Introduction
Among the lush pastures of the Blackmore Vale nestles the thriving Saxon town of Gillingham. With its mainline railway station, Gillingham is an ideal launch-pad for the stately delights of Stourhead, the wonders of Iron Age north Dorset, and the charms of Shaftesbury and its ‘Hovis Hill’.
Station Facilities
Parking
At the station – £4 per day Monday to Friday; £2 per day Saturday/Sunday; £16 per week; £54 per month. Weekend tickets from 12 noon Friday £6. Pay at machine with cash; via phone to 01256 802 804 and pay by credit or debit card quoting location number 2044, no need to display a ticket; or pay at the ticket office.
In town – pay & display off the High Street (turning opposite Cheltenham & Gloucester shop) which is £3 up to 24 hours. Pay & display at the lower end of the High Street opposite the Town Meadow short and long stay. The long stay (at the further end of the park) is £1.50 for up to 10 hours.
Chantry Fields pay & display (opposite Waitrose) charges from 0800 to 1800 Monday to Saturday including bank holidays no charge Sundays. Charges from 30p for up to 1 hour; £1.50 up to 10 hours to £6 for 72 hours. Permits are available at £185 per annum or £95 per six months. Call 01258 454 111.
Ticket office
The booking hall and ticket office is open Monday to Friday 0600 to 1800; Saturday 0800 to 1800; Sunday 0930 to 1700.
Taxis: Various firms serve the station via a taxi rank immediately outside. A full list with telephone numbers is displayed in the window of Platform 1 Cafe.
Platform 1 Cafe
Award winning cafe serving a range of hot & cold food and soft drinks.
Seated cafe with takeaway option open Monday to Friday 0530 to 1630; Saturday 0800 to 1500.
Disabled Access: Four designated spaces available. There is no disabled toilet facility at this station. Step-free access to platform 1 only.
Cycling: There are two bike racks at the station both under cover. Most trains have cycle space in designated carriage/s. Check with the ticket office if a reservation is required.
Shopping: Local shops and supermarkets are on or near the High Street which is 5 minutes walk from the station. From the traffic lights on Station Road Lower continue straight across into Station Road Upper and the next junction is with the High Street.
First Aid: Phone 111 for advice or 999 in an emergency. Minor Injuries Unit in Shaftesbury, four miles away, within the Westminster Memorial Hospital, Bimport, Shaftesbury, SP7 8BD. The MIU is open Monday to Friday 0900 to 1800; Saturday & Sunday 1000 to 1600. Telephone: 01747 851535
Public transport
Gillingham has good transport links, being 4 miles south of the A303, the main road from London to the South West, and having a railway station on the Exeter to London railway line. Salisbury is about 30 minutes away by train and 50 minutes by car. It is approximately two hours into central London, with trains arriving at Waterloo. Yeovil is about 15 minutes by train or 30 minutes by car.
Check the Dorset For You website: www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk for:
- Bus information: About bus services in Dorset, timetables, live bus times, bus stops and route maps, bus passes and concessionary travel, plus information on accessible local Community Transport schemes
- Rail information: the latest information for Dorset, including live train departure times, live travel alerts, National Rail Enquiries, Cross Country Trains, Gt. Western Railway and South West Trains.
- Twitter: Go to @Travel Dorset…’ service, an automated feed of travel and transport news.
- An A-Z bus timetable: displayed in the bus shelter at the station.
- Taxi Rank: Various firms serve the station via a taxi rank immediately outside. A full list with telephone numbers is displayed in the window of Platform 1 Cafe.
History of Gillingham Station
Much has been written about Gillingham Station and made reference to in many publications. The following link is to an article written last year by local historian, David Lloyd.
John Porter, author of Gillingham, The Making of a Dorset Town and subsequent books published.
Around Gillingham – photographs compiled by David Lloyd.
Around Gillingham, The Second Selection by Peter Crocker.
These books are available at Gillingham Museum/Library and various retail outlets.
‘A brief history celebrating 150 years of the Railway’, Ben Carver, in celebration of the opening of the railway on 2nd May, 1859. (not sure if this still available to buy but available to look at in the library/museum)
Gillingham Museum Details
Address: Chantry Fields, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 4UA www.gillinghammuseum.co.uk
The Museum has artifacts and information about Gillingham Station. Gillingham of today.
Normal Museum Opening Times
- Monday 10.00am – 1.00pm
- Tuesday 10.00am – 5.00pm
- Wednesday Closed
- Thursday 10.00am – 5.00pm
- Friday 10.00am – 5.00pm
- Saturday 9.30am – 4.00pm
- Sunday – Closed
Closed on Bank Holidays At present, there is no entrance fee but donations are essential to enable us to continue to run the Museum.
For visits at other times or Group visits, please contact the Curator by Email at: office@gillinghammuseum.co.uk or write to the address below.
The Museum is governed by the management committee of Gillingham Local History Society (Registered Charity no 1014970).
Restaurant and toilet facilities are available in the Waitrose Supermarket on the opposite side of the road. The whole exhibition area is on the ground level and therefore suitable for wheelchair access. Parking (with disabled bays) is available in the adjoining public Car Park.
Gillingham Local History Society – David Lloyd · 01747 825558