Bradford Exchange and Forster Square remains

[alex397]

I visited Bradford a few days ago for the first time. The main aim was to look around the Exchange and Forster Square station sites, to see any remains.

At Exchange, you can see the large wall at the front of the station along the main road. There are also the old stairwell entrances to be seen.
I wanted to have a walk on the pathway that goes up to the top, behind the walls. However, there was a large group of youths with balaclavas on hanging around up there, so I didn’t really fancy my chances on an isolated pathway. My question is - is there anything of interest up there? Any remains, no matter how small, of the old station? I can’t find any pictures of the current situation up there.

Over to Forster Square, you can see a large wall from the station. Off Lower Kirkgate, you can see tiling of the interior walls. There is also the Midland Hotel - at the back of this, it has windows and if I remember correctly some sort of balcony - at the time of the (original) station, was this looking out into the interior of the station? Lastly, how much of the older Forster Square station existed before it‘s early 1990s demolishment and movement to the current location?

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Forster Square lost its overall roof in the early '50s and was replaced by rather utilitarian platform canopies. The side walls remained, however, until the end. Part of the station frontage was demolished in the early '60s to accommodate Forster House - designed by corrupt architect John Poulson - and itself demolished in the '00s. It lost all its main-line services in the '60s becoming mainly a parcels depot, with just one residual platform for Ilkley and Keighley passenger services. So it is good to see its renaissance, but it is a shame it has a tucked away side entrance.

The elegant fan windows at the north end of Exchange station remained for a while after the demolition of the trainshed - the Crown Court is now on the footprint of the station with the elevated retaining walls still in situ.

 

[davetheguard]

There is also the Midland Hotel - at the back of this, it has windows and if I remember correctly some sort of balcony - at the time of the (original) station, was this looking out into the interior of the station?

Within the Midland Hotel itself, there is a beautifully tiled corridor that originally led from the hotel reception to the railway station. With the station itself moved slightly further north, the corridor now just leads to a car park.

In the corridor there is an ex-Midland Railway sign on the wall, and a couple of railway benches (see photos); I wonder if they were originally at the station?

 

[alex397]

Within the Midland Hotel itself, there is a beautifully tiled corridor that originally led from the hotel reception to the railway station. With the station itself moved slightly further north, the corridor now just leads to a car park.

In the corridor there is an ex-Midland Railway sign on the wall, and a couple of railway benches (see photos); I wonder if they were originally at the station?

Thanks for the photos! I saw this corridor in a YouTube video of someone who explores what’s left of the Bradford stations. I wish I knew before I went myself, as I would have taken a peak! It seems extraordinary to me that this has survived as well as beautifully preserved, especially in Bradford when so much history has gone.
It seems there is concern that the new owner of the hotel may not maintain it, but I doubt anyone would be foolish enough to ruin it, or close it off.

In a way it seems a shame the original station couldn’t not have been restored in the 1990s rather than demolished - it’s an odd little station for a city and little room for any expansion.