Visitors encouraged to "Arrive in Styal"

Visitors to Quarry Bank Mill are being inspired to travel by rail and "Arrive in Styal" thanks to a new poster artwork commissioned by Styal Station Friends Group.

Thanks to funding from National Trust, the Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP) and the Crewe to Manchester Community Rail Partnership, the group was able to engage local artist Stephen Millership to create a bespoke poster. The final design is inspired by the classic rail posters of the 1930s and features Quarry Bank Mill in bucolic surroundings. The posters are being displayed at the station, Quarry Bank Mill and on village noticeboards.

Stockport-based Stephen said: "When I was approached to produce a railway poster for Styal Station, I jumped at the chance. If my work encourages people to use public transport to visit this wonderful working museum then I have fulfilled the brief."

The National Trust was delighted with the design. Quarry Bank's General Manager, Eleanor Underhill, said "The Quarry Bank team were excited to be able to support this artwork to be displayed at Styal Station. We are lucky enough to be one of the few National Trust sites that our visitors can journey to by rail, which we're keen to promote and encourage. Those that do arrival by train are surprised to arrive at the Mill within a short ten-minute walk. We're really pleased with the finished poster, the artwork is a lovely interpretation of one of our favourite viewpoints from Quarry Bank garden. We're sure it will catch the eye of many passengers whilst they're travelling and hopefully they'll consider calling in for a visit."

Styal Station only possessed a skeleton service on the Crewe to Manchester (via the Airport) line five years ago. Since then Northern Rail has responded to local representations and re-introduced regular Sunday services in addition to increasing the weekday provision. With the switch to the new Northern franchise holder, Arriva, in 2016 it is hoped that further improvements to the service may make rail travel to the village and its attractions a more viable option.

Photo: Bruce Williams, Power Volunteer, and Angela Hiscott, Visitor Reception Assistant, holding the poster.

Tags:: Friends of Styal Station, Styal Station

Comments

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Colin Jones

Tuesday 29^th December 2015 at 9:54 pm

I think this is a terrific idea - and the poster looks wonderful. It will certainly catch the eye. The trick now is to catch as many eyes as possible, and make people think. It needs to be displayed at all major stations in the area where there are commuters and London travellers waiting. So, can it go up at Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Airport station, Stockport, Wilmslow, and Crewe?