During June and July, Year 8 pupils from Risedale School swapped classroom walls for the open skies of Catterick Garrison as they took part in a special series of outdoor history sessions, delivered by the Catterick Historical Archive. These engaging and immersive walks, themed around the old Catterick Camp Railway, brought local history to life, connecting pupils with the people and places of the past that shaped their community.

The field trip began at Colburn Business Park, formerly known as 60 Squadron, where pupils gathered around veteran and local historian Knile. He set the stage by explaining the strategic significance of the area during its formation and wartime. From there, the group made their way along the Memorial Walk, where they explored the stories of those who served at Catterick Garrison during both World War I and World War II.

Following the now-vanished track of the Catterick Camp Railway, a line once vital to the movement of troops and supplies during both World Wars, pupils were encouraged to imagine how the landscape would have looked over a century ago. As they walked along roads and footpaths that trace the original track, they identified visible remnants of the railway’s presence: raised embankments, the curve of old cuttings, and the layout of the main road where they once ran alongside each other.

Pupils were provided with a specially designed map featuring historical photographs of what once stood in various locations. Seeing these images, of long-demolished buildings, military theatres, and steam trains crossing what are now busy roads, offered a powerful visual resource. It helped bring the past to life, allowing pupils to compare today’s surroundings with the bustling wartime infrastructure that once dominated the area. From the worn stone walls of the former coal yard to the faint outlines where sidings and platforms once stood, the pupils experienced a tangible link to history, seeing for themselves how the modern environment still carries the imprint of its military railway past.

As the pupils continued toward Hildyard Row, better known locally as The White Shops, they met their next guide, veteran and historian Paula. Her insights into the area’s history added another valuable layer of local heritage to the day.

The journey pressed on, with pupils tracing further remnants of the railway line and noting where embankments still remain. A stop at the Cambrai School car park revealed the former site of railway sidings and a coal yard, where the original coal yard walls still stand as silent witnesses to the past. Veteran and historian Peter shared his detailed knowledge of the site's historical significance.

One of the most poignant stops on the route was the raised embankment where the old Camp Station platform once stood, opposite the historic Sandy’s Soldiers Home. The group then headed toward the fence line near the newly built Catterick Integrated Care Centre (CICC), behind Perron House. There, Knile recounted how the area had once served as a German Prisoner of War Camp during the First World War, a striking reminder of the layers of history beneath their feet.

The walk culminated above the Camp Centre roundabout, offering a panoramic view steeped in historical meaning. Pupils learned that today’s Aldi store sits on the former site of a Post Office, and its car park was once part of Coronation Park. From this vantage point, Year 8s were shown the past locations of the Bus Station, BT Telephone Exchange, Morgue, Camp Fire Station, and even the rail line that once ran through the roundabout and up toward Piave Lines and supply stores.

Continuing the journey, from Camp Centre, the group travelled toward Catterick Racecourse. After crossing the field south of the River Swale, pupils came upon the old railway bridge that once supported trains as they crossed the river. At this historic site, pupils engaged with a series of pre-set questions designed by Head of History, Mr Houlgate.

The area is steeped in layered history. After crossing the bridge to the north side and descending the embankment steps, pupils gathered around an interpretive information board. The bridge, now known as the Brompton-on-Swale Bridle Bridge, features three striking silhouetted figures: a First Century Roman legionary, a First World War private soldier, and a modern British infantryman, linking different eras of military service. Nearby, another board shared details of Roman Cataractonium, sparking discussion about the ancient history of the site.

The group then paused at the recently erected memorial to the tragic 1944 Catterick Bridge railway explosion, reflecting on the event and its local impact.

The field trip concluded with a visit to LOCOMOTION Railway Museum in Shildon. After lunch, pupils gathered for a presentation by Anne Hoops, the museum’s Senior Explainer. This was followed by guided tours led by knowledgeable museum staff. Pupils were then given free time to visit the onsite cafe and souvenir shop, rounding off a day that brought together maps, old photos, memories, and meaningful moments from across centuries of military and transport history.

Throughout the field trip, pupils were not only able to learn from passionate and knowledgeable guides, but also to see first-hand the physical traces of history all around them. The outing was an enriching experience that brought local wartime and transport heritage vividly to life, promoting curiosity and appreciation for the past.

The Catterick Historical Archive, along with veterans and historians Knile, Paula, Peter, and Mark, extend their thanks to Risedale School and the team at LOCOMOTION for making this unforgettable trip possible.

Thank you to Mark Hill MBE (Veteran | Catterick Historical Archive) for providing this article.

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