Station Seat, Great Western Railway

Station seat, Great Western Railway, wooden bench with cast metal supports. GWR scroll monogram set into end supports. Brown with gold inset. Now has brass plaque "In grateful memory of Oscar Whitaker Founder Honorary Secretary, Friends of the National Railway Museum".

The railways have always provided benches and seats for passengers waiting for their train to arrive. Styles of seating have changed over the years. Some reflect the company’s aesthetic; others helpfully show the station’s name. The type of seating chosen and its location, can reflect practical considerations such as station space and the benches’ durability and comfort.