Home > Somerset > Martock > Railway Hotel Railway Hotel
	Click above photo to expand	Picture source: Hania Franek
The Railway Hotel was situated on Coat Road. This grade-II listed pub opened c1850 and has now been converted to flats.
In 1950 my dad was about 25 years old and home visiting family in Long Load. My Mum, about 20 years old, was down from Dorset visiting an Auntie in Martock. One Saturday night, they met at a dance in the Dance Hall on the second floor of the Railway Hotel. Two years later they began their lifelong marriage together. We emigrated to Canada in 1960. In 1971, I was Seventeen, and we were all back in Martock to visit family. Of course, we stayed at the Railway. While there I met a boy and we began our own romance. When my parents travelled back to Dorset, I stayed at the Railway for the four weeks remaining before my return to Canada. My romance did not last, but I treasure the memories of my time at the Railway. I loved the period architecture and furniture in my 3rd floor bedroom; Shandys in the pub after cricket games; excellent Plowman's lunches and Fish and Chips; skittles in the alley out back; and a wonderful drives around the countryside.
Helen Williams (November 2023)
Listed building details:
Inn. Circa 1850. Ham stone ashlar front, red brick Flemish bond to sides and rear; Welsh slate roof; the taller centre portion hipped, and side runs between stepped coped gables; brick chimney stacks. Two and 3 storeys, 3 bays front elevation. Plinth, band course; outer bays 2-storey with 16-pane sashes above and two 8-pane sashes below, but glazing bars removed lower bay 1; wheel vents to each gable under ornamental finials: bay 2 has a 12-pane sash window to ground floor, off centre, with semi-circular arched doorway with plain surround to right having three 3-panel doors under plain fanlight; margined casement windows to first floor and 16-pane sash to second. East elevation of 3 bays with 12-pane sash windows, with a hipped roof square bay with porch and door to bay 2. lnterior not seen. Attached to rear a stable block, L-plan under triple roll clay tile roof with stepped coped north gable having finial; small pane casement windows and 3-centre archway in west side, the whole possibly older than the inn. Striking composition, intended to create an impression across the railway yard and station, now all removed: the railway arrived 1849.
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