Disused Stations: West Hoathly Station

Looking north towards West Hoathly station in 1958. Sharpthorne Tunnel is behind the photographer.
Photo from John Mann collection

West Hoathly station looking south towards Sharpthorne Tunnel in August 1960, two years and five months after closure. Apart from the rusty rails little has changed. A buffer stop alongside the cattle dock is seen on the right, The track in the goods yard has probably been lifted by this date, and five years after closure of the yard it is now very overgrown.
Photo by Ron Fisher from his Flickr photostream

Looking south towards the north portal of Sharpthorne Tunnel in August 1960. The trackbed is surprisingly clear of any vegetation and the verge also appears to have been kept clear. Two people are seen heading into the tunnel.
Photo Flickr photostream

By September 1961 weeds have started growing through the ballast at West Hoathly station. Apart from the concrete edging, the platforms are getting heavily overgrown.

Photo by Ian D. Nolan from his Flickr photostream

Looking north from the down platform at West Hoathly station in September 1961. This view clearly shows where the decorated valance along the edge of the canopies was cut away by
the Southern Railway.
Photo by Ian D. Nolan from his Flickr photostream

Looking south towards West Hoathly station in September 1961. The sidings have been lifted but nothing else in the goods yard has gone. The small timber goods lockup is seen in the centre and, to its left, is the overgrown cattle dock. A large quantity of coal appears to have been abandoned behind the loading gauge. There is no obvious evidence of a coal merchant still operating from the yard. The closest building is the ‘Railway Hotel’; it was renamed the ‘Bluebell Inn’ and remained open until 1999. Click here for a larger version of this picture.
Photo by Ian D. Nolan from his Flickr photostream

The up platform at West Hoathly station in September 1961. The gents' toilet is closest to the camera. The ‘Railway Hotel’ is seen far right.
Photo by Ian D. Nolan from his Flickr photostream

West Hoathly station seen from the east side in August 1962. The road in the foreground runs from the end of Hamsey Road to a secondary entrance at the rear of the down platform. The truncated remains of the down platform waiting room is seen, having been converted into an open-fronted shelter by the Southern Railway.
Photo by Ian D. Nolan from his Flickr photostream

Looking north into the station forecourt from the end of Station Road in August 1962. The station building is out of view behind the trees on the right. The entrance to the goods yard is through the gate straight ahead. Beyond the gate the cattle dock is seen on the right. In the distance the heap of abandoned coal is still there. Click here to see a larger version of this picture.
Photo by Ian D. Nolan from his Flickr photostream

West Hoathly station building seen from the end of Station Road in August 1962. Although the booking office windows are boarded up, the house was still occupied at this time. The post box is still on the wall to the left of the porch, presumably still in use.
Photo by Ian D. Nolan from his Flickr photostream

In the summer of 1964 demolition at West Hoathly is underway. The waiting shelter and much of the footbridge have been demolished and the timber is stacked on the platform awaiting collection.
Photo from John Mann collection

Demolition is underway at West Hoathly in the summer of 1964. It is assumed that the new shed is a temporary, for the use of contractors.

Photo from John Mann collection

Track lifting is underway at West Hoathly station in January 1965.The locomotive is an ex-North London Railway Class 75 tank engine that was withdrawn from Rowsley Shed in December 1960. It was stored at Barrow Hill for two years before coming to the Bluebell in 1962. In 1964 it was hired by the demolition contractors for lifting the track between Ardingly and East Grinstead. It was later used again for rebuilding the same line when the Bluebell's northern extension was under construction.
Photo by E Wilmhurst

Click here to see
West Hoathly Station Gallery 3: Summer 1966 - January 2014

[Source: Nick Catford]

Station Name:WEST HOATHLY