The disused Wealden Line from Barcombe Mills to Isfield Station (Lavender Line)
Separate collections cover (a) Culver Junction to Barcombe Mills; (b) Barcombe Mills Station; (c) Barcombe Mills to Isfield; (d) Isfield Station (Lavender Line); (e) Isfield to Little Horsted (Lavender Line); (f) Little Horsted to Uckfield; and (g) Uckfield (Old Station).
SCROLL DOWN to view the photos. Click here to return to the main website index page.
Looking east down the former trackbed, which is now a licensed bridleway to Anchor Lane, a mile to the east. The track is also used by farmers for access to some adjacent private fields. 02.06.2007
A short distance to the east a public footpath crossed the track, and steps were provided on each side of the embankment. They still survive. This view looks south, the steps leading towards Barcombe House. 27.07.2008
The steps on the north side of the cutting are also still operational, and the footpath rejoins the road through Barcombe Mills further north. 27.07.2008
The view back west from the Barcombe House footpath towards Barcombe Mills station. The building in the far distance is the ticket office and the line curves to pass into the station to the left of the building. 27.07.2008
Turning round, this view looks east from the Barcombe House footpath. 27.07.2008
Slightly further east the track emerges from the cutting leading to Barcombe Mills station, This view looks east and in the far distance a lush group of trees mark the route of Bevern Stream. 27.07.2008
The approach to Bevern Stream bridge, looking east. 27.07.2008
A view west from the same spot, looking back in the direction of Barcombe Mills station. 27.07.2008
The double track bridge over Bevern Stream remains in good condition. This view looks east across the bridge. 27.07.2008
The northern parapet of the Bevern Stream bridge, with typical railway set-back railings which give good clearance. 27.07.2008
The southern parapet of Bevern Stream bridge has identical railings. Not too much danger from passing trains now, but handy for watching the stream flow below. 27.07.2008
The reverse of the previous view looking west across the bridge. The hills in the far distance are Offham Hill and Mount Harry, north west of Lewes. They are a greater distance away than the picture suggests. 27.07.2008
Looking back west, through the trees that border Bevern Stream. The trees and bushes along the stream form a useful wildlife corridor. 27.07.2008
Looking east from Bevern Stream as the track continues towards Anchor Inn. Parts of this track are quite exposed, and not the place to get caught in the rain! 27.07.2008
As the track draws close to the River Ouse the wide bridleway turns north west and the route of the railway heads east into a narrow tunnel of undergrowth. The 1899 map shows a siding sweeping off to the right at this point, serving Barcombe Flour Mill. There is nothing to be seen at ground level, but the route of the siding track bed can still just be made out on Google Earth. The former mill building survives, but cannot be seen from the bridleway. 27.07.2008
Looking west back along the wide bridleway from the same point. 27.07.2008
The track bed continues east, but at this point is no more than a narrow path through undergrowth. There is nothing to connect the path with a railway. 27.07.2008
Looking back west towards the tunnel of undergrowth. 27.07.2008
Within this wooded area you are actually quite close to the River Ouse, but it is impossible to identify any features. This old gate was a former farm crossing and leads north towards open land. 27.07.2008
Directly opposite is a long abandoned gate which leads south towards the River Ouse. 27.07.2008
Suddenly the narrow track emerges onto a double track railway bridge. There is no obvious reason for a bridge at this location, but old maps suggest that a stream once flowed under the railway at this point. This view looks east. 27.07.2008
Another view of the disused bridge looking west. 27.07.2008
Having crossed the bridge the footpath resumes it's narrow course, this view looking back west. 27.07.2008
A view east from the same point reveals a farm gate, but no vehicle could now pass along the narrow track. The gate actually marks the position of a former level crossing gate, where a road crossed the railway to access Anchor Inn, a public house that stands beside the River Ouse. 27.07.2008
This view of the former level crossing, looking east along the railway, clearly shows the route of both tracks, which remain in situ in the road surface. The Up line is on the extreme left, and the Down line emerges directly from the fence. 27.07.2008
The land to the west of the fence is private and it is no longer possible to follow the route of the former track. This view looks east through the fence. 27.07.2008
The same view, but with a longer lens, shows materials stored on the track bed. 27.07.2008
This view looks east, on the south side of the embankment, with the trees marking the former route of the railway east past the site of Anchor Inn. 27.07.2008
East of the Anchor Inn the railway crossed the River Ouse on what is now a ruined bridge. This view looks west. 27.07.2008
A second view of the River Ouse bridge, showing the public footpath that runs under the bridge on the eastern bank. 27.07.2008
Having passed over the River Ouse the railway continues it's route east on a wooded embankment, this view looking west down the southern side of the line of trees. The grass area in the vicinity of the public house is a public open space, and is well used in good weather. 27.07.2008
Slightly further east the route of the railway has to cross the Iron River. Unfortunately the undergrowth has swallowed what is actually quite a large bridge. This view looks north west and shows the river passing under the bridge (there really is a bridge under there!) 27.07.2008
Having failed to photograph the underside of the bridge properly, a diversion on to the top of the bridge produced this view of the track bed, looking east towards Isfield. A public footpath crosses a private farm track at this point. As the area is used by farm vehicles it is well maintained. 27.07.2008
This is the northern parapet of the Iron River bridge. The section of railings nearest the camera seems to have been struck by a vehicle at some point. 27.07.2008
The southern parapet of the Iron River bridge. In this case someone appears to have stolen the railings! 27.07.2008
In contrast to the well-maintained farm track that leads east, this is the view west from the Iron River bridge. The former track bed is blocked by a gate and impassable as a consequence of heavy undergrowth. 27.07.2008
A short distance down the farm track this view looks back west. This area resembles an unmade country lane, and there is nothing to indicate the former presence of the railway. 27.07.2008
Turning round, this view looks east towards Isfield from the same point. 27.07.2008
This is the same farm track a bit further east. This view looks west from a position west of Boathouse Farm. 27.07.2008
This is a view east from the same point. The track bed continues to resemble an unmade farm track. 27.07.2008
West of Boathouse Farm is the site of a former farm crossing. This view looks south east. 27.07.2008
This view of the railway embankment looks west from the south side of the trees that enclose the farm track. 27.07.2008
From a point west of Boathouse Farm the route of the railway crosses private land until it reaches Isfield village. This picture shows the slightly raised embankment running east, viewed from the south side of the trees. 27.07.2008 The next point of reference is Isfield Station, which remains operational as part of the Lavender Line, a Heritage Railway. This tour continues in the Lavender Line collection. Thereafter the disused trackbed is followed in another collection until it reaches Uckfield (Old Station).