Exploring Hellingly Disused Railway Station

I am exploring Hellingly's disused railway station in Easy Sussex with my friend Chris Bedford, AKA Dumpman.
Hellingly was a railway station on the now closed Eridge to Polegate line (the Cuckoo Line) in East Sussex. It served the village of Hellingly. It was built by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway.
There was also a separate platform for passengers visiting Hellingly Hospital by tram, until 1933, the passenger service via Tramcar being discontinued from 1931. The line, known as the Hellingly Hospital Railway continued in use for transporting coal wagons from Hellingly Station for use at the Hospital until 1959.
Find out about Dumpman's films here: www.dumpman.co.uk/
My videos are funded 100% by people like you. If you enjoy them, please help me make more:
www.paypal.me/RichardVobes
I am Richard Vobes, the Bald Explorer, exploring Britain. Check out my website at: www.Vobes.com and www.BaldExplorer.com.
-----------------------------------------
You can also Support me via Patreon here: / richardvobes or Donate at www.BaldExplorer.com
------------------------------------------
I film with a Gopro and Zyiun Smooth 3 Gimbal, Rode Lavalier and Zoom H4 recorder..
Zyiun Smooth 3 Gimbal: amzn.to/2ubm3rA
GoPro Hero range: amzn.to/2wv8FiN
Rode Lavalier Mic: amzn.to/2vu3kst
Rode Smartphone mic: amzn.to/2vXE3Kr
Zoom H4n: amzn.to/2vXZuu6
Tascam DR-60Mk2: amzn.to/2eKEg9y
My children's books are here: richardvobes.com/

[@cathybonner9437]

Walked the Cuckoo trail past Hellingly station as my grandson's other grandparents live near Hailsham. Me being a volunteer on the Bluebell railway, I've been interested in seeing these disused station buildings. Thank you Richard

[@RichardVobes]

So pleased you enjoyed it.

[@anna-lisagirling7424]

I am constantly awed by the extraordinary masonry and stone work art in Great Britain. Thank you for the little privileged peek.

[@RichardVobes]

The masonry is awe inspiring I have to agree.

[@jackjustice9452]

instablaster

[@thra5herxb12s]

I love it when a place I want to have a look at says "No problem". These station buildings were all of a very similar design, but I'm so glad this one has survived and is well kept.

[@logicalthinker316]

Having a life long interest in railways, I couldn't think of a better place to live. Love this channel, having only discovered it after your Neil Oliver video, it's nice to take a break from the utter madness of this modern world

[@djmossssomjd8496]

Great video and thanks to the lady who let us all see the station. I am so jealous. Would love to live at a station like that.

[@RichardVobes]

That would be fun indeed!

[@ukpolska5335]

I actually bought your video of Hellingly Hospital a few years ago which was so interesting. I worked there from 1982-84 and it was rather sad to see the old building in such a state. Just a bit further down from where you were, over the bridge was the Golden Martlet pub which was burnt down in the 1990s and 200 metres further on the left-hand side was the home of Peter Grant the manager of Led Zeppelin. I actually traveled on that line as a kid from Horam to Eastbourne and I stuck my head out of the window and got a slap on the back on my legs from my mother who complained that I would get soot all over my freshly washed white shirt - funny memories.

[@njoyingtube1]

A wise Mother Mrs walker , , less washing , and for a sting on the legs , her son kept his head , thanks for your memories .

[@Sparky68M]

Peter Grant is buried in Hellingly cementry

[@railwaychristina3192]

I go and visit this and Battle just to sit in awe of the beauty and wit of the designs. Huge fan of TH Myers and Tress

[@paull2613]

You've Cracked it boys.................Cycle past here a number of times ( luv the cuckoo trail ) and now you've taken me behind the trees to view the station and it's platform etc.....................Thank you guys

[@RichardVobes]

We were just so lucky!

[@icdgyixifyinstereo]

Before the asylum closed, they used to sell a booklet about the Hellingly Hospital Railway. It had a lot of fascinating pictures in it, many of them showing the railway infrastructure.

[@breathfocused5472]

Brilliant love this adventure

[@MrGreatplum]

What great luck you both had getting access to the station. Another great video 👍🏻

[@ReverendFlatus]

Fascinating stuff. The hospital was an amazing building too. I expored some of it before it was demolished and have never seen such large scale vandalism of an abandoned place!

[@jotruby7707]

Another interesting vlog Richard. You certainly do find them. Love old railways.

[@claire76leach]

As always love your videos with Dumpman always exciting to get to see the old stations and imagining what they would be like in their heydays

[@RichardVobes]

Thanks Claire - looking forward to more Dumpman adventures.

[@georgetimperley8906]

When I went to Hellingly Festival of Transport just down the road I went with my dad for a cycle ride on the cuckoo trail and met the owner of Hellingly station and I got luck just like you did to look around the station platform and by the way the Hellingly Festival of Transport is well worth a visit

[@RichardVobes]

Well done you - a lovely place!

