In July, members of the Wargrave Local History Society made their annual trip to a place of 'local history interest'
This year they were privileged to be able to visit the Fawley Hill Museum - which can only be viewed by private invitation. The Museum contains the personal collection of Sir William McAlpine, and he - with his curator - personally showed us around and answered questions about the very wide range of artefacts on display. They range in size from uniform buttons to a complete railway station! (from Somersham, in Cambridgeshire). Sir William has been acquiring exhibits over a period of around half a century. The collection is predominantly 'railway related', but it covers all aspects of railways - from the rails and rolling stock, to signs, china and cutlery, posters. There are also some non-railway items, such as a display of major civil engineering works carried out by McAlpines, exhibits of other forms of transport, etc - altogther a most fascinating 'social history' from the past 170 years or so.

Some of the exhibits:
GWR Station Nameplates from platform lamp cases including Wargrave and Twyford
Platform indicator board formerly on Brighton Station
Special axlebox dipsticks for electric locomotives
A Hornby model train with wagons used by McAlpines

As is customary for a Wargrave Local History Society visit, the occasion ended with a most delightful 'afternoon tea', served in the station building