press release 15 March 2017

Lorne House Marks the 20th Anniversary of Thomas The Tank Engine Creator Rev W Awdry

Local accommodation provider Lorne House at Box, near Corsham in Wiltshire, is commemorating 20 years since the death of Rev W Awdry, creator of Thomas the Tank Engine.

The anniversary falls in VisitEngland’s Year of Literary Heroes, making Lorne House a must-visit author home in 2017.

Awdry spent his childhood years at Journey’s End, as it was then known, living there from 1920 to 1928. Awdry died on 21 March 1997.

The house lay 200 yards from the road bridge of the A4 which crossed the Great Western Railway’s London to Bristol route, passing through Brunel’s great Box Tunnel. Wilbert Awdry and his brother George took great interest in the railway activity so near to their home.

Rev W Awdry’s connection to Lorne House is just part of Wiltshire’s railway heritage. Brunel’s Great Western Railway (GWR) crosses the county and, when it was developed in the 1830s, it offered competition to the Kennet & Avon Canal, which today is a haven for walkers, cyclists and boaters.

Swindon in the north of the county was home to the Swindon Railway Works used to maintain and repair the GWR network. The site has now been redeveloped to house STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway offering an interactive experience of steam railway travel and freight, and McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Swindon. Nearby is Swindon and Cricklade Railway which runs both steam and diesel engines on open days and for special events.

Rail provides important links for the county. The TransWilts line has trains every two hours connecting Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Warminster and Westbury. Connecting Wiltshire has suggested itineraries for days out by train.

VisitWiltshire Chief Executive David Andrews said: “Railway tourism is important across the county of Wiltshire. There are many rail links and attractions for railway enthusiasts, so we’re encouraging visitors to step back in time and explore Wiltshire’s industrial heritage.”

In 2012 a blue plaque commemorating Awdry’s life was unveiled at Lorne House by Awdry’s children Christopher, Hilary and Veronica.

Lorne House is now owned and run by Bob and Liz Matthews, who have opened it as a stylish and sophisticated Bed and Breakfast with six bedrooms and bags of charm! Rooms are from £95 per night. An ideal base for exploring the timeless county of Wiltshire.

In 2009 Thomas the Tank Engine stopped outside the house to pay tribute to its creator (pictured).

Issued by VisitWiltshire. For further information or to arrange a press visit please contact Florence Wallace, Travel Trade & PR Manager, flowallace@visitwiltshire.co.uk Tel: 01722 341309 or 07436 588860

Notes to editors:

VisitWiltshire is the official Destination Management & Marketing Organisation for Wiltshire representing 600 partners. It is a public/private sector membership organisation with our main funder being Wiltshire Council. VisitWiltshire's priority is to grow the county's Visitor Economy by raising awareness of the destination and generating additional tourism visits and spend.  Wiltshire's Visitor Economy currently generates an estimated £1.5billion and supports over 29,000 jobs.