Bexhill West railway station

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Coordinates: 50°50′27″N 0°27′48″E / 50.840871°N 0.463369°E / 50.840871; 0.463369
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Bexhill West
Southern Railway
Southern Region of British Railways
Key dates
1 June 1902[1]Opened as Bexhill
1 January 1917Closed
1 March 1919Reopened
1920Renamed Bexhill-on-Sea
9 July 1923Renamed Bexhill (Eastern)
November 1929Renamed Bexhill West
9 September 1963[2]Goods facilities withdrawn
15 June 1964Closed to passengers

Bexhill West is a closed station in

Hastings Line. It was opened by the South Eastern and Chatham Railway and was operated by the Southern Region of British Railways
on closing. The station building still survives as an antiques house. The trackbed and site of the demolished platforms are now occupied by commercial industrial buildings.

History

A 4.5-mile (7.2 km)

Hastings to Brighton line had opened more than fifty years earlier. The new Bexhill terminus would be 62 miles (100 km) from Charing Cross, while the LB&SCR's station was 71.75 miles (115.47 km) from Victoria.[4] The branch was absorbed by the South Eastern and Chatham Railway in 1905.[5]

The new Bexhill station was situated in a valley on the west side of Bexhill which had not yet been developed. It was approached by a new road named "Terminus Road" to distinguish it from the "Station Road" which served the LB&SCR's station. A lavish station building was constructed which reflected the SER's ambitions for the line. Designed by

clocktower, and the main entrance features a block-moulded pediment which was carved in situ. The symmetrical building comprised a large and airy booking hall, ticket and parcels offices, a waiting room and ladies toilet, as well as the stationmaster's and inspector's offices. At a right angle to the building stands a smaller block which contained a refreshment room, gents' toilet, porters' and lamp rooms.[6] Two 700-foot-long (210 m) and 30-foot-wide (9.1 m) island platforms were provided, those to the east (nos. 1 and 2) covered by a glass canopy extending to a distance of 400 feet (120 m) and also covering the concourse between the tracks and building. The uncovered platforms 3 and 4 were rarely used; platform 4 never in fact received any track and platform 3 was soon covered by grass. The station buildings were lit by electricity, whereas the platforms by gas. A goods depot was opened on London Road opposite the York Hotel, where a brick shed measuring 133 feet 6 inches (40.69 m) by 30 feet (9.1 m) was erected.[7]

Despite the shorter route to London and the impressive station buildings, passengers continued to prefer the LB&SCR's more centrally-located station. In 1917, the

Beeching Report, and it finally closed to all traffic from 15 June 1964.[10][11]


Preceding station   Disused railways   Following station
Terminus  
Bexhill West Branch Line
   Sidley

Present day

The track was lifted in 1965 and the bridge over Down Road and Little Common Road demolished in 1967. Bexhill West station building has survived and is now occupied by Sivyers Antique Emporium and Auction, along with Brief Encounters Cafe. The adjoining former refreshment rooms are now a pub and restaurant, and the engine shed forms part of the light industrial estate now occupying the former trackbed to the rear of the station along Beeching Road.[12] The platforms have been demolished.

The building was listed at Grade II by English Heritage on 27 February 2013.[13] This status is given to "nationally important buildings of special interest".[14]

Photographs

  • Former refreshment rooms, now a pub/restaurant.
    Former refreshment rooms, now a pub/restaurant.
  • Surviving section of canopy to the rear of the station.
    Surviving section of canopy to the rear of the station.
  • Bexhill West station concourse in 1962.
    Bexhill West station concourse in 1962.
  • View westward on Terminus Road in 1962.
    View westward on Terminus Road in 1962.
  • Main building 1964.
    Main building 1964.
  • The clock tower.
    The clock tower.
  • Recently restored clock mechanism.
    Recently restored clock mechanism.

References

  1. ISBN 1-85260-508-1
    , p. 33.
  2. ISBN 0-905466-19-5
    .
  3. ISBN 0-9523458-6-2
    .
  4. ISBN 0-946537-37-2
    .
  5. ISBN 0-946537-77-1
    .
  6. ^ Harding, P., pp. 23-24.
  7. ISBN 0-7134-2835-X
    .
  8. ^ Course, E. (1974), p. 202.
  9. ISBN 0-7134-0490-6
    .
  10. ^ Harding, P., pp. 16-17.
  11. ISBN 1-85306-697-4
    .
  12. ^ White, H.P. (1986), p. 175.
  13. ^ Historic England. "Former Bexhill West Station, 15 Terminus Road, Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex (Grade II) (1412228)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  14. ^ "Listed Buildings". English Heritage. 2012. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2013.

50°50′27″N 0°27′48″E / 50.840871°N 0.463369°E / 50.840871; 0.463369

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