Isfield - mid-1970s

The view towards Lewes from the site of the former down line, giving a far better impression of the excellent alignment of the route than is possible today.

The decision by Wealden planners in the early 1980s not to accept BR's cut price offer of £12,500 for the whole route is very much to be regretted.

Even if the railway might not have been speedily restored, the route could have been converted into an excellent cycle route as was done with the Groombridge - East Grinstead route. With the parallel A26 becoming ever more crowded, a safe and almost level cycle route between Uckfield and Lewes would have been a tremendous asset for the community.

Note the relatively intact box, gates and telegraph pole. Unlike many closed boxes Isfield retained its lever frame (minus its locking), thus affording local children many happy hours of signalling imaginary trains...

Although this box still survives today, it is likely that the minimal signalling required for a revived Wealden Line would be controlled from the panels at Oxted and Lewes.