A Brief History Of Our Pub in Christchurch – historic roadside inn with comfortable rooms and hearty pub classics
Welcome to The Avon Causeway: History and Modern Hospitality
Located in the village of Hurn, near Christchurch, Dorset, The Avon Causeway combines unique industrial heritage with contemporary hospitality. Originally a Victorian railway station, the property has been converted into a traditional pub with rooms. It provides an ideal base for visitors exploring the Dorset coast, the New Forest, and nearby Bournemouth Airport.
Explore Our Story: The Avon Causeway
The Avon Causeway has a history rooted in the 19th-century expansion of British transport. The following sections detail the building’s origins, unique architectural preservation, and transition from a rural train station into a community hub.
Origins and Early History
The Avon Causeway was built in 1862 as an intermediate station on the Ringwood, Christchurch, and Bournemouth Railway. Originally named Hearne Bridge, the station opened to help connect the growing coastal resorts of Dorset to the main rail networks of Southern England. The single-track line was built through woodland owned by the local landowner, Lord Malmesbury. As local transport habits shifted and passenger numbers dwindled to just a few ticket sales a day, the station officially closed to all rail traffic in September 1935.
Architectural Development
The architecture of the building directly reflects its mid-Victorian railway purpose. Constructed with robust red brick, the property features traditional gables, tall sash windows, and the original stationmaster’s quarters. Outside, the original passenger platform remains completely intact. Parked permanently alongside this platform is a decommissioned, beautifully restored mid-20th-century Pullman train carriage (Carriage No. 340), which has been integrated into the pub to serve as a distinctive private dining space.
Role in Travel, Trade, and Society
During the peak of the Victorian railway boom, the station served as a vital link for the rural community of Hurn. It allowed local farmers to transport goods and coal, while giving Victorian holidaymakers and fishermen easy access to Christchurch Harbour and the famous Royal Fishery on the River Avon. Positioned along the Avon Causeway road, the venue sat between the historic market town of Ringwood and the maritime hub of Christchurch. Today, it remains a busy social thoroughfare, operating alongside modern transport networks as a preferred stopover for travellers using Bournemouth Airport.
Historical Events and Notable Figures
The property has a direct connection to major developments in British aviation history. During the Second World War, the fields just northeast of the closed railway station were transformed into RAF Hurn. Following the war, this site became Britain’s primary international airport for land-based transcontinental flights before London Heathrow was fully operational. The rooms at the inn hosted the early commercial pilots, engineers, and international travellers who pioneered post-war global flight.
Cultural and Literary Connections
The peaceful landscape surrounding the River Avon and the borders of the New Forest has a long association with regional topography and rural writing. The Avon Causeway represents a unique sub-genre of British industrial heritage—the repurposed rural railway station. Rather than a standard public house, its walls house a collection of authentic railway memorabilia and historical timetables, preserving a tangible record of the area’s Victorian transport identity.
Modern Preservation and Cultural Legacy
The Avon Causeway is a successful example of adaptive reuse. Following a thorough structural refurbishment by Butcombe Brewing Co., the building functions as a 12-bedroom boutique inn while maintaining its clear railway identity. Preservation efforts have focused on keeping the original platform layout and external station architecture intact, while updating the interior dining spaces and guest rooms to modern 4-star standards.
Conclusion
The Avon Causeway successfully bridges its identity as a Victorian transport landmark with the needs of modern hospitality. We invite you to visit us in Hurn, step out onto our historic railway platform, and enjoy a meal inside our authentic Pullman carriage.
