The Pictures of Simon King
Forest Row ramble
24th August 2009

My Dad, his friends and I walked from Forest Row to Withyham via the Anchor Inn at Hartfield along part of the long closed Three Bridges - Groombridge line.

The line was closed on the 1st January 1967 as part of the mass closure of railways across the UK when Dr. Richard Beeching was wielding his axe.

The majority of the line is now a designated foot and cycle path, and although there is little of note along the route the villages along the way are worthy of a stop off in.

Hartfield is home to two pubs serving food, and is home to the 'Winnie the Pooh' shop as this part of the world is where A. A. Milne penned his famous tales of "a bear with very little brain."

Withyham is a very small village, with only a small number of abodes plus a church and a pub 'The Dorset Arms'. The pub comes highly recommended and has been in 'The Good Beer Guide' on numerous occasions.

Some of the pictures are rather dark, given that it seems that most of these old lines are surrounded by trees. Obviously vegetation clearance isn't what it once was!

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The building isn't original, but the platform is as far as I know. This is the site of Forest Row station, now a household waste recycling plant.
The building isn't original, but the platform is as far as I know. This is the site of Forest Row station, now a household waste recycling plant.

There were plenty of large stately homes to be viewed from the line, but unfortunately I have no details of which ones they are! Any help gratefully received.
There were plenty of large stately homes to be viewed from the line, but unfortunately I have no details of which ones they are! Any help gratefully received.
I nearly didn't spot this until one of my fellow walkers' pointed it out. We were surprised that a railway enthusiast hadn't nabbed it! This is a milepost, if you didn't know, indicating to crewmen how far away they were from a main station and would then work out how close they were to the next station from there.
I nearly didn't spot this until one of my fellow walkers' pointed it out. We were surprised that a railway enthusiast hadn't nabbed it! This is a milepost, if you didn't know, indicating to crewmen how far away they were from a main station and would then work out how close they were to the next station from there.
 A closer shot, showing the text to read
A closer shot, showing the text to read "40 3/4 miles from London Victoria station via Three Bridges"
The route is on a fairly constant uphill gradient for much of the line with some plateaus, as hopefully you'll see in this picture.
The route is on a fairly constant uphill gradient for much of the line with some plateaus, as hopefully you'll see in this picture.
Hartfield station is now in private ownership, as a day nursery. No doubt the kids pretend to play trains!
Hartfield station is now in private ownership, as a day nursery. No doubt the kids pretend to play trains!
 The nice stone overbridge at the Forest Row end of Hartfield station.
The nice stone overbridge at the Forest Row end of Hartfield station.
 A shot through the bushes of Hartfield station.
A shot through the bushes of Hartfield station.
 The remnants of Hartfield station platform.
The remnants of Hartfield station platform.
This SR concrete p-way hut is still in evidence at the end of what was the Hartfield goods yard.
This SR concrete p-way hut is still in evidence at the end of what was the Hartfield goods yard.
What Winston Churchill left behind in Withyham.
What Winston Churchill left behind in Withyham.
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