Gunton Station on the Bittern Line between Norwich and Sheringham is 150 years old today and the Bittern Line Community Rail Partnership has welcomed community and industry stakeholders, North Norfolk MP Steff Aquarone and special guests including current and former station volunteers to mark the occasion.
Built in 1876 for Lord Suffield who owned the nearby Gunton Hall and estate, the station serves the village of Thorpe Market and hamlet of Lower Street. Lord Suffield was a major investor in the Norfolk Railway which constructed the original line from Norwich to Cromer and the station became an important arrival and departure point for his guests which included royalty, using a special private waiting room.
The celebratory reception was held at the station and at the Suffield Arms opposite, a public house which was relocated to its current site by Lord Suffield for the use of his estate workers.
Today, the station serves over 35,000 passengers each year and has recently seen rail operator Greater Anglia increase the number of stops its trains make.
The original station buildings survive as a private residence having been sensitively restored by owner Stanley Hurn in 2009, his work winning a prestigious Railway Heritage Award.
Gunton station is part of the railway’s volunteer station adopter scheme with the Bittern Line Community Rail Partnership providing planters, plants and equipment, helping to keep the station as an attractive and welcoming gateway.
This Summer, planting at the station has received additional support from staff and pupils from nearby Antingham & South Repps Primary School, itself celebrating its own 200th Anniversary. As part of the celebrations the Bittern Line & Greater Anglia recently provided a trip by train for all the school children to Sheringham where they visited the beach and museum.
Chair of the Bittern Line Community Rail Partnership (CRP), David Pearce said, “It is remarkable that the station and the majority of its original buildings survive as in the 1960s there was a strong possibility of the railway’s closure as part of the Beeching Report. “Thankfully the line survived this and another closure threat in the early 1980s and since the formation of the Community Rail Partnership 30 years ago, has seen an incredible increase in patronage with over 825,000 passenger journeys made in 2025.”
The Bittern Line Community Rail Partnership continues to support the line in a variety of ways including printing and distribution of line guides and timetables, promoting use of the railway and campaigning for additional stops and services.
Last December a successful five-year campaign by the partnership saw the railway introduce a seven day hourly service at West Runton station.
Martin Halliday, development officer at Community Rail Norfolk, parent organisation of the Bittern Line CRP, added, “We are delighted to be at Gunton today marking 150 Years since the station first opened. “It’s an opportunity to both celebrate an important milestone with our industry and community stakeholders and to thank both current and former volunteers that support both Gunton and other stations along the line.”
To mark the 150th Anniversary, management of the Suffield Arms kindly provided beer and pizza for guests with the partnership providing a birthday cake and special prints featuring scenes of the station, pub and school.
The Suffield Arms will be hosting a Summer Music Fiesta between August 14 & 16 with the Bittern Line helping to secure extra stops by Greater Anglia trains at Gunton for those attending the event.