Barnstaple Town signal box appeal
Help us restore this original signal box from the L&BR has been recovered from a North Devon garden where it was used as a summerhouse.
The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway signal box from Barnstaple Town, a standard Evans, O'Donnell & Co. design, was acquired by the trust in 2023 and is in the early stages of restoration. The box served the line from its opening in 1898 until closure in 1935.
Our Thursday gang did a fantastic job dismantling the box incurring minimal damage, beyond that incurred over time, in the process. However, as with any wooden building in excess of 125 years old, there's inevitably a substantial amount of work required to deal with including areas of rot, woodworm, failing historical repairs and the need to fabricate new components.
The volunteer team rebuilding the box are trying to preserve as much as possible of the original structure, but also ensuring the building will be able to survive for many more years in the harsh North Devon climate. The signal box is a substantial structure, approx 4m x 3m, many times larger than the other surviving boxes at Woody Bay and Chelfham.
When rebuilt it will not only be an important historical artefact but will also prove to be a very useful building, serving initially as part of the planned museum space at the Blackmoor site.
We estimate this project will takeup to 4 years at current progress to complete and we need your help in funding materials, consumables, rent, energy and tools so it can once again grace the L&B.
The current cost is estimated be to around £20,000 to restore the signal box to its former glory and move it to Blackmoor.
THIS IS A LONG TERM PROJECT WHICH REQUIRES YOUR HELP, FINANCIALLY OR IN PERSON POWER
What can I do to help?
If you have the skills and / or enthusiasm to help please get in touch and volunteer, we'd love to have you on board.
We’d really welcome your financial donations no matter how big or small, every penny helps us to sustain and progress this project.
You can donate regularly each month (or make a one off payment) via our online platform or you can donate in person at Woody Bay station when you are there next.
Or, you can make a one off donation directly via our online shop or by clicking the button BELOW, where you can declare your interest us claiming Gift Aid when completing your transaction.
You can also donate via a BACS bank transfer (quote reference “SB” for Signal Box and remember to add a “Gift Aid” reference too if you want us to claim Gift Aid) to;
Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Trust
Lloyds Bank
Sort Code: 30-90-49
Account no.: 00445050
Or, you can send us a cheque (please email the treasurer at [ [email protected] ] for address details and make cheques out to “Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Trust” (again quote reference “SB” for Signal Box in your covering note of letter and remember to tell us if you want us to claim Gift Aid).
Please remember: If you declare that you’d like the Trust to claim Gift Aid on your donation, we can claim an extra 25p for every £1 you give. Simply, your donation to the Signal Box fund is increased by the HMRC by 25% which completes the shelter faster!
Please note: If donations to the appeal exceed the final costs associated with completing,moving and establishing the signal box in its new home we will ring fence funds to be used for other signalling projects
Have you any further information?
Our ‘’Steam on the Moor" YouTube film series Episode 22 featured the signal box where you can find out more information about the project.
And, keep and eye out on YouTube, our social media channels and regular updates below on this exciting project.
This page last updated: 7th August 2025