Gravesend West railway station
Encyclopedia
Gravesend West was a railway station on the Gravesend West Line
which served Gravesend
in Kent
. It opened in 1886 and was, for some time, a regular destination for boat trains from London which linked with steamers on the station's pier to ferry passengers to a variety of coastal towns and resorts. The station closed in 1953 to passengers and later to freight in 1968. The only reminder of Gravesend West which remains today is its pier, the rest having been taken over by redevelopment in the area.
Opened in 1886 by the London, Chatham and Dover Railway
(LCDR), the station provided the third rail route to Gravesend after the South Eastern Railway
's North Kent Line
which had reached the town in 1849 and the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway
's ferry service
from its Tilbury station
on the opposite bank of the Thames which had begun in 1854. The official opening of the station to public traffic on Monday 10 May 1886 was marked by the protest of local landowner Lord Darnley
who barricaded Stuart Road in protest against the LCDR's right to use his roads in Gravesend. The barriers were removed half-an-hour before the official opening, and the dispute was later resolved by arbitration.
The station had two facing platforms which formed a 'V' shape, with the two left-hand tracks alongside the Down platform (No. 1) extending towards the pier. The main station buildings were located at the base of the 'V' and were solidly-built in a slightly Gothic style
. It was constructed of yellow London stocks under a roof of Welsh slate, with red brick rubbers used for the quoins
, arches and bench courses. The buildings extended over the No. 2 Up platform which was sheltered by a glazed roof light. An adequately-sized goods yard could be found on the Down side, with the goods shed situated on the Up side. A steel bridge led out from the station over West Street towards the spartan pier on the muddy banks of the Thames.
Passenger services consisted of boat trains from London which connected with steamer services across the Thames and beyond. It was from the West Street Pier that the ill-fated sailed on 3 September 1878. In 1899, the South Eastern Railway merged with the LCDR and the station was renamed "Gravesend West Street" to distinguish it from the SER's own station
in the town centre. In this same year, the "Belle Steamers" service was operating a sailing from the West Street Pier to Southend, Clacton and Walton-on-the-Naze
. Another steamer service operated to Harwich
, Felixstowe
and Yarmouth
.
In 1916, at the height of the First World War, the Dutch Batavia Line introduced a steamer
service from the West Street Pier to Rotterdam
. A "Continental Express" boat train service from Victoria was laid on to connect with the steamers, and signs in Dutch began to appear at some intermediate stations; in Dutch, Gravesend West Street was "Heeren". The Prince Consort of Holland was said to have occasionally used the service.
once hostilities were over. Passenger services, which had already been reduced by the Southern Railway in the 1920s, were maintained at their war-time levels of five trains each way, with ten on Saturdays. Freight traffic on the line was declining, and more passenger traffic was using Gravesend Central with its frequent electric train service. There were still, however, a certain number of steamer services, with the General Steam Navigation Company running pleasure trips using their ships "Royal Daffodil", "Royal Sovereign" and "Queen of the Channel".
Passenger services were eventually withdrawn from Monday 3 August 1953, with goods traffic continuing a further fifteen years.
. This leaves the Pier as the only remaining structure.
Gravesend West Line
The Gravesend West Line was a short railway line in Kent that branched off the Swanley to Chatham line at Fawkham Junction and continued for a distance of 5 miles to Gravesend where the railway company constructed a pier to connect trains with steamers...
which served Gravesend
Gravesend, Kent
Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, on the south bank of the Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. It is the administrative town of the Borough of Gravesham and, because of its geographical position, has always had an important role to play in the history and communications of this part of...
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. It opened in 1886 and was, for some time, a regular destination for boat trains from London which linked with steamers on the station's pier to ferry passengers to a variety of coastal towns and resorts. The station closed in 1953 to passengers and later to freight in 1968. The only reminder of Gravesend West which remains today is its pier, the rest having been taken over by redevelopment in the area.
Early years
London, Chatham and Dover Railway
The London, Chatham and Dover Railway was a railway company in south-eastern England from 1859 until the 1923 grouping which united it with other companies to form the Southern Railway. Its lines ran through London and northern and eastern Kent to form a significant part of the Greater London...
(LCDR), the station provided the third rail route to Gravesend after the South Eastern Railway
South Eastern Railway (UK)
The South Eastern Railway was a railway company in south-eastern England from 1836 until 1922. The company was formed to construct a route from London to Dover. Branch lines were later opened to Tunbridge Wells, Hastings, Canterbury and other places in Kent...
's North Kent Line
North Kent Line
The North Kent Line is a railway line which connects central and south east London with Dartford and Medway.-Construction:The North Kent Line was the means by which the South Eastern Railway were able to connect its system to London at London Bridge...
which had reached the town in 1849 and the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway
London, Tilbury and Southend Railway
The London, Tilbury and Southend Railway is an English railway line linking Fenchurch Street railway station in the City of London with northeast London and the entire length of the northern Thames Gateway area of southern Essex. It is currently known as the Essex Thameside Route by Network Rail...
