An original London North Eastern Railway sign from the defunct non-passenger station at Newmarket.

An original London North Eastern Railway sign from the defunct non-passenger station at Newmarket used for handling horse transportation, circa 1950, in blue Perspex with white lettering reading NEWMARKET HIGH LEVEL HORSE OFFICE, then detailing contact information, and the station office's opening hours, some losses to corners and to blue colouring, general wear, but overall good, 91cm. square; sold with a colour postcard by Parr & Son, Newmarket, postmarked 3 Nov 1908 and titled 'New Railway Station', (2).

Newmarket Railway Station opened on 4th April 1848 as a terminus by the small branch line Newmarket Railway Company. It was located close to Warren Hill on [Old] Station Road near All Saints Road. The station's terminal was an elaborate piece of architectural opulence described as resembling a "Baroque Orangery." When the line to Ely was opened on 1st September 1879 a new island platform was built. It was at a slightly lower level and located to the east of the original terminus. For some years hence Newmarket was in effect two separate stations, the original High Level used by the Cambridge trains terminating at Newmarket; with the Low Level used by through trains to Ely and later Bury St Edmunds.

Newmarket being the HQ of British horse racing meant that the station had to handle near constant inward and outward horse traffic serving the racecourses, major training stables and Tattersalls bloodstock auction house. Around the turn of the 20th century it is estimated that 12,500 horses were being dealt with annually. So on 7th April 1902 a new passenger station was opened about a half mile south at the bottom of The Avenue close to Tattersalls. This lot includes a period postcard published in 1908 portraying the new station. The original station was retained to continue with the non-passenger horse transportation logistics, as well as goods and parcel traffic. There was a a specific office, original home to this sign, for the administration of the horse traffic. Facilities included 25 horse boxes for every day use plus an additional 50 boxes located nearby for busy days such as race meetings and the Tattersalls auctions. Eventually horse transportation by road became the accepted norm and Newmarket Station's Horse Office closed circa 1954, although the station continued to handle goods and freight until 3rd April 1967. The original magnificent terminus architecture survived until 1981 when, despite public outcry and listed status, permission was granted for demolition to make way for the Armstrong Close housing development. The present Newmarket station is in yet another location, a little south from the 1902 site, and the line at this point is now single track and used for services between Cambridge and Ipswich.