21st October 2023
This week Axe Valley Men’s Shed held the last meeting at its home on the Valley Line Industrial Park. On Wednesday 1st November, following a flurry of activity, we will hold our first meeting at Axbridge Railway Station.
With the support of Axbridge Town Council, Axe Valley Men’s Shed recently signed a lease to take over the station site. First opened in 1869, the Strawberry Line was closed to passengers 60 years ago. After the track was removed to allow the bypass to be built, the station has been in community use by a variety of youth groups, before being abandoned and boarded up. Our initial focus has been on securing the buildings, making them safe, and cleaning up the interior. The practical skills and enthusiasm of our members mean we are looking forward to bringing the premises back to life, whilst retaining its historical character.
Axe Valley Men’s Shed a registered charity. Our aims are to provide a social meeting hub, with associated activities such as woodworking, model railway building , horticulture, or just chatting over a coffee and biscuits. We benefit those in the community wishing to meet with friends in a safe social space, and to help those recovering from mental or physical illnesses or traumatic events. Since our first meeting in the undercroft of Axbridge Methodist Church in 2019, and then our move to Cheddar in 2020, we have grown to around 50 members. We are excited for this new chapter, which will provide us with a more suitable space and give us certainty for years to come.
We hope you share our excitement and ask that you remain patient and supportive while the essential renovations take place on the site. We operate an open-door policy, so feel free to come along and say hello on a Wednesday morning – we would be delighted to show you around and tell you more about our activities. If you can help us with funding then please get in touch, or support us by donating through our GoFundMe page
Thanks to author Richard Harman for providing the station photos and line drawing.
