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Now open to both members and the general public, Shildon Railway Institute is a place to celebrate life, family, community, ancestry and our proud unique industrial heritage right in the heart of Shildon. Our organisation was a world first, set up to benefit railway employees but now working for the entire local community. We are a living legacy of the Stockton & Darlington Railway and of our first President Timothy Hackworth. Our building is located at 78 Redworth Road, Shildon, Co Durham.


Mon - 18:30 pm to 23:00 pm   ***    Tue - 18:30 pm to 23:00 pm    ***    Wed - 18:30 pm to 23:00 pm

Thu - Closed all day

Fri - 12:00 noon to 23:00 pm    ***    Sat - 12:00 noon to 23:00 pm    ***    Sun - 12:00 noon to 23:00 pm

 

We've got flexible spaces to meet most needs whether you are wanting to hold the best party ever for family or loved ones, or whether youlre looking for somewhere quiet for your group, club or society to meet and focus. Our ground floor Main Hall and Hackworth Lounge are wheelchair accessible - whilst our meeting space in the MacNay Room, with its Whitfield Library of rail and local history books is situated on our first floor.

Click here to enquire online

Enjoyed your visit - now why not explore our remarkable story? 


To conclude our celebration of 190 golden years serving our community, the current Chair has penned a new book, his second, which chronicles this Institute's story from the seed of a pioneering idea back in 1833 to celebrating this remarkable milestone in 2023


Find out how to get your copy - here.

We are now officially a Community Benefit Society.


On 3rd January 2024 Shildon Railway Institute completed its transformation and reconstitution to become a Community Benefit Society. Though this puts us in a stronger position as a community run enterprise, it changes little of the principles upon which we were founded and by which we are run. 


Find more information here.

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As a building, she looks weary, but that's because she has a long story to tell.

We're running a campaign to restore our beautiful building for the community

It's a busy old world. Find out what's going on at the world's oldest Railway Institute.