Culver Junction - The former line from Hamsey to Barcombe (now closed)

The tour starts at Hamsey Church, south west of Culver Junction. This view looks south towards the village of South Malling. The old line from Lewes enters the picture on the middle left, and curves round following the line of trees on the right of the houses. Nearer the camera you can see the remains of an old bridge where the line crossed the River Ouse. The slope directly in front of the camera is a cutting which has been totally filled in (shades of the Imberhorne Lane Tip). Nearest to the camera is a venting system for gases to escape from the fill in the cutting

Turning round, the delightful high arched bridge is now buried in spoil and all that can be seen is the parapet. The trees growing beyond the northern parapet unfortunately completely blocked any photography from this excellent high viewpoint.

This view looks over the bridge to the south east. The road leads only to a pleasant old church. On the left the ground drops away in a sheer drop beyond the left hand parapet, but the trees prevent any view.

This view looks north west across Hamsey bridge, and down the approach road. The parapet is almost concealed by undergrowth on both sides.

The line ran away from the bridge across the river flood plain, and there are many historic pictures showing the excellent view at it curved away towards Culver Junction. Such pictures are now impossible owing to trees, and the only view I could find was this distant shot of the raised embankment beyond this private pond.

As it leaves Hamsey the old trackbed runs directly north east and for the majority of the time forms a farm track, although in some places the line is now part of fields. This view looks south east from Culver Farm towards an area where the trackbed is a little less well defined. (This area is private property, photographed with permission).

Even after over 40 years the railway still makes it's mark. The iron girders and wooden fixings for rails can be seen on this bridge over a stream feeding the River Ouse.

This view, which looks south west towards Hamsey, is typical of the state of the majority of the trackbed in this area. The railway was raised up slightly on an embankment to gain some protection from flooding by the adjacent river.

Turning round, this view looks north east towards Culver Junction.

For some reason best known to the contractors, when the line was taken up this single telegraph pole was left standing, perhaps as a memorial. It has survived for over 40 years, the line having closed in 1969. This view looks south west.

The same telegraph pole, but looking north east. When the line was open this would have been a farm crossing. The original gate can be seen on the right.

Walking nearer to Culver Junction this view looks back south west. Note the hills in the background which blocked the railway's path. The line turned left towards Lewes.

Turning round and looking north east the bridge at Culver Junction can be seen in the distance.

A historic picture taken by J J Smith in 1951 shows a low hedge and houses on the right, but today there is just a huge hedge with a field behind it. The houses have been demolished without trace.

Turning round and looking south west the track bed disappears towards Hamsey and Lewes.

The approach to Culver Junction looking north east, with a much photographed bridge. Despite the solid construction it only carries a private farm track.

Passing through the bridge and looking back south west the site of the old Culver Junction signal box is on the left adjacent to the bridge. The remains of a signalbox outbuilding can just be seen, covered in weeds, in front of the bridge. This whole area is private property (photographed with permission).

A closer view of the site of the signalbox, also demolished without trace. It is not clear why the signalman's convenience was left standing, but looking at the undergrowth it appears in need of some refurbishment!

Standing up on the bridge, this view looks south west along the trackbed.

This view, also taken from the bridge, looks north east. Caravans for farm staff now stand where the single line to Sheffield Park would have branched left.

Standing at ground level at Culver Junction, the line to Sheffield Park curves away north west, following the curved line of trees in the distance.

Moving the camera slightly to the right, the line to Barcombe Mills and Uckfield ran straight ahead along the track between the trees (to the north east).

Even when a line has been erased from the landscape for over 50 years small things can betray the route. Here the crop in the field sits lower where the line from Sheffield Park curved in to join the main line. The original field boundary can be seen clearly.

The well-maintained flat trackbed of the Sheffield Park line curved away between these trees, heading first for Barcombe. Power lines follow the route for much of the way and make their first appearance here, but, at this point, they do not follow the route of the old line.

Thinking of visiting the private land that contains the old trackbed near Culver Farm unannounced? Err, not such a good idea! This VERY large bull is loose in the area (and yes, I absolutely DID take the picture with a LONG lens!!! The bull tends not to bother to check whether you have permission to be there).

The line to Barcombe and Sheffield Park curves north on this slightly raised embankment towards Barcombe. This is the best maintained part of the trackbed (thanks to the bull and his pals).

Turning round, this view looks south back towards Culver Junction. The farm buildings are on the extreme right.

As the ownership of the land changes the embankment becomes heavily overgrown and no access is available. This view looks north towards the first overbridge south of Barcombe (out of sight in the trees).

Turning round, this is the view south towards Culver Junction, on the extreme right behind the farm buildings.

Changing angle, this is the raised embankment running north west towards the first overbridge, which is just to the right of the red brick house in the centre left of the picture.

The same target, but with a longer lens. The railway is completely obscured by the trees, as is the road beyond the house.

Turning round, this view looks back towards Culver Farm with a longer lens. The overbridge can be seen to the right of the building with a light blue and gray roof. Malling Hill, Cliffe Hill, and Long Barrow are in the background.

This is the first overbridge on the line, south of Barcombe Station, looking north east.

The same bridge, but this time looking south west.

A well-known picture by Michael Welch, taken about 1994, shows the cutting leading up to the bridge with a long surviving garden shed (that featured in many photos taken at this location). Sadly the shed seems to have disappeared and it was not possible to gain access to the cutting to reproduce the view. I had to content myself with this picture from the top of the bridge looking south east. It can be seen that the area is now slightly overgrown.

A view north west from the top of the bridge. Access to this cutting was not possible and the route towards Barcombe Station was blocked. This was also the position when the line was walked in 1994.