On 29 Mar 2012 at 8:31pm rene wrote:
Hi am i dreaming or did there use to be an old railway bridge just near to where the record bar in lewes use to be?,and where did the old line that runs near malling start and finish what was its route back to Lewes Station. Anyone know?
On 29 Mar 2012 at 9:00pm grafter wrote:
It must have crossed near where the phoenix causeway is now. Then through what is now waitrose,whsmith,lloyds bank and on to the railway land.That's just a guess but no doubt I will shortly be corrected!
On 29 Mar 2012 at 9:17pm Rene wrote:
Yeah could have run at the back of waitrose near where the wood factory use to be or is it still there.If anyone has or know where i could get any pictures of how it use to look i would be really grateful thanks.
On 29 Mar 2012 at 10:04pm Fairmeadow wrote:
Pretty much there grafter. The first Lewes station was where the magistrates' court building is. It was demolished in the 1960s. The railway crossed the precinct on a bridge, went through the back of Waitrose, crossed the river about where Tesco is and headed across Malling recreation ground on an embankment. See link (pan down to item 2) for photo, about 100 years ago.
Check it out here »
On 30 Mar 2012 at 8:06am Cllr Ian Eiloart wrote:
Fairmradow is right. The line was broken to build the Phoenix Causeway. There was a promise to reconnect the Uckfield - Lewes line, at Barcombe. That could still happen, but the track bed is now threatened at the Uckfield end.
If you'd like to see the line reinstated, reply to East Sussex County Council's consultation at the link below. Option D is the one that threatens the track.
Check it out here »
On 30 Mar 2012 at 9:21am Ratty wrote:
The book Branch Lines to Horsted Keynes Then & Now by Michael S Welch has loads of information on the line from Lewes to Sheffield Park and then on to East Grinstead. It's available in Lewes library.
On 30 Mar 2012 at 9:39am Peter Pan wrote:
Mansfield Garage had a small showroom under the bridge ( Vaxhall @ Bedford Agents ) left side looking at the river .On the other side you had The Record Bar and Urrys coal yard All the Lewes Pigeons used to nest under the bridge and the road was two way then
On 30 Mar 2012 at 10:46am Rods Tiger wrote:
I've uploaded an old victorian photograph showing the bridge crossing what is now the precinct by Boots, but don't know how to point you at it. Webbo ?
The railway used to cros the Ouse to a point just opposite Tesco, you can still see the remains of the concrete pillar on the other side, where the swans usually nest.
View the picture »
On 30 Mar 2012 at 11:41am Webbo wrote:
That's a great pic Rods thanks a lot, you can even see the ghosts.
If you've got any more I could put a gallery together.
Here's the full sized version
On 30 Mar 2012 at 11:59am Rookie wrote:
There are some great pictures on this link.
Check it out here »
On 30 Mar 2012 at 12:12pm Ratty wrote:
Thanks Rookie, those are fascinating, esp the over bridge in the town centre and the embankment across Malling playing fields. It's hard to visualise that even with the photgraphic evidence!
On 30 Mar 2012 at 12:22pm Rookie wrote:
I can just about remember the bridge over the river, near what is now Tesco, being demolished. They used dynamite and the flying debris caused quite a few windows in the old Phoenix Ironworks buildings to break.
OK, it's not Lewes, but I also find the information about the long gone Devils Dyke and Kemp Town branches fascinating.
On 30 Mar 2012 at 8:04pm ADT wrote:
Had a crafty explore at the end of the railway land near the Southerham roundabout the other day; there seem to be old tracks remaining in the area near the river... quarry train right?
On 31 Mar 2012 at 12:05am Fairmeadow wrote:
Great post Rene - led to one of the most interesting and informative threads I have seen on the forum. Lots of good info & pics, but that Victorian pic from School Hill posted by Rods Tiger is a real gem. Any provenance for it? MUST give the East Sussex Record Office a copy.
On 31 Mar 2012 at 12:48am Decent Citizen wrote:
Well done all. Great stuff.
On 31 Mar 2012 at 10:17am Rene wrote:
Wow! woke up this morning thought i would check out Lewes Forum and was really surprised the response and really grateful for the photos i would like to get some copies to have iin a frame.Thanks again.There are so many things i remembr from my childhood in lewes.
On 31 Mar 2012 at 12:48pm Rookie wrote:
I think the old cement works track may still be evident down by the Southerham roundabout. They used to bring in coal and cement that way.