Bishopstone (Sussex)

[wintonian]

Just been checking out Google Maps and wondered is that a pillbox on top of Bishopstone station? hock:

 

[tsr]

According to Wikipedia's article, there are two pillboxes up there. Given their position, this is hardly surprising!

I imagine that they are thoroughly derelict - like much of the rest of the station appears to be!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

A truly fascinating station. The station itself was built in 1938 IIRC, and the two pillboxes added around 1940. The station's building, now sadly disused completely, still acts as the sole means of access. I've been to the station myself and it is does actually rather feel like a Tube station, minus any sign of human existence! The octagonal roof with small individual square window panes has been concreted over I think, leaving it a very black, dank place to admire. IIRC there's even a small corridor to nowhere within the building from the booking hall, it seemed a very complex layout for such a small, minor station. It was destaffed in 1989 so I assume it has been largely left to rot since then.

 

[rf_ioliver]

I've used Bishopstone a lots...actually I agree with MattE2910 that it is a fascinating station. Pillboxes, disused platform, just the location itself is quite beautiful in its own way

t.

Ian

 

[MidnightFlyer]

It certainly is one that slips under the radar. I've tried to delve into its past but aside from what Wikipedia says there's little more written about it. Rail magazine did an article on it I'd guess roughly 2 years ago. It was a decent read but there was little more to it than a huge photo of the current state of the station frontage and about how it was built over WW2. I think some photos of the building's interior in its heyday (or even stories of what it was like) would be fascinating to study, sadly I think none exist. Mercifully however the building is listed, but whilst it's left thoroughly empty I don't know how much that means in reality.

 

[wintonian]

According to Wikipedia's article, there are two pillboxes up there. Given their position, this is hardly surprising!

I imagine that they are thoroughly derelict - like much of the rest of the station appears to be!

No not surprising at all, just that I've never come across a station with a pillbox on top before!

A truly fascinating station. The station itself was built in 1938 IIRC, and the two pillboxes added around 1940. The station's building, now sadly disused completely, still acts as the sole means of access. I've been to the station myself and it is does actually rather feel like a Tube station, minus any sign of human existence! The octagonal roof with small individual square window panes has been concreted over I think, leaving it a very black, dank place to admire. IIRC there's even a small corridor to nowhere within the building from the booking hall, it seemed a very complex layout for such a small, minor station. It was destaffed in 1989 so I assume it has been largely left to rot since then.

Interesting, I'll have a peer through the window on my way to Seaford tomorrow, unfortunately I doubt I'll have time to stop short and have a nose, though I'll more than likely only get depressed at seeing another example of railway history unloved and rotting away.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Interesting, I'll have a peer through the window on my way to Seaford tomorrow, unfortunately I doubt I'll have time to stop short and have a nose, though I'll more than likely only get depressed at seeing another example of railway history unloved and rotting away.

There's not much you can see from the platform alas, that's why I went back one day to check it out properly. It is quite a sad sight to see, mind you all there is to see now aside from the exterior is a concrete-topped, octagonal room painted white, and an old PTT machine (which still worked when I went 18 months ago!). Sadly though whilst English Heritage et al do their usual act of list it then leave it, and the station remains so quiet and at the end of a cul-de-sac, there's not much use it holds.

 

[wintonian]

Looks like I'm going to have to go for a walk with the camera from Seaford to Newhaven one day as there's quite a bit of interest on this little branch line.

 

[mister-sparky]

If they added another entrance towards marine parade (what seems to be a main road), then it might get some more use. and apparently it was built like it is due to their being alot of development planned for the area when it was built. but due to ww2 coming along, most of it never happened.

 

[coastwallker]

It is a fascinating area. If you walk down to down to the sea from the station and along towards Newhaven, there is the remains of Tide Mills village and tracks from an old tramway still to be seen

 

[CROMPTON 33]

there's is a old station platform just before bishopstone on the left hand side by the old tide mills. when you walk from bishopstone to newhaven along the beach you can see the old lines and sleepers. i walk my dog over there sometimes .

 

[wintonian]

there's is a old station platform just before bishopstone on the left hand side by the old tide mills. when you walk from bishopstone to newhaven along the beach you can see the old lines and sleepers. i walk my dog over there sometimes .

Bishopstone Beach Halt I believe- see I got so interested in this bit of line I hit Wiki.

 

[Cletus]

Further down the wikipedia article, it says:

On 3 July 1940 a train near Bishopstone Station was machine-gunned and bombed by a German fighter plane. The train driver was killed and several passengers were injured.

