Disused Stations: Westerham Station

Westerham Station Gallery 12: Early 1965 - April 1974

A circa early 1965 view from Westerham station platform across the running line and loop towards the goods shed. Something appears to be parked in the shed and whilst no amount of image-tweaking will reveal what it is, it was almost certainly the trolley of the 'Railmobile'. A new factory is under construction in the background on the left.

Photo by Malcolm Bryant

Westerham station, derelict but essentially intact as was the track, in 1965. The camera is looking north-east with the dock behind the photographer.
Photo by Chris Jenner

Looking north-east at Westerham water tower, water crane and site of former engine shed in 1965. The rather peculiar railings were essentially part of the engine shed and give the false impression of a bridge; the brick walls are actually the base of the shed. The building to the right of the water tank is miller A E Barton's warehouse.
Photo by Chris Jenner

Another 1965 view of Westerham station, this time with the end of the line towards the left. The station building and canopy appears a little less derelict from this angle but the same cannot be said of the platform and track.

Photo by Chris Jenner

A rather forlorn Westerham station in October 1965, four years after closure. This was around the time preservation attempts were abandoned and shortly before the track was lifted. Despite the station building having a repaint, the building has clearly been empty again for some time and the roof is in poor condition and the canopy decidedly scruffy. Perhaps this is indicative of the problems of fundraising faced by railway preservationists, especially during the early years. It would seem, however, that the Westerham scheme was largely preoccupied with battling against bureaucrats who may not have been overly hostile themselves but were being pressured by the real hater of the railways and who saw Beeching as a convenient scapegoat - Ernest Marples. Closure of the Westerham branch was not, incidentally, a Beeching closure as it predated the so-called ‘Beeching Report’ by two years.
Photo from John Mann collection

The remains of Westerham station looking north-east in September 1967. Compare this with the similar view from August 1968 below. The scene looks decidedly rural and somewhat isolated; in fact the station was conveniently sited towards the northern edge of the small town. The station buildings were all demolished in 1966. The brick bases of the columns supporting the canopy can still be
seen on the platform.
Photo by Nick Catford

A September 1967 view across what was the forecourt towards the site of Westerham station, with the familiar furniture present to provide orientation. The low wall beyond the pavement was the base of the station building. It will be noticed that the LT bus stop had by this time reverted to a single flag.
Photo by Nick Catford

September 1967 and we are looking south-west along Westerham's platform. The fencing, or more correctly railings, at the rear of the platform still stand. The design, with the looped tops, was a distinctive feature of the South Eastern Railway. Some of the wooden buildings seen on the left are still standing in what is now Hortons Way.
Photo by Nick Catford

An August 1968 view along Westerham's platform, looking due north-east. Of note are the bases of the canopy supports on the platform, providing an idea, along with the ramp, of where the station building once stood. The distinctive shape of the van parked on the left tells us it is one of the early versions of the Ford Transit.
Photo by Nick Catford

Looking north-west across the goods yard at Westerham's platform in August 1968. The Crown Hotel is seen to the rear and behind the hoardings, the Westerham Primary School is also seen.
Photo by Nick Catford

An April 1974 view looking north-east along Westerham's platform. Where rails once were, stacks of timber now preside. Note the extant fencing at the rear of the platform, left. The near end of the fencing marks the site of the station building. After the track was lifted, a few local firms took advantage of the cleared site to house their stock. One of the companies that moved onto the station site was Chandler Forest Products Ltd, the local timber merchant at that time.
Photo by Nick Catford

Another view of the Westerham station site in April 1974 seen from what was the goods yard, with the Crown and school in the background as orientation points. Part of the platform face is just visible between the stacks of timber.
Photo by Nick Catford

Click here for Westerham Station Gallery 13:
April 1974 - April 2014

[Source: Nick Catford]