History and Significance of the Great Western Main Line

This document has been produced in connection with the project to electrify the Great Western Main Line from London to Bristol, plus the subsidiary lines from Didcot to Oxford, from Reading to Newbury and via the Severn Tunnel to Cardiff. Its aim is to provide an assessment of the historic buildings and structures along these lines.

The assessment falls under two headings: first a summary history of the lines (including their constituent elements such as stations, bridges and tunnels) and secondly an assessment of significance.

In compiling this report over 650 buildings and structures have been assessed, details of which are given in the accompanying GWML Route Structures Gazetteer.