Beaulieu: One of two monorail stations could be dismantled

The award-winning National Motor Museum has drawn up proposals to dismantle the metal-framed building, which overlooks formal gardens near the ruins of Beaulieu Abbey.

Opened by The Wombles almost half a century ago, the monorail gives visitors a bird's eye view of the attraction.

Beaulieu Enterprises is seeking consent to demolish one of the two monorail stations (Image: Google/Plum Architects)

The train travels through an opening in the roof of the main museum building, passing above hundreds of exhibits on the floors below, before emerging the other end a few moments later.

Most passengers join and leave the monorail at the main station, which is situated between the museum and the visitor reception complex.

READ MORE: Beaulieu exhibits some of the most eye-catching cars ever built - or imagined

Now Beaulieu Enterprises has submitted a proposal to demolish a similar structure that provides access to the southern loop of the line.

If the scheme is given the go-ahead by the New Forest National Park Authority, the "under-utilised" station will be taken apart and replaced by a new planting area.

Beaulieu Enterprises is seeking planning permission to demolish one of the monorail stations (Image: Beaulieu Enterprises)

Nearby buildings include Palace House, ancestral home of the Montagu family since 1538.

Palace House was opened to the public by Edward, Lord Montagu in 1952. A handful of classic cars displayed in the entrance hall evolved into what is now the National Motor Museum. The 13th century abbey ruins are also a short distance away.

READ MORE: Markings made in 1927 found on 'first 200mph' car

The application to demolish the station says: "There is no perceived threat to the heritage assets that lie beyond the immediate application site.

"As the existing structure is prefabricated, it can be dismantled in sections and removed from the site as individual elements via the existing hard paved road network within the museum campus.

"The threat of pollution to adjacent areas of high ecological sensitivity is also considered negligible.

"No processes that would involve the creation of dust or excessive noise are required."

Beaulieu Enterprises is seeking planning permission to demolish one of the monorail stations (Image: Newsquest.)

The Wombles, then at the height of their fame, took time out from collecting litter on Wimbledon Common to open the monorail on July 29 1974.

Edward Montagu's autobiography, Wheels Within Wheels, described the completion of the main museum building in 1972.

He added: "In 1974 we installed a monorail that, uniquely, ran through the roof of the museum, inspired by a similar one I saw, which ran through the US pavilion at the 1967 Expo in Montreal."

He died aged 88 in 2015 and was succeeded by the current Lord Montagu.