southease station

[bigc]

now this is generally a query for either the clued up local types(e.g: Lord B) or the rail people(the posse of them about now).

does anyone know WHY southease station exists? it is so remote. there about 4 houses by it and thats it. there isnt even a permit to travel machine, nothing remotely local. when was there EVER demand for that station?

 

[Beach Hut]

now this is generally a query for either the clued up local types(e.g: Lord B) or the rail people(the posse of them about now).

does anyone know WHY southease station exists? it is so remote. there about 4 houses by it and thats it. there isnt even a permit to travel machine, nothing remotely local. when was there EVER demand for that station?

No idea but it is wonderfully remote.

I shagged a former girlfriend there once but no telling Mrs Hut please

 

[Theatre of Trees]

It was originally known as Southease and Rodmell and was designed for use for both communities as well as the small one at Itford. Railways were built with a view of getting from A to B as quickly and at times as straight as possible therefore many stations were built far from the intended places they would serve, some stations such as Haywards Heath originally built for the villages of Lindfield and Cuckfield grew into separate entities in their own rights. Some stations were built for the local bigwigs to serve their own country mansions in return for the railway being routed over their land, Eridge near Tunbridge Wells being a good example.

Many original stations were a good distance from the community it was named after but in the 150 odd years that community has grown enough to reach the station. Southease is an exception as it just has not grown since the railway was built and its main use today is probably to serve those walking the South Downs Way.

Saying that I was once so pissed I accidentally got off at the station whilst on the last train and had to walk all the way back to bloody Peacehaven.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Saying that I was once so pissed I accidentally got off at the station whilst on the last train and had to walk all the way back to bloody Peacehaven.

Blimey - you seem pretty clued up!

OK, then smartass: why does PEACEHAVEN exist?

 

[bigc]

Many original stations were a good distance from the community it was named after but in the 150 odd years that community has grown enough to reach the station. Southease is an exception as it just has not grown since the railway was built and its main use today is probably to serve those walking the South Downs Way.

Yup, I take your point. Wivelsfield, Plumpton and Berwick are all three that are nowhere near the villages they are intended to serve.

Talking of trains, has anyone noticed how overgrown the track around London Road Station has got, it's turning into some sort of wildlife park down between platforms 1/2.

 

[Theatre of Trees]

OK, then smartass: why does PEACEHAVEN exist?

Because Charles Neville brought the land during the First World War in order to sell plots to homecoming soldiers. Neville made his money building towns in the American midwest which is why Peacehaven looks like a bloody Yank town and originally called the place New Anzac by Sea. Thought to be in bad taste the town was renamed in 1916 after a competition in a newspaper.

In a metaphysical sense I often asked that question whilst growing up there and came to the conclusion that it exists because I do however hard I tried to believe it was all a figment of my imagination.

 

[Theatre of Trees]

Yup, I take your point. Wivelsfield, Plumpton and Berwick are all three that are nowhere near the villages they are intended to serve.

Though they are within the parish boundaries which was usually the choice when naming stations.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Because Charles Neville brought the land during the First World War in order to sell plots to homecoming soldiers. Neville made his money building towns in the American midwest which is why Peacehaven looks like a bloody Yank town and originally called the place New Anzac by Sea. Thought to be in bad taste the town was renamed in 1916 after a competition in a newspaper.

In a metaphysical sense I often asked that question whilst growing up there and came to the conclusion that it exists because I do however hard I tried to believe it was all a figment of my imagination.

Blimey!! Is there anything NSC DOESN'T know?!

Cheers for that ToT

'New Anzac by Sea'... Hmmm... the name has a pleasing ring to it

 

[bigc]

Excuse my lack of Sussex knowledge in this instance (I am thoroughly ashamed), but WHERE is Southease?

It's inbetween lewes and newhaven(on the train anyway). The nearest village is probably rodmell as Theatre of Trees will confirm or deny for us.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

I used to be a regular user of Southease Station - in the days when I lived at Telscombe Village, which was a mere two miles walk away.

In those days, there was just an hourly service on the line and most of the trains weren't scheduled to stop at Southease. But, going home, a conversation with the driver at Lewes would always do the trick. Leaving Southease, the deal involved a conversation with the guy who manned the signal box at Southease station - who was only too happy to stop a train for an intending passenger.

Those were the days when the level crossing was usable as well. Before the Lewes by-pass was built, the Southease river crossing was often a quicker east-west route than coping with the queues to get into and through central Lewes - all the more so in those very early days when everything went along the two-way Cliffe High Street.

Today, Southease is a handy point to join the South Downs Way and the train service has improved to deal with the increased demand. But you now need to have been issued with a key to unlock the level crossing gates.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Yup, I take your point. Wivelsfield, Plumpton and Berwick are all three that are nowhere near the villages they are intended to serve.

But loads of houses have since been built around all three stations. The 'original' villages are now a lot smaller than the new communities that are within walking distance of the trains.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

It's inbetween lewes and newhaven(on the train anyway). The nearest village is probably rodmell as Theatre of Trees will confirm or deny for us.

Ahem ... the nearest village is ... Southease.

The few houses immediately next to Southease Station are called Itford (not to be confused with Iford, across the river).

Itford farmhouse is massive - and currently unoccupied. There are plans to turn it into a YHA hostel and activity centre.

 

[bigc]

I always thought Southease was a hamlet. One of my friends lives in one of those houses adjacent to the station.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

I always thought Southease was a hamlet. One of my friends lives in one of those houses adjacent to the station.

Nah. It's got the two essential ingredients to be called a village ...

A church

And a website:-

http://southeasevillage.info/index.htm

 

[jmsc]

Now I know you're on drugs, signalbox at Southease & Rodmell?

Lord B. wrote:

the deal involved a conversation with the guy who manned the signal box at Southease station - who was only too happy to stop a train for an intending passenger.

 

[dougdeep]

Heathfield is an example. Old Heathfield used to be Heathfield, but when they built the railway a couple of miles away most of the inhabitants moved to be nearer to it. That railway is also closed now though.

 

[bhaexpress]

It used to be called Southease and Rodmell Halt the idea being that the approaching train would have to be waved down like a bus. Trains didn't stop there unless there was a passenger to pick up or drop off I thought.

 

[Scotty Mac]

Yup, I take your point. Wivelsfield, Plumpton and Berwick are all three that are nowhere near the villages they are intended to serve.

i thought plumpton was in the village?

wivelsfield is MILES away from wivelsfield village - they might as well rename it burgess hill north

 

[dougdeep]

i thought plumpton was in the village?

Plumpton Green.