Southwater railway station

Infobox UK disused station
name = Southwater
gridref = TQ157263


caption =
manager = London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
owner = Southern Railway
Southern Region of British Railways
locale = Southwater
borough = Horsham, West Sussex
platforms = 2
years = 1 July 1861
events = Opened
years2 = 7 March 1966
events2 = Closed

Southwater was a railway station on the Steyning Line which served the village of Southwater. A goods siding allowed for the transportation of coal and other raw materials to and from Southwater Brickworks which closed in 1982. [ [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=18352 British History Online] ]

The station closed as a result of the Beeching Axe in 1966 and now forms part of the Downs Link footpath. West Sussex County Council had previously owned the site of the former railway station (as well as the trackbed) but, with the growth of the town and the need for a library and fire service, the County Council sold the land to Horsham District Council for a price of up to £1.3 million so that these facilities could be provided. [ [http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/cs/mis/150403res2.pdf West Sussex County Council, Proposed transfer of land] ] The subsequent development required the re-alignment of Station Road which was previously carried over the railway line by a bridge. This section was closed and a new road now cuts through the heart of the former station site, requiring the demolition of what little remained of the station platforms. The local parish council have erected a replica station sign in the vicinity. [ [http://www.horshamforum.co.uk/Topic550-6-1.aspx Southwater station on the Downs Link] ]

See also

* List of closed railway stations in Britain

References