The Mid Wales Railway (MWR) opened its line from Llanidloes to Brecon in 1864, with many stations – Builth Wells and Erwood included – along its route. The MWR was run as a small independent Welsh railway for 24 years, until amalgamated with the Cambrian Railway in 1901.
Trains ran 5 times a day. In 1904 in each direction, carrying coal, livestock, and agricultural produce to markets, as well as running regular passenger trains, carrying school children.
On December 30th, 1962, the Stevenson Locomotive Society ran the last train on this line. The journey was undertaken in heavy snow during one of Wales worst winters for several years. The next day, the line closed, a year before the Beeching Report closed many other small lines.
In 1984 Alan and Erika Cunningham bought the derelict station, which had been abandoned for over twenty years.
After lovingly restoring the station buildings, they opened the craft centre where Alan was able to exhibit and demonstrate his woodturning skills, which later won him the 1990 Eisteddfod.
Sadly, Alan Cunningham passed away in December 2008, but the Craft Centre and Gallery continues be an opportunity for business owners to lease from the Cunnigham family and to embrace this special space for hopefully many more years to come.