Cranbrook railway station (Kent)

Cranbrook railway station is a disused English station which was on the closed Hawkhurst Branch in Kent, England.[1]

Cranbrook
Station buildings in 1984
LocationHartley, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
England
Grid referenceTQ753346
Platforms1
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
Cranbrook station
1954
 to Goudhurst
Milepost 44¾
to Hawkhurst
Legend
 Running line
 Sidings

Background

The station was opened on 4 September 1893,[2] when the line was extended from Goudhurst to Hawkhurst.[3][4] The station was equipped with a single 300 ft platform on the down side, together with a goods only loop.[5] The stationmaster's house was situated on the platform, with a large goods yard and red brick goods shed to the rear. A warehouse used by a local corn merchant was at the Goudhurst end of the yard.

The station's name was a little deceptive in that the town of Cranbrook was two miles away. When the line was originally being constructed, local landowners had demanded high prices for the sale of their agricultural land and the South Eastern Railway had refused, amending the route of the line so that Cranbrook Station was actually located in Hartley. The villagers came to regret being excluded from the line, and an attempt was made to have a light railway constructed to Hartley. This was never realised.

The station was closed with the line on 12 June 1961.[2] The station building was used for several years by Brian O'Donoghue and Keith Harding as "Cranbrook Station Pottery". This has now closed and it is reported that the station building is in poor condition, although the stationmaster's house is well preserved.

Notes
  1. Conolly 1976, p. 6 section D5.
  2. Butt 1995, p. 70.
  3. Vallance 1955, p. 122.
  4. Awdry 1990, p. 183.
  5. Vallance 1955, p. 125.

References
  • Awdry, Christopher (1990). Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies. Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-8526-0049-7. OCLC 19514063. CN 8983.
  • Butt, R. V. J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85260-508-7. OCLC 60251199.
  • Conolly, W. Philip (January 1976). British Railways Pre-Grouping Atlas and Gazetteer (5th ed.). Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0320-3. EX/0176.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Vallance, H.A. (February 1955). "Through the Wealden Hills to Hawkhurst" (PDF). The Railway Magazine. Westminster: Tothill Press. 101 (646). ISSN 0033-8923. Retrieved 13 January 2010.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Preceding station   Disused railways   Following station
Goudhurst   British Railways
Southern Region
Hawkhurst Branch		   Hawkhurst

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