History of the Lee on Solent Railway Part 6
| Author: Peter Keat | Published: 9th November 2008 23:30 |
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The Stations on the way to Lee. Fort Brockhurst.
Brockhurst Station was opened in 1865, 24 years after the opening of the Gosport line. By the time it was opened the circle of forts, known as Palmerston's Folly, around Portsmouth had been built. These were constructed to protect Portsmouth from attack from the French, Four of these Forts were situated close to Fort Brockhurst Station, these were Forts Elson, Gomer. Brockhurst Rowner.
With the opening of the Lee-on-the-Solent Line, in 1894, Brockhurst changed its status from being an intermediate station on the Gospost Line to a fullv fledged junction with two separate lines and two separate Companies, At about this time (1894) the word Fort was added to the name of Brockhurst Station because, it was claimed, that the single word Brockhurst could easily he confused with Brockenhurst in the New Forest,
The station buildings on the up side at Fort Brockhurst were substantial with offices and a residence for the Station Master (which ann still be seen). A house which Willie Benn the longest serving Station Master at Fort Brockhurst and his family lived in for many years. The platform on the down side however was only a small wooden shelter.
The platform for the Lee line was situated behind the main station buildings on the up side and this had even less on it. This platform was separated from the main line platform by a fence with a small gate in the middle. All that could be found on the Lee platform was a simple wooden bench out in the open air as there was no canopy, a name board and a post with an oil lamp on it.
Railwise there was never any direct physical connection between the main line and the Lee access for locomotive to the Lee line could only be achieved by a double shunting movement.
On the military front there was a certain amount of traffic to the Garrison Church nearby and also the large Military Prison at Chilworth, in Lees Lane. In 1875 a siding and platform were added just north of the level crossing. Initially these: were for the sole use of the Army, but they were subsequently transferred over to the Royal Air force, when the R.A.F. had an air station on Grange airfield, on part of the site now occupied by H.M.S Sultan .They were then finally transferred to the Royal Navy for its use until the closure of the siding in 1964.
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