Exploring Bexhill West Disused Railway Station with Dumpman

Chris Bedford, AKA Dumpman, and I are off again exploring disused railways. Today we explore Bexhill West Station in East Sussex. We're checking out the architecture and seek out remaining clues of the building's previous life as a terminus station for the Sussex seaside holiday resort.
Bexhill West is a closed station in Bexhill-on-Sea in East Sussex. It was the terminus of the Bexhill West branch of the Hastings Line. It was opened by the South Eastern and Chatham Railway and was operated by the Southern Region of British Railways on closing. The station building still survives as an antiques house. The trackbed and site of the now demolished platforms are now occupied by commercial industrial buildings.
Find out more about Dumpman and his films exploring more disused railways here: www.dumpman.co.uk/
Our thanks to Era of Style, the antique shop currently in Bexhill West for giving us permission to film. Check out their web site here: www.erasofstyle...
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I am Richard Vobes, the Bald Explorer, exploring Britain. Check out my website at: www.Vobes.com and www.BaldExplore....
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[@chriscraven9572]

I remember catching the train from Bexhill West to make the Hastings London connection at Crowhurst. The line used to run alongside what is now , aptly named Beeching Road, past the side of my school, Down County Secondary, to Sidley and Crowhurst. It was a sheer act of vandalism when they blew up the 17 Arch viaduct.

[@RichardVobes]

Yes, such a shame, I agree.

[@dedestephens4820]

Love the history of these old rail stations. My husband retired from the railroad in the US and I’ve watched many videos on Dr Beeching and the damage in his wake. So sad to see the closures. Thank you for the history. Love it

[@TheClockwise770]

This is an absolutely amazing old station, I never knew it existed rather like Wingfield station in Staffordshire built in 1855

[@martinda7446]

I'm lucky enough to live across the road from the station. It is a beautiful thing on your doorstep and the other railway is at the bottom of the garden. I'll check the clock, hold on a mo.... Blow me down, it's lit up and telling the right time!

[@TheClockwise770]

That's great, I love old station clocks

[@sjm.photos]

My grandfather was a newspaper man and collected the news papers from the trains there back in the 50s

[@johnmasters504]

Always good to see Dumpman!

[@zx85]

Can't believe I've only just seen this - and never visited it when I've been in Bexhill! Great video - thanks, Richard and Chris!

[@RichardVobes]

Thanks James - always lovely to see your name pop up in the comments!

[@MrGreatplum]

That was fascinating and it’s so good to the see the building still full of life and with a use that keeps many of its features! 👍🏻

[@RichardVobes]

So pleased you enjoyed it.

[@taliesinbourne7484]

Eyyyyy big up Bexhill!!

[@kgs42]

Great double act, Richard.

[@darrinbanks8558]

I passed Bexhill West station in the car. I only recognised it through your videos. Great modelling.

[@RichardVobes]

Very cool!

[@VickyAllum]

What a very interesting show and seeing what was once a beautiful railway station,i would love to see a video of you and Chris taking a trip on a steam train somewhere for the day, i have a passion for old steam trains and have as yet to go on one :)

[@RichardVobes]

Oh you must. You simply must!

[@annenewton5403]

Loved it,we moved to Bexhill when I was a child in 1969 the line had been closed about 5 years I believe unigate had taken it over, milk depot.It was wonderful to see inside,thank you

[@Sparky68M]

The unigate milk depot was always there to the left of the station where the removals firm have their offices a siding came off from the line to their yard at the back

[@CHESEABUN]

Have been in this building and it is very well kept. I think the wooden boarding on the canopy outside is called a valance? There is some silent footage on KZbin on a train journey from this station just before closure.

[@RichardVobes]

I will have to check out the footage - thanks for the extra info, and for watching.

[@gman922]

Richard I will be in the UK in October maybe i could walk you round The Old Town in Hastings!!👍

[@RichardVobes]

That would be wonderful. Do email me: richard at vobes dot com and we can fix a date. :)

[@gman922]

Okay Sir 😎

[@gman922]

You have mail 😎

[@seanclark6438]

SER built their own line to Bexhill from their station at Crowhurst to complete with LB&SCR who operated Bexhill central on the East coast way line from Brighton, Bexhill West suffered from low passenger numbers as it was deemed not to be central enough and eventually closed after a relatively short service life

[@christinaburton9297]

It's called a valance.. (wavy boards) each company had it's own design e.g dog tooth at Hanwell for GWR.

[@haroldofcardboard]

stunning fascinating cool gorgeous. thank you to you both :) 10:31 WOW!!

[@RichardVobes]

So pleased you liked it.

[@davidbooth3285]

That was interesting on many levels! Did I hear you mention the viaduct? That would have been the seventeen arches,we used to do the school cross country over there!

[@RichardVobes]

Oh wow - how lovely to run through the arches.

[@batman51]

@@RichardVobes And which was blown up a few weeks after closure just to make sure it could never reopen (and quite by coincidence part of the route is now a road!).

[@Sparky68M]

@@batman51 Blown up by a local explosive expert Nevil Barber

[@christinaburton9297]

The route to London Charing Cross was actually shorter than the route via Eastbourne. The beautiful viaduct near Harley Shute was also destroyed and now much of the railway to Sidley, a wonderful nature reserve of orchids and other rare plants, is under the new bypass which.. you guessed..is how cram jammed and useless. Stupid short sightedness.

[@seanclark6438]

Bexhill West was a terminus on a branch line from Crowhurst, the only reason I can see for having a branch line is to service Sidley

[@RichardVobes]

I bow to your superior knowledge. :)

[@Sparky68M]

we had a goods yard at Sidley , 2 coal merchants a builders yard all the supplies came by train

[@butch907]

dump man is ok

[@andrewinskegness6140]

Always great to see Dumpman!