Barcombe Station (Closed)

An opportunity to take a photographic tour north along the former line from Hamsey and Culver Junction to Sheffield Park. Although the trackbed is now in poor condition and extensively overgrown, you can see some features. The line has been closed for more than 50 years and naturally many views are obstructed by vegetation. As is often the case with cross country lines, Barcombe Station is not in the village of Barcombe, and is actually at Barcombe Cross.

Please note that some sections of the line are now private property, and other parts are totally impassable. It is not possible to walk the entire length.

Separate collections cover (a) Hamsey to Barcombe via Culver Junction; (b) Barcombe Station (closed); (c) Barcombe to Sheffield Park; (d) Newick & Chailey Station (closed).

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Brenda Barnes has kindly supplied this early image of Barcombe Station when it was still open to traffic. A porter, hands in pockets, gazes north, there is a generous supply of fire buckets, and bicycles lean casually against platform furniture. The date is unfortunately not recorded and the image has received some restoration. Brenda Barnes retains all rights to this image.
I am grateful to John Attfield for allowing me to use some of his images in this gallery. A very different scene after closure. Barcombe Station captured on 12 April 1965 looking south, with the station building (then neglected) on the left. In the distance the road bridge remained in use in it's original condition, but it was later classified as a "Weak Bridge". Attempts were initially made to strengthen it with tie rods, but at a later stage, in 2007, it was infilled. John retains all rights to this image.
Barcombe Station pictured on 12 April 1965 looking north, with the remains of the station (then neglected) on the right. Barcombe only ever had a single platform. Contrast this image with later photos of the restored station. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
Barcombe Station looking north across the forecourt on 12 April 1965. Note that many of the station windows and the porch were then boarded up. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
Nick Mander has kindly supplied this image of Barcombe station in somewhat derelict condition, which he believes was taken in 1975. Nick retains all rights to this image.
Nick Bailey has kindly supplied this photo of Barcombe Station which is believed to date from 12 August 1984. The station was, at the time, in a rather sad condition, but happily it survived. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
Looking north along the platform of Barcombe Station during refurbishment. 20.06.2020 20451 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
Looking north towards the new signal box at Barcombe Station. 20.06.2020 20486 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
The current owners of Barcombe Station have constructed a signal box (which is not intended to be an exact replica). In the early 1900s the box was in the position shown, but by 1910 a new building had been constructed which was parallel to the platform. 20.06.2020 20481 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
The new signal box at Barcombe Station. 20.06.2020 20433/BW Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
The new signal box at Barcombe Station. 20.06.2020 20437 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
The new signal box at Barcombe Station. The carpenter has provided sliding windows similar to those which would have been found on many signal boxes. 20.06.2020 20436 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
The new signal box at Barcombe Station. 20.06.2020 20442 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
The new signal box at Barcombe Station. 20.06.2020 17969 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
The new signal box at Barcombe Station. 20.06.2020 17974 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
Looking north towards the new signal box at Barcombe Station. 20.06.2020 17973 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
The new signal box at Barcombe Station is placed upon the foundations of the original box. For those who doubt this, a small section of the former foundations can be seen behind the box. 20.06.2020 20434 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
The northern end of Barcombe Station. 20.06.2020 20443 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
Barcombe Station is a family home, and the modern metal and glass canopy protects items of daily living. 20.06.2020 20483 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
Lavender flourishes on what was the old platform edge at Barcombe Station. Nothing special has been done to cultivate it; presumably the plant likes railway platforms. 20.06.2020 20484 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
The southern end of Barcombe Station. 20.06.2020 20445 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
It has become essential to renew the windows and other wooden sections of Barcombe Station owing to rot and woodworm. Double glazed units are being fitted but a specialist carpenter is installing the units within new wooden frames designed to look very similar to the originals. 20.06.2020 20430 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
Whilst scaffolding has been in place at Barcombe Station the opportunity has been taken to inspect and repair other parts of the structure. Note the ornate chimney, the finer points of which would be hard to see from the ground. Victorian bricklayers took pride in their work. 20.06.2020 17964 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
One of the new double glazed windows in what would have been part of the Station Master's house at Barcombe Station. Note the ornate carved sections above and below the windows, which are replicas made by the specialist carpenter from a template. 20.06.2020 20431 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
One of the original carvings from Barcombe Station, removed to ground level. This item was too rotten for reuse and shows evidence of woodworm. It does, however, have a hidden surprise (see next image). 20.06.2020 20422 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
