A small UK village is home to a train station believed to be the world’s oldest. Heighington and Aycliffe Railway Station in County Durham, five miles from Darlington, has been described by Historic England as one of “England’s most important” stations.

It has been dated back to 1827 by Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, which would make it the oldest train station in the world. This was previously thought to be Liverpool Road Station in Manchester, opened in 1830. It played a significant role in the development of the railways and was where George Stephenson’s Locomotion No1 was first put on the rails. The building was commissioned before the concept of a railway station had been developed to be used as a stopping point for trains. It was also intended to be a tavern, providing shelter and refreshment for workers and customers at the adjacent coal and goods depot, the Darlington and Stockton Railway. The station in Newton Aycliffe was initially listed as Grade II in 1980 due to its importance in the early development of the Stockton & Darlington Railway.

In 2023, it was upgraded to Grade II*, elevating the station to the top 10% of England’s most important historic buildings.

The station’s upgraded listing is part of the work of the Stockton & Darlington Railway Heritage Action Zone, a five-year heritage-led conservation and economic development scheme in partnership with Historic England, local authorities and other stakeholders.

Sarah Charlesworth from Historic England said: “It’s amazing to think that this simple building in County Durham helped to inspire a way of travelling that’s used by billions of people across the world.

“From the humblest single platform station to the vast terminals of St Pancras and the Gare du Nord, they all owe a debt to Heighington and Aycliffe Railway Station.”

Heighington and Aycliffe Railway Station is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains. It is on the Bishop Line, a community railway from Bishop Auckland to Darlington.

It used to be an active station but became an unstaffed halt in the 1970s. The station building became a hotel in 1984 and stayed open until 2017.

It is now falling into disrepair and the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway are seeking to purchase the property through a wide-ranging fundraising campaign.

Once purchased, they hope to restore the buildings to reflect their origins as an early station and inn. This will include a Georgian-themed inn offering food and drink as well as a space for local businesses and communities to meet.