The Rother Valley Railway was proposed in 1896 and was the
first line to be built under the Light Railway Act (1896) that
permitted lightly constructed lines to be built in rural areas. The
line was engineered by Holman (later Colonel) Stephens, who went on
to build a number of light railways around the country. The first
section between Robertsbridge and Tenterden (later renamed
Rolvenden) opened on 2/4/1900. The line was extended to Tenterden
Town in 1903 and finally Headcorn in 1905.
The line was renamed the Kent & East Sussex Railway
and initially was moderately profitable, although the northern
section was subsidised by the South Eastern & Chatham Railway.
After WW1 there were heavy losses eventually leading to bankruptcy
in 1931. The line had remained independent after the 1923
amalgamation and despite loss of revenue with many of its
passengers switching to busses it continued to provide a valuable
service, especially to the farming community, through the
1930's.
The line was nationalised in 1948 but despite improvements,
passenger numbers continued to fall. The end was inevitable with
closure coming on 2 January 1954. The northern section between
Headcorn and Tenterden Town was abandoned and the track lifted;
while the southern section remained open for goods traffic into
Tenterden Town until 12/6/1961. The line also saw occasional
passenger trains primarily for hop-pickers and ramblers during the
summer months.
Shortly after final closure a preservation society was formed,
but it was a further 13 years before trains returned to the line
(only on the southern section); the main stumbling block being the
large number of road crossings. Eventually a compromise was agreed
once the Society agreed to drop the section of line between Bodiam
& Robertsbridge from the restoration proposal. The Kent &
East Sussex Railway Company became a registered charity and work
progressed quickly with the first section of restored line opening
at Tenterden on 3.2.1974; this was extended to Wittisham Road in
1977, Northiam (1990) & Bodiam (2000).
The abandoned northern section between Headcorn & Tenterden
Town had four intermediate stations located at Frittenden,
Biddenden, High Halden Road & St. Michaels.
Frittenden Road Station
Frittenden Road Station in November 1963 (Photo by S C
Nash)
Opened on 15th May 1905 the station was sited, as was often the
case, about 2 miles out from the centre of Frittenden
village.
The Old Railway Station site is now an industrial unit. Look for
the old station sign displayed nearby.
There is limited roadside parking available.
Other caches in this series:-
Long Lost Railway Stations #6
Biddenden
Long Lost Railway Stations #7
High Halden Road
Long Lost Railway Stations #8
St. Michael’s