Possibly the reason the pill boxes were added! Although the pill boxes face away from the tracks and inland.

 

[wintonian]

I see today (through the window) that Newhaven Marine appears to be accessible again, albeit as a car park- so much for the (now no existent) root being a danger to the public.

 

[EM2]

Chris Leigh of Model Rail has been scratchbuilding a model of Bishopstone, there's a few shots in back issues of the magazine (but I can't recall which ones).

 

[tony6499]

If they added another entrance towards marine parade (what seems to be a main road), then it might get some more use. and apparently it was built like it is due to their being alot of development planned for the area when it was built. but due to ww2 coming along, most of it never happened.

There is an entrance from the platform down stairs to the road
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Bishopstone Beach Halt I believe- see I got so interested in this bit of line I hit Wiki.

Was called Tide Mills not Bishopstone Beach Halt

 

[GatwickDepress]

Chris Leigh of Model Rail has been scratchbuilding a model of Bishopstone, there's a few shots in back issues of the magazine (but I can't recall which ones).

Issue no. 180 pp. 62-68, his creation of "St. Petrock Station" shares space with a creation of Oakworth station as it was portrayed in the 1970 Lionel Jeffries' version of The Railway Children. A very interesting read and an excellent final model. I particularly enjoyed the reference shots from inside the station itself.

Interestingly, he mentions that the pillbox defences were integrated seamlessly into the brickwork by the Royal Engineers as part of the overall coastal defence plan rather than as a response to aerial attacks. Apparently the two pillboxes are connected by a crawling passageway with a sloping roof; with access to the station below provided by a ladder (part of which still remains in the booking hall but access is now bricked up).

Which reminds me, I need to go on a little jaunt down the Seaford branch one day with my camera...

 

[30909]

A truly fascinating station. The station itself was built in 1938 IIRC, and the two pillboxes added around 1940. The station's building, now sadly disused completely, still acts as the sole means of access. I've been to the station myself and it is does actually rather feel like a Tube station, minus any sign of human existence! The octagonal roof with small individual square window panes has been concreted over I think, leaving it a very black, dank place to admire. IIRC there's even a small corridor to nowhere within the building from the booking hall, it seemed a very complex layout for such a small, minor station. It was destaffed in 1989 so I assume it has been largely left to rot since then.

I asked my Seaford resident friend who obviously confirmed the pillboxes but also the following "Yes there are two pillboxes. The station is listed. There have been local plans for its refurbishment and I have passed them to the Sussex Community Rail Partnership of which I am now a member (for their Seaford to Brighton Line Steering Group)." So perhaps there is a chance that "something will be done"

 

[sarahj]

Someone mentioned Newhaven Marine, the car park has always been in use, but its not for passengers.

If you want a quick look at bishopstone, get off a Brighton to Seaford there, have a look around, 20* mins later it comes back out to pick you up. Watch out for the rabbits and the fox that hangs out at the seaford end of the platforms.

*max time, some later trains have a very short turn round time at Seaford.

 

[bangor-toad]

It is a fascinating area. If you walk down to down to the sea from the station and along towards Newhaven, there is the remains of Tide Mills village and tracks from an old tramway still to be seen

This has got to be an understatement!

There is a huge amount of history in the area. Much of it has now been lifted and nature has reclaimed the site but fragments are still present.

Near the old Bishopstone Halt station site there used to be signs of the old east -> south (yes - I mean that!) chord that provided rail access to the tide mills.
Then further on there used to be the vast complex of sidings used in WWII. I remember these from childhood but I don't have any pictures. Here's a link to what was left in 1982:
Click

As you approach the docks area you can see some of the remains of the southern link from Newhaven Marine station embedded into the concrete.


A bit further on you may still see evidence of the west quay branch. This diverged from the main tracks just north of the level crossing by the Town station and crossed the Ouse by swing bridge. For years there was a stub of curving track left - I don't know if that's still there.
The line used to run down the edge of the west quay and crossed the marina on a trestle. It then ran down to the seafront and out onto the breakwater. There used to be track still embedded into the breakwater for much of it's length.

There are several books about the old railways in and around Newhaven. Sadly I can't remember what they are called but perhaps others can suggest some titles?

Cheers,
Jason

 

[coastwallker]

Gosh - it just shows you need to know what you are looking at and looking for doesn't it?

To me is just looked like scrubland and rather overgrown but old pictures tell such a different story.

And what I thought were tram lines maybe were old railway tracks then?