Crowhurst Junction, and Crowhurst Brick & Tile Works sidings (both closed)

Railways came to this area relatively late, and it was not until 10 March 1884 that the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway Company opened the line that ran from Oxted to East Grinstead.

Subsequently a junction was created south of Hurst Green (then a simple railway halt taking a maximum of two carriages), and a line was constructed from the Hurst Green junction south through Edenbridge (called Edenbridge Town from 1 May 1896), Hever, Cowden and Ashurst to join with the existing line from East Grinstead through Withyham to Tunbridge Wells. This line opened to passengers on 1 October 1888 and is covered in the Uckfield line collection.

PLEASE NOTE: Photos in this section were taken from safe positions to which the public have access. Please remember that a long lens can give a false impression of where the picture was taken. Do NOT trespass on any railway.

Separate collections cover (a) Oxted Station and Oxted Viaduct; (b) Hurst Green Station, Hurst Green Halt (Closed), Hurst Green Junction and Limpsfield Tunnel; (c) Crowhurst Junction and Crowhurst Brick and Tile Works sidings (both closed); (d) Lingfield Station; (e) Dormans Station and Cooks Pond Viaduct; and (f) East Grinstead Station and St Margarets Junction.

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South of Hurst Green Junction the Oxted to East Grinstead line runs through open countryside for some distance en route to Lingfield Station. A northbound train had just passed leaving a safe interval to take this shot looking north towards Hurst Green from the public foot crossing at Sunt Farm. 14.09.2008
The same view but with a long lens shows the northbound train curving left towards Hurst Green. The train is actually about three quarters of a mile away but the lens makes the straight section of track appear much shorter than is actually the case. 14.09.2008
This view looks south from the Sunt Farm foot crossing. In the very far distance a bridge can just be seen which carries the line from Redhill to Tonbridge. 14.09.2008
The same view south but with a much longer lens. The bridge carrying the Redhill to Tonbridge line can be seen more clearly. Nearest the camera is a farm crossing, and just beyond the crossing is the site of Crowhurst Junction, where a spur branched left towards Tonbridge. Most services over the spur ceased in June 1955, but it was subsequently used by diverted trains for some years. 14.09.2008
The same view but from a slightly different angle. Just beyond the farm crossing and before the Whistle sign is an area of raised ballast which marks the point where the spur left the Oxted line and curved away to the left. 14.09.2008
Moving now to the authorised farm crossing seen in the previous picture, this view looks north towards Hurst Green. 14.09.2008
Taken from the authorised farm crossing, this is the site of Crowhurst Junction. The line to Tonbridge turned left in front of the Whistle sign. It can be seen that the line to East Grinstead drops under the Redhill to Tonbridge line, and in reality the gradient up to the Tonbridge line on the spur was quite slight. 14.09.2008
Changing angle slightly this view of the western side of the line shows the site of Crowhurst Junction signal box which stood on the extreme right. It has been demolished without trace; only a pile of ballast remains. 14.09.2008
This image appeared on the Facebook Rail Identification Group and after debate was identified as Crowhurst Junction prior to electrification. The picture was undated but must be earlier than 1965. I am grateful to Amyas Crump for permission to use it. Unfortunately the slide was not in the best condition. The train is steaming east over the bridge at Crowhurst Junction, with the Hurst Green to East Grinstead line passing beneath. Out of shot on the right is the Crowhurst Junction South signal box, and a spur ran from the eastern side of the bridge down to the Hurst Green line, where there was a corresponding junction north of the bridge controlled by Crowhurst Junction North signal box.
Crowhurst Junction Amyas Crump
The remains of Crowhurst Junction North Box pictured in February 1969 by Eric Kemp, who retains all rights to this image. After regular services through the junction ceased in June 1955 the signalman must have had little to do. I am grateful to Eric for allowing me to use some of his images in this gallery.
The remains of Crowhurst Junction North Box pictured in February 1969 by Eric Kemp, who retains all rights to this image. The lever frame can be seen through the broken windows. This box was in an isolated position and it is slightly surprising that it attracted vandals in those years.
The presence of the spur created a triangle of land between the three lines which was effectively cut off, and which can still clearly be seen on Google Earth. Access to this area was provided by a farm crossing over the now disused spur. This gate marks the position of the crossing. 14.09.2008
Adjacent to the disused crossing is this fragment of a broken sign. It probably said something like Southern Railway, Beware of Trains. 14.09.2008
Looking past the broken sign, this undergrowth conceals the East Grinstead to Oxted line, and if cut down the old junction would be revealed. There was an old sign within the bushes which was assumed to be related to the railway, but it was impossible to find an angle to view it. 14.09.2008
Gaining access to the triangle is challenging owing to undergrowth, but once inside a pleasant disused field is revealed. To the south at the top of the picture the Rehill to Tonbridge embankment crosses from right to left. On the right of the picture is the Oxted to East Grinstead embankment, and on the left of the picture the disused spur. 14.09.2008
