Exploring Kent's Past

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

Summary

Sheppey Light Railway. Ran from junction with main line near Queenborough Station to Leysdown, opened in 1901. Closed 1950.

Monument Types

• SITE (Unknown date)
• PIT (Modern - 1901 AD? to 1950 AD? (at some time))
• POST HOLE (Modern - 1901 AD? to 1950 AD? (at some time))
• RAILWAY (DISUSED RAILWAY, Modern - 1901 AD to 1950 AD (between))

Full description

If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us.

Light Railway opened between Queenborough and Leysdown in 1901. Although Leysdown developed as a resort in the 1930's, it was never popular, and with no freight traffic to supplement the meagre income, the line closed in 1950.

Sheppey Light Railway from junction with main line near Queenborough Station to Leysdown, opened in 1901. Closed 1950. Engineer Col Holman F Stephens. Stations at E Sheerness (Halfway Houses), E Minster on Sea, Minster on Sea, Eastchurch and Leysdown with halts at Brambledown and Harty Road (1).

Site photographs (2-12).

An evaluation of land south of Harps Avenue, Minster-in-Sheppey, revealed a number of features along the northern boundary of the site. Five postholes and a possible pit were interpreted as features associated with the Sheppey Light Railway (located at 595060,172485); they contained finds dating to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Two north-south ditch bottoms were also identified in one trench and dated as above (located at 595025,172445). In addition a cattle/farm traffic crossing for the railway was identified in the nw corner of the area evaluated (located at 594900,172536). The iron gate posts survived on both sides of the crossing and the remains of an iron gate were recorded, hanging from the se gate post [13].

Desk based assessment [14].

<01> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, Peter Harding 'The Sheppey Light Railway' (author, 1984) (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<02> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9483.

<03> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9497.

<04> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9518.

<05> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9571.

<06> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9647.

<07> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9795.

<08> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9796.

<09> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9813.

<10> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9815.

<11> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10290.

<12> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10298.

<13> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1997, Harps Avenue, Minster-In-Sheppey: Archaeological Evaluation (Unpublished document). SWX6711.

<14> CgMs Consulting, Archaeological Desk Based Assessment of Land at Scocles Road Minster Isle of Sheppey (Unpublished document). SKE12424.

Sources and further reading

Related records