London Midland Region of British Railways on nationalisation in 1948, and thereafter the line began to decline. In January 1954, the station was renamed Alton Towers in recognition of its previous service to the Alton Towers estate. Passenger service was greatly reduced from 1960, with eventual closure by the British Railways Board occurring in 1965. Vandalism of the waiting room became a problem soon thereafter, and the station buildings, platform and sections of line were purchased by Staffordshire County Council in 1969. Design and layout The former station buildings, attributed variously to Augustus Pugin and local architect Henry Arthur Hunt, are of an Italianate villa style unique to the former North Staffordshire Railway and was built at the request of Charles Chetwynd-Talbot, 19th Earl of Shrewsbury, who owned the Alton Towers estate and wished for an impressive station where he might impress his guests. When in use as a railway station, Alton Towers also possessed a three-storey tower, unusually long platforms, and a luggage lift to the Alton Towers estate, all of which were built at the Earl's request. The site today The station buildings, which are grade II listed, were acquired by the Landmark Trust and the stationmaster's house converted into holiday accommodation, opening in 1972. In 2008 the Landmark Trust converted the waiting-room to provide additional accommodation space. The buildings are occasionally open to the public as part of an "Open Day" scheme run by the Trust. See also Listed buildings in Farley, Staffordshire References External links Landmark Trust official site Alton station on navigable 1946 O. S. map Alton station on navigable 1955 OS map Disused railway stations in Staffordshire Beeching closures in England Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1849 Railway stations in Great Britain closed in 1965 Grade II listed railway stations Italianate architecture in England Grade II listed buildings in Staffordshire Landmark Trust properties in England Former North Staffordshire Railway stations Repurposed railway stations in Europe 1849 establishments in England