East side of an unnamed minor road (C3009)

Notes: As road transport became more popular throughout West Wales a number of halts were opened in an effort to boost passenger traffic. Four halts were opened on the North Pembrokeshire branch. One of these was Martell Bridge Halt. Although the local spelling of the name is Martel, the GWR (with its reputation for inaccurate rendering of Welsh place-names) added an ‘L’, and this was used in Bradshaw and on tickets.

Martell Bridge Halt was built on an embankment. It served sparsely populated countryside with isolated farms. It was provided with a 75ft platform with sleeper edging and a cinder infill and was lit by oil lamps. It was provided with a smaller shelter than other halts on the line.

The halt was used by an average of 70 passengers per week but was short-lived. Having opened on 1 January 1930, Martell Bridge and the three other new halts opened in 1928-29 brought some increase in passenger revenue but the North Pembrokeshire line was still running at a loss and closed to passengers seven years later on 25 October 1937. Martell Bridge Halt was the last public stopping place to be opened in Pembrokeshire.

The embankment on which the halt stood has been partially removed for farm road-making.

No photographs of Martell Bridge Halt are known to exist.

Ticket from Michael Stewart. Route map drawn by Alan Young

Click here for a brief history of the North Pembrokeshire branch



Sources:

• Morris, John The Railways of Pembrokeshire 1981 HG Walters Ltd
• Robertson, Kevin Great Western Railway Halts Volume 1 1990 Irwell Press

See stations on the North Pembrokeshire Branch: Fishguard & Goodwick, Jordanston Halt, Letterston, Beulah Halt, Castlebythe Halt, Puncheston, New Inn Bridge Halt, Rosebush, Maenclochog, Llanycefn & Beag Fair