Folkestone Warren Halt railway station

Folkestone Warren Halt was a station on the South Eastern Main Line of the South Eastern Railway at the beach location known as "The Warren" in the east end of Folkestone, Kent, now within the East Cliff and Warren Country Park.

This article is about the former SER station at Folkestone. For the current RH&DR station at New Romney, see Warren Halt railway station.

Folkestone Warren Halt
General information
LocationEast Folkestone, Folkestone & Hythe
England
Grid referenceTR249379
Platforms2
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Pre-groupingSER
SE&CR
Post-groupingSouthern Railway
Southern Region of British Railways
Key dates
1 July 1886Opened
1886Closed
1 June 1908Reopened
19 December 1915Closed
11 August 1919Reopened
25 September 1939Closed to the public
1971Closed[1]

1886 opening

The station was first opened by the South Eastern Railway in 1886 which installed a bridge over the Main Line leading to a gate on to The Warren from which the public could picnic and enjoy the dramatic scenery in the area; a zig-zag path led down the East Cliff to the station.[2] The Halt enjoyed, however, a brief existence, closing after the Summer in the face of threats by Lord Radnor who felt that his land was being trespassed upon.[3] There is also a suggestion that the station had not been formally authorised by the Board of Trade which, upon discovering its existence, refused to grant consent.[4]

1908 reopening

Warren Halt was reopened 22 years later by the South Eastern and Chatham Railway and remained open until the evening of 19 December 1915 when a large landslip resulted in the entire undercliff supporting the Main Line moving towards the sea causing approximately 1.5 million cubic metres of chalk to slip or fall burying Warren Halt. The railway watchman was able to stop the 6.10pm Ashford to Dover service as it emerged from Martello Tunnel, hauled by D class, no. 493.[5]

The station as well as the affected section of the South Eastern Main Line remained closed until 1919.[6] The Warren was a popular picnic spot in Edwardian times and a nearby tea chalet served hundreds of visitors daily.[7]

In 1923 the Halt was rebuilt by the Southern Railway which added a set of platforms. The station remained open for a further 16 years before another landslip in 1939. The Halt was, however, kept open as a staff facility until 1971 and a nearby siding subsequently served early Channel Tunnel works.[8]

References
  1. Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations, Patrick Stephens Ltd, Sparkford, ISBN 1-85260-508-1, p. 98.
  2. UK Railway Forum, "Old East Kent railways and stations", 2 June 2006.
  3. Kent Rail, "Shakespeare Cliff Halt".
  4. Mitchell, V.; Smith, K. (1988). South Coast Railways- Ashford to Dover including the Hythe and Sandgate branch. Midhurst, West Sussex: Middleton Press. plate 88. ISBN 0-906520-48-7.
  5. Mitchell, V.; Smith, K. (1988). South Coast Railways- Ashford to Dover including the Hythe and Sandgate branch. Midhurst, West Sussex: Middleton Press. plate 87. ISBN 0-906520-48-7.
  6. GeologyShop, "Folkestone & Hythe Landslips; the Warren, Copt Point, Castle Hill and the relict seacliffs between Hythe and Lympne".
  7. Jill Batchelor, "A buddleia waiting to start into growth again", 23 January 2005.
  8. John Law on the Rails, "Another view of the staff halt at Folkestone Warren, 1978. The siding served the Channel Tunnel workings", 18 January 2006.

51.0962°N 1.2107°E / 51.0962; 1.2107

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