[@richardpiper4828]

Very interesting and brought back memories as my family lived in Station Road until the mid 70’s. I remember the little traction engine that ran behind our house up to the hospital - which was a big institution and employed lots of local people. Was at Hellingly station to see last train arrive from Horam and depart for Hailsham in 1965.

[@paulisitt2361]

Very nice video, most informative. Thank you!

[@flybobbie1449]

You often wonder when you see odd bridges or buildings and wonder what was that for.

[@g7puw]

fascinating vlog Richard ,i worked in the sister asylum of Laughton Lodge in the early eightees and was often sent to the then badly crumbling but slightly functioning Hellingly hospital ,a shame so much history lost ....

[@RichardVobes]

Golly - that is interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[@johnmorris8984]

I was boy I saw hellingly tramway there with traction poles to the hospital. Shame that was all gone now.

[@spinalman7892]

Hellingly Station featured in a 1964 British movie Smokescreen, starring "Grouty" Peter Vaughan. Derek Guyler features as the station porter. Now and thens: www.reelstreets.com/films/smokescreen/

[@RichardVobes]

Yes, so I am being repeatedly told! :)

[@moodyblue1964]

What an excellent video and such a fabulous platform and station building. You can almost hear the ghosts of the former trains coming and going. Cool T-Shirt too. I think I'll get myself one of them.

[@RichardVobes]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@merledoughty5787]

This is on my next visit to eastbourne when we can again travel thanks for an interesting video, I have a book I brought back in 2015 our last UK visit on the lost railways of Sussex

[@bullettube9863]

The Whitewicks have a very nice website and youtube channel devoted to visiting disused railroads and stations. They also visit tunnels, some are closed off but many have been repurposed for bicycles and hikers. These old railroads are a testament to the ingenuity and skills of the early Victorian engineers!

[@orlas5861]

Great video boys !! 👍👏👍👏 Very interesting ! Btw Richard , I think you meant ' murals ' not ' Muriel's ' 😂😘😂😘 !!

[@Lee_1971]

Great video, very interesting. You can briefly see this station in better times, in the British budget film, 'Smokescreen' (1964), and there are also a few still photo's on the Reelstreets site.

[@RichardVobes]

Cool, thanks!

[@CHESEABUN]

Very kind of the Lady owner to let you film there. I just live not far away from here. Cycle it quite regularly. The platform and building seem to be in remarkable condition. In the Winter months you can see part of the point levers in the undergrowth. May I recommend Heathfield Station and Tunnel? The tunnel inside is amazing. Sad thing is I think the council may have locked the gates around it this year. Last year you could walk through the tunnel. Like watching your shows and Dumpmans. Thanks Richard B

[@Cashpots]

I'm surprised you didn't show the old electrical connection under the bridge beside where you sat. This carried the pantograph cable under the bridge.

[@RichardVobes]

I didn't know it was there actually!

[@cogidubnus1953]

Synch problems towards the end or is it just my poxy computer? Whatever, another fascinating episode...thanks! Dave

[@RichardVobes]

Thanks Dave - I will look into it

[@christinaburton9297]

Hey Richard did you know that Heathfield down the line had its own natural gas supply? Thanks for the video. For a treat I cycle the line just to stand and look at this lovely station. The floral details are indeed typical LB & SC...Singleton and Mayfield examples.

[@RichardVobes]

Might need some of that gas soon.

[@christinaburton9297]

@@RichardVobes...hope you are not right. I know Eastbourne is twinned with a graveyard in Hull but it is much quieter than usual, feels rather like the Sundays of the past... how everything has changed on the blink of an eye..everyone is indoors.Hope you keep well and please keep your videos coming as they cheer the spirits and remind us of the great beauty of this country and the magnificence of human achievement.

[@logicalthinker316]

@@RichardVobesForward to 2023, turns out you are sycic 😅

[@rogerclarke7254]

My Grandparents lived here in the 1950's

[@RichardVobes]

Oh did they? How splendid. You must have some fabulous memories of the place.

[@rogerclarke7254]

@@RichardVobes unfortunately before my time

[@davidbooth3285]

Two things,1.I was unfortunate enough to have been in that hospital 1978 -80,not a nice place(malfeasance incarnate)!! 2.I happen to have film of the hospital railway on of all things,a D V D about the old Hastings trolley buses! There’s not much,but if you would like to see it? Let me know where to send it! If you do! I would like it back of course!!

[@RichardVobes]

Poor you for going there. So pleased you survived. Hold on to the DVd for the moment, but it would be great to see it at some point. :)

[@kezzaba1]

Going back to the early/mid 1980s my BFF and I used to ride ponies and donkeys up that track every weekend, in those days there was no hedge, the station was open to the track and we used to sit on the platform. That field of sweet corn is now being filled with more houses as Hailsham is being massively expanded with estates of rabbit hutches.

[@RichardVobes]

It is so very sad, yet the people moving in will have no idea.

[@davidroberts7425]

Rather annoyingly this video skips and won't play as I really wanted to watch this.

[@RichardVobes]

Very odd - it shouldn't do.

[@peterwatford9352]

Was up there today, lovely to see the remaining gantry for the electric railway that went to the hospital