Changing camera angle slightly this is the embankment of the disused spur viewed from the west as it climbs gently to the Tonbridge line. 14.09.2008
Emerging from the triangle again this is the eastern side of the spur curving away until it joins the Tonbridge line on the extreme left of the picture. Access to the actual old track bed was totally impossible as the embankment is a solid mass of trees and undergrowth. 14.09.2008
Looking down at the same point the old drainage channel from the embankment can still be seen, marking the boundary between the field and the former railway. 14.09.2008
South of the Redhill to Tonbridge bridge is an impressive high brick arch bridge west of Oldhouse Farm. The top of this bridge carries a public footpath and examination of maps suggests that this was once the main route from nearby rural communities leading west towards Crowhurst Church and the adjacent small village. 14.09.2008
Looking north from Oldhouse Farm accommodation bridge towards the Redhill to Tonbridge line bridge. 14.09.2008
The same view as the previous picture, but with a longer lens. Crowhurst Junction was beyond the bridge. As is often the case the junction was in fact some distance from the village from which it got it's name. 14.09.2008
Looking south from Oldhouse Farm accommodation bridge towards Chellows Farm Bridge. 14.09.2008
Taken from the field adjacent to Oldhouse Farm accommodation bridge this view looks south. The railway and the bridge in the previous picture are concealed by the trees on the right, but the area used to be dominated by the huge chimney of the disused Crowhurst Brick and Tile Works, which has since been demolished. The works had two private sidings. 14.09.2008
A closer view of the huge chimney at Crowhurst Brick and Tile Works, looking east. The camera is horizontal, but the poles are not vertical!! The works ceased production in 1980 and has recently been demolished. Outside the works stood Lingfield Intermediate signal box, and two sidings entered the works through a white gate to the north. The chimney could be seen for miles around, but the site was private and sealed off. There were dangerous deep water filled pits within the disused site. 14.09.2008
Views of the site (prior to demolition) were restricted, but some of the buildings can be seen in this shot. A private siding ran in front of the large building nearest to the camera, with another siding beyond the distant sheds. The main railway line is within the distant trees on the far (eastern) side of the buildings. Even with a long lens the view was too restricted to trace any relic of the railway. 14.09.2008
Inside Crowhurst Brick & Tile Works in September 1968. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
Using the dragline to extract material from the pits inside Crowhurst Brick & Tile Works on 13 September 1969. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
One of the Bedford tippers allocated to Crowhurst Brick & Tile Works, pictured on 13 September 1969. Note that it has no number plates or tax disc, so it is not a road-going vehicle. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
Inside Crowhurst Brick & Tile Works in September 1980. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
Crowhurst Brick & Tile Works in June 1981, with chimney reduction in progress. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
Returning to Chellows Farm Bridge this view looks south in the direction of Lingfield Station. In the bottom right hand corner of the picture the private siding branched off to the right and ran south through a gate into Crowhurst Brick and Tile Works. 11.05.2008
Changing angle slightly and looking south with a longer lens the flat area on the right almost overgrown by trees marks the point where the private siding entered Crowhurst Brick & Tile Works, A much enlarged version of this picture (too big to show here) reveals part of a fence at the access point. Lingfield Intermediate signal box stood just south of the points, between the main line and the private siding, but has been demolished without trace. 11.05.2008
I had only seen one picture of the access to Crowhurst Brick & Tile Works sidings until Eric Kemp provided this one, taken on 2 February 1969. Lingfield Intermediate Signal Box stood on the west side of the line, south of the points, but had been demolished by the time this picture was taken. I assume this box was normally locked out, and only opened for movements relating to the yard. In an enlargement of the image wagons can just be seen in the yard sidings. This is a very rare photo and Eric Kemp retains all rights to the image.
D6559 (recently repainted into blue) and Stewarts Lane crane DS81, in attendance at Lingfield due to a wagon derailment at Crowhurst Brick & Tile Works sidings on 24 September 1969. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
Looking south from Chellows Farm Bridge with a very long lens, the remains of an accommodation bridge east of Bowerland Farm can just be seen. This bridge led to the southern end of the brick works. In the far distance the track starts to curve towards Lingfield Station. 11.05.2008
Looking north from Chellows Farm Bridge the track leads away towards Hurst Green. 11.05.2008
This second view north is also taken from Chellows Farm Bridge, but with a very long lens. The picture shows a scene which cannot be distinguished in the previous photo. The tall brick arch bridge at Oldhouse Farm is nearest to the camera, and beyond it a flat girder bridge carries the Tonbridge to Redhill line over this route. 11.05.2008