Place Hartley Grid reference TQ753346 4 September 1893 Station opened Platforms in use 1 | Area Tunbridge Wells, Kent Pre-grouping South Eastern Railway Original company Hawkhurst branch line | |
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Post-grouping Southern Railway
Southern Region of British Railways Similar Horsmonden railway station, Teston Crossing Halt railw, Smeeth railway station, Cliffe railway station, St Lawrence for Pegw | ||
Cranbrook railway station was on the closed Hawkhurst Branch in Kent, England.
Background
The station was opened on 4 September 1893, when the line was extended from Goudhurst to Hawkhurst. The station was equipped with a single 300 ft platform on the down side, together with a goods only loop. The stationmaster's house was situated on the platform, with a large goods yard and red brick goods shed to the rear. A warehouse used by a local corn merchant was at the Goudhurst end of the yard.
The station's name was a little deceptive in that the town of Cranbrook was two miles away. When the line was originally being constructed, local landowners had demanded high prices for the sale of their agricultural land and the South Eastern Railway had refused, amending the route of the line so that Cranbrook Station was actually located in Hartley. The villagers came to regret being excluded from the line, and an attempt was made to have a light railway constructed to Hartley. This was never realised.
The station was closed with the line on 12 June 1961. The station building was used for several years by Brian O'Donoghue and Keith Harding as "Cranbrook Station Pottery". This has now closed and it is reported that the station building is in poor condition, although the stationmaster's house is well preserved.