DAYSOUT The Kent 108 cont...
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UNIQUE RAIL TRANSFORMATIONS
Kent’ s Oldest Stations and Transformed Railways
Over the last 50 years, adaptive reuse has taken on a whole new meaning, with disused railway stations across Kent transformed far beyond their original purpose. Once bustling transport hubs, these former stations now stand as historic landmarks and popular tourist attractions.
Our first stop is one of Kent’ s most celebrated railways: the Crab and Winkle Line( crabandwinkle. org). Opening in 1830, this pioneering route connected the historic city of Canterbury with the bustling seaside town of Whitstable. Although the line closed in the 1950s, its story is far from over, as walkers and cyclists can continue to follow the railway’ s footsteps on the Crab and Winkle Way( explorekent. org), a scenic trail that retraces much of the original track.
Take an unrushed stroll along the former trackbed, where fragments of unearthed rail still emerge through Kent’ s chalk-rich soils. Around halfway along the seven-mile line lies the Winding Pond, once an essential water source for the steam locomotives labouring out of Whitstable. The pond is now a peaceful picnic spot, fringed by riparian woodland, with towering birch trees and conifers. The Crab and Winkle Way offers a chance to slow down and take in the serene surroundings where one of Kent’ s busiest railways once ran.
Did you know?
The Crab and Winkle Line was the first railway to be built on Kentish soil; it was also the world’ s first steam-driven passenger railway station, then known as Canterbury North Lane.
SIP AT THE SIGNAL BOX
Next stop is the seaside town of Folkestone, where you’ ll discover the renowned Folkestone Harbour Arm( folkestoneharbourarm. co. uk). Once the site of Folkestone Harbour station, this historic railway terminus has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past 176 years, injecting a creative spirit that has regenerated the station beyond recognition.
What was once a site of steam locomotives filling the station with wreathing smoke is now a vibrant promenade. Wildflowers now flourish beside the old railway tracks and the station is filled with the aroma of freshly baked pastries and expertly roasted coffee from SIP at the Signal Box( sipatthesignalbox. co. uk). Once the station’ s former signal box, SIP is now a welcoming cafe, where you can soak up the harbour views from the signal box seating. Sitting there, it’ s easy to imagine the comings and goings of a once-bustling railway station, now reimagined as one of the county’ s most popular seaside destinations.
Did you know?
FOLKESTONE HARBOUR ARM
Folkestone Harbour Arm once served as the final stop for passengers embarking on grand tours of continental Europe and played a vital role during the First World War, earning the nickname the‘ Gateway to the Trenches’.
46 • www. insidekent. co. uk