Listed Ticket Office
LISTED TICKET OFFICE – NEW RAILWAY SIDINGS
The
listed ticket office came to the attention of the Society with the application
for its removal from the station site to allow access to the sidings. The
Society wrote that the removal should be supervised by experts, and that a legal
undertaking for its care and maintenance should be entered into ensuring its
long- term welfare. Reassurances were given and it was confirmed that the
office would go to Sheffield Park. Hove
Civic Society offered to fund a plaque to inform visitors of its history
On the same objection we voiced grave concerns regarding the proposed train cleaning facilities, pointing out that other similar facilities were housed in buildings and this, as an open area, would cause noise and pollution. The area is also designated for development and shows on the Council plans as one of the sites for tall buildings. It is sad that these objections were ignored as the night time lights and the lorries moving rubbish from the site permanently trouble the local residents.
Ticket Office 1st Update
The Society became concerned when no reply was received to a request for an update on the position regarding its placement. The Chairman wrote to the Bluebell Trust and it was two months before a reply was received. It stated to all intents and purposes that they had no idea where it was being stored and it was not their responsibility. Immediate referral back to the City Council established, in due time, that the building was safely stored but there were concerns with the site at Sheffield Park.
Ticket Office 2nd Update
Sheffield Park, after all this time, has refused the building, as they are unable to reinstate the chimney or lay foundations. Amberley ‘Chalk Pits’ Industrial Museum is keen to display it by their small railway and in the autumn, after closing for the winter, will lay a base and install the building.
We wish it well at its new site, a little sad to see it go to West Sussex, but reassured that it will be looked after, providing of course that it all goes ahead!
New Update
A volunteer at the Amberley Museum has been kind enough to let us know that re-erection of the ticket office is under way. The contractor is the one who took the building down.
The museum will use the office for a station waiting room / display area on one of the stations of their narrow gauge railway system. Southern railway is paying for the re-erection and the museum for the fitting out, helped, they hope, by the Railway Heritage Trust.
They are now trying to
locate all the fixtures and fittings such as lights and fireplaces to
ensure that everything is in keeping with the original. We will do our
best to assist but if any of our members or readers of this website
have old photographs or recollections of the inside will they contact
us via the feedback page ( access on the blue bar ) and we will pass
things on.
This lovely picture of the renovated Listed Ticket Office was sent to us by the Amberley Museum in West Sussex. Hove Civic Society have kept in touch
during the renovation and we are delighted to see such an excellent job of
work.Visitors can take a ride on the narrow gauge railway and there are many other exhibits to see. We have provided some material for a story board and we are
sure it will be well worth a visit.