and Prunella Scales filming at the Heritage Centre for the next series of 'Great Canal Journeys' due for transmission in the Autumn

17/10/2016

Fying Scotsman due to pass through Carnforth tomorrow (18th) at approx 12.54 on its way back to York from the East Lancs Railway.

04/08/2016

Delighted to announce that Margaret Barton and Lucy Fleming are our first Honorary Patrons.
Margaret played Beryl in Brief Encounter and opened the Centre in 2003. She now lives in Dorset and acts as an ambassador for the Heritage Centre at every opportunity.
Lucy Fleming is the youngest child of Celia Johnson, star of Brief Encounter and Peter Fleming and has extensive performing experience in theatre, TV and film.
Both Patrons said they were 'honoured' to accept the role

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p041fwtc

18/07/2016

Brief Encounter, Wayne Hemingway, Saturday Live - BBC Radio 4

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p041fwtc

Brief Encounter

14/07/2016

Lucy Fleming (Celia Johnson's daughter) and Julian Clary at the Centre yesterday filming with SKY Arts TV for a forthcoming documentary about Noel Coward.

02/05/2016

'Barging Round Britain' with John Sergeant.
Friday 6th May - ITV 8.00pm.
John takes in the delights of Lancaster Canal and gets to re-enact his favourite scene from Brief Encounter in the famous Refreshment Rooms.

21/04/2016

Victoria Wood - Brief Encounter parody

Much loved, never to be forgotten

Victoria Wood sketch parodying the film Brief Encounter. Buy the DVD, buy all the Victoria Wood DVDs - she's fantastic.

25/07/2015

Very special guests at our David Lean Exhibition - David's only child Peter with grandchildren Tracy and Nick.

28/02/2014

Never to be seen together again?
6 A4s at Shildon 18/2/14 - Photo courtesy of Phil Metcalfe.

23/03/2013

An original Carnforth 'totem' has completed its long journey from Santa Fe in New Mexico. Its owner Richard Gaddes moved out there in 1969 recently asked if we would like to display it in the Centre. We jumped at the chance and 44 years after it left these shores it is back at Carnforth Station
23 March 2013

Address

Carnforth
LA59TR

Opening Hours

Monday	12pm - 4pm
Tuesday	12pm - 4pm
Wednesday	12pm - 4pm
Thursday	12pm - 4pm
Friday	12pm - 4pm

Telephone

01524 735165

Website

http://www.carnforthstation.co.uk/

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Comments

Pop up model railway exhibition at Carnforth Station Heritage Centre 27th & 28th November 🚂

For all you model railway enthusiasts! 28th June to 5th July at Carnforth Station Heritage Centre 🚂

I know this is a long epic saga, but I wanted to write a poem about one of my all time favourite films, the classic and beautiful Brief Encounter....❤️

Brief Encounter........2021

She sat in the refreshment room
Waiting for her train
Lost in thought she sipped her tea
And hoped it wouldn’t rain
She stood upon the platform
When the express went through
Blowing grit into her eye
She didn’t know what to do

She went back for some water
To ease the agony
Luckily a friendly doctor
Just happened to see
He took out his handkerchief
Just like a gentleman would
He eased the pain out from her eye
As gentle as he could

She thanked him then profusely
As she went on her way
She didn’t think too much about it
Or so she thought that day
The following week they met again
Was it just by chance?
It’s how these things just happen
The start of a romance

She agreed to have lunch with him
So innocently
And then went to the cinema
To see a matinee
She felt something so wonderful
When they met again
They both were falling deeper
In love, he felt the same

The thing is they were married
Secure and happily
But couldn’t help these feelings
That made them feel so free
She fantasised about him
On the train back home
She had to think about him!
Just be left alone

She imagined them in Venice
The Paris opera too
Aboard a sunset liner
Sailing off into the blue
But then on the other hand
The crushing guilt she felt
Was heavy on her shoulders
Like a sad lament

Her husband and her children
Pulled apart each thought
She loved them so, but couldn’t help
These feelings so hard fought
Then one day it was too much
She felt it was a crime
But they agreed to spend a day together
One last time

He told her then he had a chance
To stop this misery
A chance to work in Africa
And take his family
Although they were so heartbroken
They knew it for the best
They never would forget each other
Till they were laid to rest

Their last minutes together
In that refreshment room
Were snatched away so cruelly,
Sadly all too soon
His train had come, he had to go
One last touch of his hand
She felt upon her shoulder
Left there like a brand

She felt so ill and desolate
She just could not think straight
Suddenly now he was gone
Her heart a sorry state
Left to it’s own devices
She had to get it back
Her aching heart felt like the train
Had crushed it on the track

She got into the carriage
Sighed into her seat
She felt like she was close to fainting
Fast from all the heat
She chatted with a lady
Who she wished she could tell
But the lady kept on talking
Although she did mean well

At last now in her own home
She sat so quietly
The sad strains of Rachmaninoff
Just added misery
Her husband was a kind man
Who asked if she felt well
Concerned he sensed
Something was wrong
He could always tell

She let her tears flow then
As he held her in his arms
He said whatever’s troubling you
We’ll work it out with calm
She cried until her tears run dry
She’d been so far away
‘Thank you for coming back to me’
Was all he had to say

She really did appreciate
His kindness and his care
But this secret of her heart
Forever will be there
Did they ever meet again?
Perhaps we’ll never know
We all have our interpretation
Which way did it go?

