Hawkhurst railway station

Hawkhurst
The goods shed (left) and signalbox (right) at Hawkhurst Station
General information
LocationGills Green, Hawkhurst, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
England
Grid referenceTQ757328
Platforms2
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original companyCranbrook and Paddock Wood Railway
Pre-groupingSouth Eastern Railway
Post-groupingSouthern Railway
Southern Region of British Railways
Key dates
4 September 1893Station opened
12 June 1961Station closed
Hawkhurst
Legend
1893
Legend
 Running line
Sidings

Hawkhurst railway station was on the closed Hawkhurst Branch in Kent, England.[1]

Background

The station was opened on 4 September 1893,[2] when the line was extended from Goudhurst; Hawkhurst became the new terminus,[3][4] and although there were plans to extend the line to Rye, these were never carried out. The station found itself in a slightly isolated and elevated position overlooking the Weald, approximately 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) from Hawkhurst itself.[5] It had a single 308-foot-long platform (94 m) situated on the down side, and a short 140-foot bay platform (43 m). The station was built as a through station, as it was proposed to extend the line to Tenterden but the extension was never built. The stationmaster's house is located to the south of the station as approached from the road. There was a two-road locomotive shed which opened at the same time as the station; it officially closed in 1931.[6] The railway was used to send pot plants from Hawkhurst station; a million a year being reported.[7]

The station was closed with the line on 12 June 1961.[2] The site is now occupied by the Kent Woodware Company. The main station building was demolished in the mid-1960s. The engine shed, goods shed and signal box all survive in decent condition. The proprietor of the site has the signal box regularly repainted in Southern Railway colours and it retains its green and white "Hawkhurst" sign.

However, as of 14 January 2011, plans have been approved to build industrial units on the site.

Notes

  1. ^ Conolly 1976, p. 6 section E5.
  2. ^ a b Butt 1995, p. 116.
  3. ^ Vallance 1955, p. 122.
  4. ^ Awdry 1990, p. 183.
  5. ^ Vallance 1955, p. 125.
  6. ^ McCarthy, McCarthy & Cobb 2007, p. 72.
  7. ^ White 1992, p. 66.

References

  • Awdry, Christopher (1990). Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies. London: Guild Publishing. CN 8983.
  • Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-85260-508-1. R508.
  • Conolly, W. Philip (January 1976). British Railways Pre-Grouping Atlas and Gazetteer (5th ed.). Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0320-3. EX/0176.
  • McCarthy, Colin; McCarthy, David; Cobb, Michael (October 2007). Waller, Peter (ed.). Kent and Sussex. Railways of Britain. Hersham: Ian Allan. ISBN 978-0-7110-3222-4. 0710/C1.
  • Vallance, H.A. (February 1955). "Through the Wealden Hills to Hawkhurst" (PDF). The Railway Magazine. Vol. 101, no. 646. Westminster: Tothill Press. ISSN 0033-8923. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  • White, H.P. (1992) [1961]. Thomas, David St John; Patmore, J. Allan (eds.). Volume 2: Southern England. A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain (5th ed.). Nairn: David St John Thomas. ISBN 0-946537-77-1.


Preceding station   Disused railways   Following station
Cranbrook   British Railways
Southern Region
Hawkhurst Branch 		  Terminus

51°03′47″N 0°30′21″E / 51.0631°N 0.5058°E / 51.0631; 0.5058