Wolverhampton Low Level - a former railway station in Wolverhampton!

Below Wolverhampton Station (formerly Wolverhampton High Level) is the former Wolverhampton Low Level. Opened in 1854 as Wolverhampton Joint, renamed in 1856. Closed in 1972 to passengers.


Where is Wolverhampton Low Level?

What is now called Grand Station is at Sun Street, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, WV10 0BF.

 

In brief

Originally opened in 1854 on Great Western Railway's line from Birmingham Snow Hill towards Birkenhead, it ceased being used for passenger traffic in 1972 and goods by 1981. Restoration of the building began in 2006 and was complete by 2019. Now a banqueting suite and wedding venue called Grand Station.

Wolverhampton Low LevelWolverhampton Low Level from the footbridge at Wolverhampton Station (March 2015). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Wolverhampton Low Level - History

The station was jointly built by the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway (OWWR) and the Great Western Railway (GWR), on their route from London Paddington, via Birmingham Snow Hill towards Birkenhead. The frontage was designed by John Fowler, while the legendary Isambard Kingdom Brunel designed the layout of the station. It was built of Staffordshire blue brick in the Italianate style. First opening in 1854 under the name of Wolverhampton Joint Station, it was renamed to Wolverhampton Low Level Station two years later in 1856 (at the same time Wolverhampton Queen Street on the Stour Valley Line was renamed to Wolverhampton High Level).

The station was converted to standard gauge in 1869, and remained the same until 1922, when a new booking office was built within the booking hall. The platforms were expanded and the passenger footbridge replaced.

After the Stour Valley Line was electrified, and plans to rebuild the High Level station in the 1960s, there was a decline for the Low Level station, with a reduction in services from 1963 to 1967. The last train from London to Birkenhead ran in 1967, while Shrewsbury services switched to the High Level station in 1968. By 1970, the only services were from Birmingham Snow Hill via Wednesbury Central. This service ceased when the line closed to passengers in 1972.

Although goods traffic remained until British Rail closed it in 1981. It became a Grade II listed building in 1986.

In the 1980s and 1990s there were proposals to redevelop the site but nothing happened.

In 1999, the Midland Metro tram line was opened from Snow Hill to Wolverhampton, along trackbed of the former Birmingham Snow Hill to Wolverhampton Low Level line, but it diverts at Priestfield onto the Bilston Road, and instead heads towards Wolverhampton St George's Tram Stop.

Redevelopment of the Low Level station site began in 2006. This retained the listed building. While the remainder of the site became a Premier Inn hotel and a restaurant called The Bluebrick. The redevelopment of the site was completed by 2019 with the opening of an ALDI supermarket.

The station building was home to an art gallery in 2010.

The station has been transformed into a venue called Grand Station, which is a banqueting suite and wedding venue.

In 2021 it was featured on Tim Dunn's UKTV programme The Architecture the Railways Built.

Wolverhampton Low LevelWolverhampton Low Level from the footbridge at Wolverhampton Station (March 2015). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Wolverhampton Low Level

Wolverhampton Low LevelWolverhampton Low Level from Platform 4 at Wolverhampton Station (March 2015). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Wolverhampton Low LevelPremier Inn near the former Wolverhampton Low Level (July 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Wolverhampton Low Level

Wolverhampton Low Level

Wolverhampton Low Level

Wolverhampton Low LevelThe former Wolverhampton Low Level (July 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Wolverhampton Low LevelThe former Wolverhampton Low Level from the footbridge at Wolverhampton Station (July 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

 

From Sun Street. It is now Grand Station Wedding Venue.

Wolverhampton Low Level

Wolverhampton Low Level

Wolverhampton Low Level

Wolverhampton Low Level

Wolverhampton Low LevelThe former Wolverhampton Low Level from Sun Street (July 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown

Project dates

06 Jul 2021 - On-going

Passions

History & heritage, Civic pride, Transport
Classic Architecture

Contact

Your Place Your Space

Jonathan Bostock

0121 410 5520
jonathan.bostock@ yourplaceyourspace.com