SALISBURY Railway Station's subway has undergone a renovation. 

The project involved deep-cleaning historic tiles, which are over 160 years old, creating new murals promoting the Salisbury’s heritage, general repairs and a deep clean.

SWR estimated the total cost was around £105,000, but that figure excludes a floor drainage scheme which should come in late September.

Speaking at the official opening in Hettie Bells, a pub/café opposite the station, SWR regional development manager Andrew Ardley said: “The new floor and cleaner tiles automatically made it feel lighter and brighter.”

Mr Ardley said the project stayed within budget and he’s ‘really pleased’ with the subway’s progress despite not having a set deadline.

SWR regional development manager Andrew Ardley (Image: Spencer Mulholland)
English Heritage was also involved in the project, providing the artwork, sourcing images (such as the archive images from Salisbury Museum), and were keen to put heritage at the forefront.

Stonehenge Marketing Manager Jane Thomas said: “The idea of the archive photos was to draw in local people’s interest, as well as the visitors.”

A mystery tunnel was also uncovered during the works and there are further plans to explore its extent, although some locals suggest it could connect to the Old Manor Hospital.

Specialist cleaning company AGS One, who previously worked on the Bank of England, was tasked with the ‘tricky’ process of removing the staining from the walls without damaging the tiles.

(Right) Marc Coppes, business development manager and head of specialist cleaning at AGS (Image: Spencer Mulholland)

Marc Coppes, business development manager and head of specialist cleaning at AGS, described the tunnel prior to restoration as a ‘cave.’

Speaking to the Journal, Coppes said: “One of the ladies said it was really horrible to walk down at night-time. It looked like you were walking down a cave.”

Calling the project a ‘restoration,’ Mr Coppes hoped the subway would not fall into the state it did prior to the latest work, but the risk is there due to SWR not allocating money for a specialist ‘heritage coating.’

When questioned on the possibility of heritage coating the tiles, SWR’s Mr Ardley said: “We’re certainly looking to do something like that.

“There’s some basic cleaning we can do but if there’s something we can put in long term to protect it that would be the ultimate solution.”

The Subway Project is a part of SWR’s £5.8 million Salisbury Station Forecourt scheme which began earlier this year.

The investment to revamp the subway was provided by SWR, including with a grant from the operator’s Customer and Communities Improvement Fund awarded to Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership, the Department for Transport ‘Access for All’ Mid-Tier programme, Network Rail, and the Railway Heritage Trust.