ROPLEY STATION

Mid Hants Railway – Watercress Line

Hampshire

Ropley Station viewing gallery welcome panel and working model crane, hands-on exhibit
Railway timeline
Staying on the rails, hands-on activity at Ropley Station viewing gallery
Tactile railway coach samples, hands-on exhibit
Stopping times interactive exhibit
Outdoor orientation panel
Spotter's guide lectern panel
Kings Cross bridge interpretation panel
Outdoor interpretation panel at Ropley Station
Flip-book page

A ride on the Watercress Line is an exciting and enjoyable experience for railway enthusiasts and families, alike. As part of a larger National Lottery Heritage Funded project, our brief was to make Ropley Station a ‘must-see’ port of call on the line. The station has much to offer visitors, with the Railway’s restoration sheds, station yard and green spaces. It is also home the former Kings Cross station bridge, which famously appeared in such films as ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘The 39 Steps’. 

Meanwhile, interpretation at the site was limited, so Abound was commissioned to improve the visitor offer, with a range of indoor and exterior interpretation, designed to address their family audience.

Externally we created new graphic panels to interpret features of the site, like the station yard and  bridge, as well as objects that can be seen, enhancing the visitor journey.

Within the Education Center and the Carriage Shop we have introduced a range of interventions, including:

  • a welcome panel, complete with an interactive crane
  • timeline
  • dressing-up and other hands-on activities illustrating aspects of how trains and railways work
  • exhibits relating to the passenger experience

The graphic style followed the Railway’s brand guidelines and illustrated 3D maps were produced by the same illustrator who had previously produced maps for their leaflets.