Ladybank station’s ‘steamie’ set to be restored

Ladybank station has not been changed from its original condition since being built in 1847 for the Edinburgh and Northern Railway. Picture: TSPL

The steamie, at Ladybank station, which the village of Ladybank, Fife, was established around, is to be fixed up after it has fallen into a disrepair.

The station has not been changed from its original condition since being built in 1847 for the Edinburgh and Northern Railway.

Ladybank Development Trust has secured funding from a local community planning budget to cover the costs of materials for restoring the wash house building, situated in the community garden.

Victorian staff

Originally used by the Victorian staff of the station for washing their clothes, the building has fallen into disrepair.

Once restored, it will be used by a gardening group for storage.

The trust says the project will provide a “wonderful” team building opportunity, as well as rejuvenating one of the oldest examples of village heritage.

Volunteers -- from experienced crafts people to those willing to learn -- are required to assist with bricklaying, carpentry and general building.

Volunteer work

Tim Masters, who is leading the volunteer work, said: “Railways have always fascinated me and the chance to help preserve a small part of the station around which the village of Ladybank became established is exciting.

“The wash house is unremarkable in its own right but forms an integral part of the original station and to see it disappear would be a sad loss.”

The work will begin in the next few weeks once of a core of volunteers is established.

The Ladybank trust adopted the station in 2011 and has been responsible for several improvements in the village, including the redevelopment of the Haig Memorial Garden.

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