Exeter Memories - Great Western

It is not difficult to account for the name and position of this hotel, as it is right next to St David's Station, on Brunel's Great Western Railway.

The Bristol and Exeter Railway was opened by the Mayor, Henry Hooper in 1844. The first train from Bristol was hauled by the engine, 'The City of Exeter'. The Great Western Railway leased the line for five years, before they eventually bought it out. When the London and South Western line reached Northernhay, GWR were prompted into building the present St David's Station, around about 1860. The oldest part of the hotel dates back to 1848 while the present extended Great Western Hotel dates from circa 1860.

The first mention of a hotel for the new St David's railway station appears in the Flying Post in 1848 when an advert appears:

RAILWAY STATION, EXETER
JAMES HUTCHINGS avails himself of this opportunity, to return his thanks to his Friends and the Public, for the favours already bestowed on him, since he has opened the above Inn, and trusts by strict attention to the Comfort of Visitors to merit a continuation of their support.
Visitors will find every accomodation, and attention combined with moderate charges.Genuine Wines, Spirits, &c.
GOOD BEDS, STABLING AND LOCKUP COACH HOUSES
The Inn being so near the Station, Travellers, by rail, will find it a great accommodation.
Families supplied with Good House Brewed Beer.

The advert indicates that the new inn had no formal name at this time, other than the Railway Station, Exeter which must have been confusing.

In 1852 there was a sale at Hutchings Railway Inn to settle a disputed account. The sale of paint was listed thus - "504 tins & 28 casks Paint, and 8 cwt 2qr 9lb Glaziers Putty". It was not clear whether the dispute involved Hutchings or whether the inn was just the venue for the sale.

The section to the right and around the corner is probably the pre 1860 Railway Inn.

Some Flying Post and trade directory entries for the Railway Inn/Great Western Hotel:

1848 - Railway Station, James Hutchings - Flying Post
1852 - Hutchings Railway Inn - Flying Post advert for paint sale.
1859 - railway inn, Crediton-road, Hutchings, J., - Trewman's. The address is Crediton-road, which makes me think that this is the part of the present hotel that faces Red Cow village. When they built the new hotel, they probably incorporated the old railway inn, into the structure.
1871 - Underhill, Jas., railway hotel, crediton-r - Pocket Journal
1878 - Railway, James Underhill, St David's Hill, Exeter - White's
1897 - Railway, James Underhill, St Davids - Kelly's
1923 - Railway (Trust House), St David's Hill. Post Office
1934 - Great Western Hotel, O'Kelly, H. K., Red Cow Village - Besley's
1956 - Great Western (Trust Houses) Ltd. (Geo. F. Burn, district manager), Red Cow village - Kelly's
1967 - Great Western (Trust Houses) Ltd. Station Approach, Red Cow village - Kelly's.

Great Western Hotel - St David's