Catalogue description Stratford and Moreton Railway Company

Incorporated by act of 28th May 1821 which authorised making of "Railway or Tramroad". Oxford Worcester & Wolverhampton Railway Company was given power to purchase or lease company under Oxford Worcester & Wolverhampton Railway Act of 4th August 1845.

Minutes of Stratford & Moreton Railway Company dated 18th December 1845 record that arrangement for perpetual lease of Company to Oxford Worcester & Wolverhampton Railway Company had been concluded and Minute of 9th September 1847 records that latter Company had taken possession of Stratford & Moreton Railway and had paid two months rent up to 30th June 1845. Minute of 29th January 1852 states that possession was taken on 1st May 1847.

Committee was appointed by Oxford Worcester & Wolverhampton Railway Company Board of 17th December 1851 "to receive charge of Stratford & Moreton Railway and to make arrangements for its future conduct", and committee held its first meeting on 6th February 1852 to consider suggestions for alterations in future system of conducting Stratford & Moreton Railway.

Last meeting recorded is that of 27th November 1852.

Oxford Worcester & Wolverhampton Railway was amalgamated with Worcester & Hereford Railway Company and Newport Abergavenny & Hereford Railway Company to form West Midland Railway Company under West Midland Railway Act of 14th June 1860, and West Midland Railway Company was amalgamated with Great Western Railway Company as from 1st August 1863 under Great Western Railway (West Midland Railway) Amalgamation Act of 13th July 1863.

Great Western Railway Company was authorised under its (No. 1) Act of 7th August 1884 to work portion of line by locomotive power. Abandonment of Horse Tramway Stratford-upon-Avon to Stretton-on-Fosse, which was disused for many years, was authorised under Great Western Railway Act of 4th August 1926.

Under Section 32 of Great Western Railway Act of 31st July 1868, when approval of proprietors of Stratford & Moreton Railway Company had been obtained to conversion of their holdings into Great Western Railway Joint Rent Charge Stock, Stratford & Moreton Railway was to be dissolved. Proprietors did so approve at their meeting held on 2nd June 1869 and ordered that accounts of company be made up and closed to 31st July 1869.