The back of the original carving from Barcombe Station. This is the section that would have been against the wall and invisible. The carpenter who made it in 1882 (when the station was built) has signed his work. The message reads "J Gillam, Plumstead, Kent". Following research we now know that the craftsman who worked on the station was Joseph Gillam, born in Cowfold in Sussex in 1823. Joseph married Mary Ann Davey on 13 February 1848 in Brighton, and the couple had a daughter Grace on 29 July 1849. In the 1850s Joseph moved with his family to Plumstead (then in Kent). He subsequently returned to Sussex to find work, and was employed on Barcombe Station in 1882. Joseph died in Brighton on 16 January 1884. It is probable that Joseph and his brothers Jesse and Ebenezer (who were all carpenters) were employed by or contracted to the LB&SCR at Brighton at different times in their lives. An extensive history of the family is held. 20.06.2020 20423 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
Also discovered during the renovations in 2020 was this tiny heart carved by Joseph Gillam on the apex of the building, close to the sky. It is photographed here by the owners. We will never know why this was done, but Joseph Gillam's wife, Mary Ann, died at about the time he was working on Barcombe Station.
One of the original upstairs windows in the Station Master's house at Barcombe Station (yet to be replaced). 20.06.2020 17967 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
One of the new downstairs doubled glazed windows at Barcombe Station. 20.06.2020 17968 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
One of the larger newly doubled glazed downstairs windows at Barcombe Station. The original smaller stained glass windows above have been retained. Sadly this is the only "railway" stained glass that remains in the windows, previous owners having removed the remainder. 20.06.2020 20432 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
A closer view of the double glazed window, with the retained stained glass above. Barcombe Station. 20.06.2020 20485 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
The LB&SCR specified stained glass (1882) at Barcombe Station. 20.06.2020 17966 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
The platform and original door from the booking hall, with work to replace the windows in progress. Barcombe Station. 20.06.2020 20487 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
The original door from the booking hall, with the station entrance in the background. Barcombe Station. 20.06.2020 20488 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
The orignal entrance to the booking hall at Barcombe Station, viewed from the inside. 20.06.2020 20467 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
This was the original wooden ventilator from the Gents at Barcombe Station, now replaced by a glass roof light. The extra light makes a considerable difference in what is now a domestic room. 20.06.2020 20457 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
A fire at Barcombe Station (the tiled surround is not original). 20.06.2020 20465 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
The company clearly assumed that their staff would make off with the fittings from the building. The back of the fire is marked "Southern"...! Barcombe Station. 20.06.2020 20463 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
The southern end of Barcombe Station. This would have been the booking hall and waiting room. 20.06.2020 20429 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
The ornate chimney on the Waiting Room at the southern end of Barcombe Station. 20.06.2020 17965 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
The southern end of Barcombe Station. The lavatories would have been here. The glass roof light for the current building would have originally been an open wooden lattice ventilator for The Gents. On the extreme right there is a concrete channel in the wall. This formerly accommodated a tall cast iron vertical pipe which ventilated the pipe flowing from the lavatories and an adjacent cesspit. Fortunately the domed output was well above roof level. 20.06.2020 20428 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
One of the ornate finials on the roof of Barcombe Station. 20.06.2020 17975 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
One of the ornate finials on the roof of Barcombe Station. 20.06.2020 17977 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
One of the ornate finials on the roof of Barcombe Station. The TV aerial is not thought to date from 1882 (and it needs repair). 20.06.2020 17978 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
Barcombe Station, with refurbishment in progress. 20.06.2020 17970 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
Barcombe Station, with refurbishment in progress. 20.06.2020 17971 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
On the western side of Barcombe Station there is a large area of land that was owned by the railway but never used. The station was constructed in 1882, and a goods yard was added in 1897, but this was placed north of the station on the eastern side of the line. The area on the western side is bounded by a natural ditch. It could (in theory) have been used for additional sidings, but it is unlikely that such a facility would have been required in this rural location. 20.06.2020 20439 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.
On the western side of Barcombe Station there is a large area of land that was owned by the railway but never used. The station was constructed in 1882, and a goods yard was added in 1897, but this was placed north of the station on the eastern side of the line. The area on the western side is bounded by a natural ditch. It could (in theory) have been used for additional sidings, but it is unlikely that such a facility would have been required in this rural location. 20.06.2020 20440 Please note that this is private property. Images taken by arrangement, and with the permission of the owners.