In 1844 the GWR opened its broad-gauge Didcot to Oxford railway line with an intermediate station named ‘Abingdon Road’, later being renamed as ‘Culham’. The station catered for passenger and goods traffic with sidings and a goods shed. Goods services were withdrawn in 1965 although passenger traffic continues today. The Brunel designed ticket office remains and is a Grade II listed building, although not now in railway use.
Pendon 'renamed' it Pendon Parva having selected it for the diorama and started researching the site in 1953. It was selected as a typical railway group, at the time comprising the station with all its associated buildings and other facilities, the Railway Hotel, station cottages and a coal and haulage merchant’s yard. All of these are to be seen at Pendon.
