Welcome to the Waggonway* Research Circle Website
(Site content last updated on 12August 2007)
This web site has been created to cover the Industrial Archaeology surrounding the development of the early British waggonway (or wagonway)*. These wagonways, or wagonways, were originally made of wood, later evolving into iron L plate tramways or what we today regard as a railway with iron rails.
Some additional material relating to early railways in general is also included including a page relating to the Early Railways Conferences
Due to the interests of the circle members the site has a particular bias at present to the history of the World's first recorded cross-country overland waggonway, (the Wollaton waggonway of 1604) and Huntingdon Beaumont the man who built it. Additional material relating to other waggonway (wagonway) and plateway (plate way) history will be added over time.
Notes
(1) *We decided to spell waggonway with the double g as used the North East of England but it can also be spelt with the single g as wagonway if you prefer.
(2) The WRC thank Strelley Systems Business Centres for their sponsorship of WRC activities.