's ferry service
Gravesend - Tilbury Ferry
The Gravesend - Tilbury Ferry is a passenger ferry across the River Thames east of London. It links Gravesend and Tilbury, and is the last publicly accessible crossing point before the Thames reaches the sea.-History:see also notes on Tilbury...
from its Tilbury station
Tilbury Riverside railway station
Tilbury Riverside railway station is a closed railway station which used to be located in the town of Tilbury in the borough and unitary authority of Thurrock in Essex, south of a triangular junction on the railway between Tilbury Town and East Tilbury....
on the opposite bank of the Thames which had begun in 1854. The official opening of the station to public traffic on Monday 10 May 1886 was marked by the protest of local landowner Lord Darnley
Earl of Darnley
Earl of Darnley is a title that has been created three times, twice in the Peerage of Scotland and once in the Peerage of Ireland. The first creation in the Peerage of Scotland came in 1580 in favour of Esme Stewart, 1st Earl of Lennox. He was created Duke of Lennox at the same time. See the latter...
who barricaded Stuart Road in protest against the LCDR's right to use his roads in Gravesend. The barriers were removed half-an-hour before the official opening, and the dispute was later resolved by arbitration.
The station had two facing platforms which formed a 'V' shape, with the two left-hand tracks alongside the Down platform (No. 1) extending towards the pier. The main station buildings were located at the base of the 'V' and were solidly-built in a slightly Gothic style
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
. It was constructed of yellow London stocks under a roof of Welsh slate, with red brick rubbers used for the quoins
Quoin (architecture)
Quoins are the cornerstones of brick or stone walls. Quoins may be either structural or decorative. Architects and builders use quoins to give the impression of strength and firmness to the outline of a building...
, arches and bench courses. The buildings extended over the No. 2 Up platform which was sheltered by a glazed roof light. An adequately-sized goods yard could be found on the Down side, with the goods shed situated on the Up side. A steel bridge led out from the station over West Street towards the spartan pier on the muddy banks of the Thames.
Passenger services consisted of boat trains from London which connected with steamer services across the Thames and beyond. It was from the West Street Pier that the ill-fated sailed on 3 September 1878. In 1899, the South Eastern Railway merged with the LCDR and the station was renamed "Gravesend West Street" to distinguish it from the SER's own station
Gravesend railway station
Gravesend railway station serves the town of Gravesend in north Kent; train services are operated by Southeastern. The station is 24 miles from London Charing Cross...
in the town centre. In this same year, the "Belle Steamers" service was operating a sailing from the West Street Pier to Southend, Clacton and Walton-on-the-Naze
Walton-on-the-Naze
Walton-on-the-Naze is a small town in Essex, England, on the North Sea coast in the Tendring district. It is north of Clacton and south of the port of Harwich. It abuts Frinton-on-Sea to the south, and is part of the parish of Frinton and Walton. It is a resort town, with a permanent population of...
. Another steamer service operated to Harwich
Harwich
Harwich is a town in Essex, England and one of the Haven ports, located on the coast with the North Sea to the east. It is in the Tendring district. Nearby places include Felixstowe to the northeast, Ipswich to the northwest, Colchester to the southwest and Clacton-on-Sea to the south...
, Felixstowe
Felixstowe
Felixstowe is a seaside town on the North Sea coast of Suffolk, England. The town gives its name to the nearby Port of Felixstowe, which is the largest container port in the United Kingdom and is owned by Hutchinson Ports UK...
and Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, east of Norwich.It has been a seaside resort since 1760, and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea...
.
In 1916, at the height of the First World War, the Dutch Batavia Line introduced a steamer
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
service from the West Street Pier to Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
. A "Continental Express" boat train service from Victoria was laid on to connect with the steamers, and signs in Dutch began to appear at some intermediate stations; in Dutch, Gravesend West Street was "Heeren". The Prince Consort of Holland was said to have occasionally used the service.
Post-war decline
The Second World War saw the end of the Batavia Line service which operated from TilburyTilbury
Tilbury is a town in the borough of Thurrock, Essex, England. As a settlement it is of relatively recent existence, although it has important historical connections, being the location of a 16th century fort and an ancient cross-river ferry...
once hostilities were over. Passenger services, which had already been reduced by the Southern Railway in the 1920s, were maintained at their war-time levels of five trains each way, with ten on Saturdays. Freight traffic on the line was declining, and more passenger traffic was using Gravesend Central with its frequent electric train service. There were still, however, a certain number of steamer services, with the General Steam Navigation Company running pleasure trips using their ships "Royal Daffodil", "Royal Sovereign" and "Queen of the Channel".
Passenger services were eventually withdrawn from Monday 3 August 1953, with goods traffic continuing a further fifteen years.
The station today
Very little remains of the station today owing to the substantial redevelopment that the Gravesend Docks area has undergone in the last twenty years. The greater part of the station was demolished in 1991, with the remaining section of viaduct and bridge over West Street going in September 2006, having previously been reprieved in 2001. The North Downs Railway Society managed, however, to recover the platform canopy supports from Gravesend West station and this has been installed on the Spa Valley Railway at GroombridgeGroombridge railway station
Groombridge railway station is a station on the Spa Valley Railway in Groombridge, East Sussex, England. Once a busy station serving four directions, it closed in 1985 to British Rail services...
. This leaves the Pier as the only remaining structure.