Railway 200 and The Watercress Line Heritage Project

Trains – who would have thought they had such an inspiring history?

I have been involved with this project from its outset as my role as Arts Volunteer for The Arts Society Alresford. I was approached by Dan Ball, the Outreach coordinator of the Watercress Line, to help sponsor this community project. The 20 banners are now going to their first exhibition place to be displayed to the public. 

As a textiles artist, I too couldn’t resist becoming involved. “1865 Opening of the Railway “,now known as the famous Watercress line, was my theme. Thanks to embroiderers Yvonne, Linden and Hannah for their expertise and help in creating our panel. We have achieved such a great design using painting, embroidery, free machine quilting and applique. I have attached pictures of our banner and a super colourful representative of many others.

Look out for the panels from next April; they will tour local libraries and venues across Hampshire until March 2026. These venues include local libraries - Alresford, Alton, Fordingbridge, Gosport, Fareham, & venues such as Hollycombe steam collection, Hedge End railway station and Hampshire Archives in Winchester. 

Details from Dan – “2025 marks the 200th anniversary of the railway revolution”. The celebrations are being spearheaded by the rail industry and heritage railways across the country. The Watercress Line Heritage railway near Winchester has completed this project. With funding from The Arts Society Alresford, the Watercress Line is working with over a hundred individuals and community groups across Hampshire and further afield to create a textile timeline of train travel. This includes depictions of Hampshire’s lost railways such as the Sprat and Winkle line (Romsey to Andover), the Meon Valley Line, the Hayling Island Billy Line and the Watercress Line across the middle of Hampshire. It also shows the last generation of steam, railways in popular culture, music and song, as well as how the railways standardised time and some of the early pioneers of the railways. Each group has adopted a year, which will showcase the history of each topic, theme, date, or railway. 

Jane Varrall
Arts Volunteering Co-ordinator
The Arts Society Alresford