Scarborough Station Clocktower Restored in £14m Heritage Overhaul

A major restoration project at Scarborough railway station is nearing completion, with the historic clocktower now fully refurbished as part of wider upgrade works.

The £14 million scheme has focused on preserving the station’s Grade II-listed character while modernising key elements of the building. Work has included a new roof, upgraded drainage systems and extensive stonework repairs, all carried out while the station remained operational throughout the year-long programme.

Central to the project has been the careful restoration of the station’s clocktower. Supported by a £203,000 grant from the Railway Heritage Trust, the work was completed alongside the main scheme, making use of existing scaffolding and site facilities. Each of the clock’s four faces has been individually restored, returning the structure to a prominent feature of the station.

Passenger areas have also been improved, with refurbishment work carried out in the waiting room and ticket office to enhance the overall experience for travellers using the station.

While the primary construction work is expected to conclude by the end of March, contractors will remain on site for several more months after asbestos was discovered in parts of the building, including the social club, ticket office and café. Its controlled removal is scheduled to continue until the end of June, after which the site compound will be dismantled.

Despite the additional work, station facilities will largely continue to operate as normal. The social club and ticket office will remain open, while the café is set to close temporarily from 30 March for up to three weeks.

Ann Shannon, Network Rail scheme project manager, said:

“Our project at Scarborough station is in its final stages, and thanks to the Railway Heritage Trust grant for the clocktower restoration, we’ve been able to deliver more benefits than originally planned. The main project is on track for completion as planned this month, but some of our colleagues will be working at the station for slightly longer because of the asbestos we’ve recently identified. We’re grateful for everyone’s patience and understanding while we address this safely and responsibly.”

Image: Network Rail