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 buses 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.
High Halden Road Station
High Halden Road Station in April 1953 (Photo by S C Nash)
Opened on 15th May 1905, the station was little more than a halt, sited on the north side of the Biddenden Road (A262) and interestingly nowhere near High Halden
The station closed on 4th January 1954 and the station building is now part of a very small business site, visible from the roadside.
Note: From the parking area there is only grass-verged walking, along what these days is a busy road & a nasty bend. Take care (not suitable for children or dogs).
The cache itself is positioned alongside the old track-bed to the north-west of the station.
Other caches in this series:-
Long Lost Railway Stations #5 Frittenden
Long Lost Railway Stations #6 Biddenden
Long Lost Railway Stations #8 St. Michael’s