I’d like to think they met again
Even just for one day
Although now in their winter years
They’d have so much to say
They never would forget
Their precious time together
To them this brief encounter
Lives in their hearts forever

Hazel Houldey

© HAZEL HOULDEY. All rights reserved

Carnforth Station Heritage Centre

For your own Carnforth Ted, visit Carnforth Station Heritage Centre when it reopens on Monday!

Carnforth Station Heritage Centre

Carnforth - A Brief Encounter

Did you know the Carnforth was the location for filming part of the iconic film Brief Encounter in February 1945? Carnforth being the fictional ‘Milford Junction’ in the film, which has been dubbed "A black and white masterpiece". The film today still tops polls for the most romantic film ever made over 75 years later.

Directed by David Lean the film stars Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard, Stanley Holloway, and Joyce Carey. The film takes place just prior to World War II and tells the story of "A chance meeting in a suburban railway station which brings together Laura Jesson, a happily married woman, and Dr Alec Harvey - who is also married. They fall in love, but their secret happiness is marred by the furtive way they must carry on the affair and the realisation that eventually a choice must be made." (BBC)

Originally the intention was for the production to take place at a station in London but the Ministry of War Transport decided Carnforth was a safer option being far away from the capital and therefore unlikely to come under an enemy attack.

The station clock gained iconic status through being featured in the film. The history of the clock is not entirely clear, more details about its origin can be found here -https://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/retro/time-ticking-iconic-brief-encounter-clock-carnforth-station-2941308

The mechanical components of the clock, once thought to be lost, were recovered and the clock was able to be refurbished. It was restarted on Friday, 5 July, 2002, at 3pm. It is thought the clock was built c.1880 by Joyce of Whitchurch, unfortunately, due to a major fire at the manufacturers no records survive.

In 1996, Carnforth Station and Railway Trust Co Ltd. formed with the aim of refurbishing the station and turning it into a tourist attraction for fans of Brief Encounter. At Carnforth Station Heritage Centre you can Watch ‘Brief Encounter’ in their vintage mini cinema complete with tip-up seats and learn about the fascinating life of David Lean and the iconic films that he directed. The Heritage Centre is poised to reopen on the 17th May as long as the Government roadmap remains the same.

Can't believe it has been 6 years since we held an exhibition on the Bateman Gallery at Carnforth Station Heritage Centre!

Really looking forward to having an even bigger exhibition at Farfield Mill, Sedbergh from July to September this year! 🥰

S P R I N G • C O T T A G E • O F F E R

The Longlands Inn & Restaurant luxury self-catering cottages are often described as a home from home.

If this sounds good to you, then why not come and join us and take advantage of our Spring Cottage offer and enjoy our beautiful surroundings. There is so much to do around here you will be spoilt for choice!

Stay with us up to the end of April* for a minimum of 2 nights and you can bring your 4 legged friend for free. We will provide a dog bed, bowls and treats along with walking maps if you so wish!

T&c's apply

(*not valid over Easter holidays)

Call 01524 781256 to book your room.

visit Lancashire, Lancaster Canal, Lancaster Castle, The Lake District, Arnside, Sizergh Castle NT, Levens Hall, Carnforth Station Heritage Centre,

SPRING ROOM OFFER

Here at The New Inn Yealand, Spring is here (well hopefully!) and our Spring Room Offer is now available. Take advantage of this 2-night stay in a cosy standard room for just £209.

Our fabulous offer includes:
- one-night Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
- second night Bed & Breakfast,
- glass of fizz on arrival
- Walking map of the local area

With so much to see and do around the area 2 nights might not be long enough!
Leighton Hall, Lancashire, Leighton Moss RSPB reserve, Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Lake District, Cinderbarrow Miniature Railway, Carnforth Station Heritage Centre, Sustrans North West, Silverdale Golf Club

Upgrades available. This offer is valid from the 1st March to 30th May, Sun to Thurs (excludes Easter weekend).

Call 01524 805037 to book or visit https://thenewinnyealand.co.uk/special-offers/

Great publicity for our area in the The Guardian's most romantic car-free itineraires in the UK. Lancaster Carnforth and Silverdale make the list- of course! . Perfect for that Valentine's Day rendezvous, Lancaster BID visit Lancashire Visit Lancaster UK Carnforth Station Heritage Centre Carnforth Bookshop Silverdale, Lancashire Leighton Moss RSPB reserve Lancaster Maritime Museum Lancaster Castle ❤️

Congratulations Lancashire Tourism Awards Winners ! Lancaster On Ice The Flower Bowl Entertainment Centre Carnforth Station Heritage Centre Deco Publique Lancaster Escape Hipping Hall Moss Wood Caravan Park