The group continually undertakes  improvements to the station.  It also holds regular community clear up and gardening days.  If you would like to become  involved, either as a  volunteer or committee member, please contact Chris Hampshire on 0151 327 4511.

Thank you to all our volunteers who help maintain and improve Hadlow Road Station for the benefit of the community.

• The Hooton to West Kirby railway opened on 1st October 1866;
• Passenger services stopped on 17th September 1956 but it continued to be used for freight until 7th May 1962;
• The station is designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building;
• The Wirral Way, from Hooton to West Kirby is 12 miles long.

To read an article about the closure of the Hooton – West Kirby railway line, written in the WRC (Wirral Railway Circle) Journal of 1976-77, click: Closure Hooton – West Kirby 1956.

Photo: Martin Eves

On two Sundays each month, the Friends of Hadlow Road Station operate a community pop-up café at the station where you can buy light refreshments, bacon butties and cake.  For details of the next café date, look on the home page.

The signal box has been used as Santa’s Grotto for several years.

150 children meet Santa and his Elves through the afternoon.  Visitors also enjoy entertainment, along with face painting and traction engine rides.  FHRS volunteers put in over 600 hours on this event each year.  Unfortunately, this event was cancelled in 2020 and a reduced version has been delivered since.  This event requires pre-booking so keep an eye on our website and other media as tickets sell out fast.

To see audio-visuals of each event, click on the year below:

2018    2017    2016    2015

Thanks to Martin Eves for the productions of the audio-visuals.

For more pictures and information (in powerpoint) about Santa’s grotto: FHRS Santa’s Grotto – 2016 to 2022

On 11th November 2018, the Friends of Hadlow Road Station joined other community groups to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the end of WW1.

A successful event was held which included entertainment, poetry reading and ended with a poignant exchange of gifts and handshakes between Cllr Myles Hogg, former Deputy Mayor of Ellesmere Port and Erik Fritz, Mayor of Sickenhausen.

On 1st October 2016, the Friends put on an event to celebrate 150 Years of the opening of the station.

The event was opened by Justin Madders MP and included visits by Victorian travellers, Mersey Morris Men and the Chester Brass Band.

To see an audio-visual of the event, click here.

The structural and safety work which had been required for some time to refurbish the signal box was undertaken and the Friends held a “re-opening ceremony” at the station on Sunday 27th September 2015.

The trolleys on the station have been repaired and repainted.

For brief videos of the work being done on the trolley, click here and here. 

The South platform has been extended and replanted.

The tracks have been re-laid with the support from apprentices from National Rail.

Signs have been restored and replaced.

Replacement gates have been installed

On 4th June 2019, Friends of Hadlow Road Station (FHRS) was recognised by Cheshire West Voluntary Action and were awarded the ‘Friends of Group winners 2019’ for Cheshire West.

In 2022, Friends of Hadlow Road Station won two awards from Britain in Bloom North West/Royal Horticultural Society.  These were the In Your Neighbourhood, Level 5 (Outstanding) Award and the Heritage Award, which was voted the best entry from over 600 nominations.