Hythe Railway Station Building

Located at the heart of the old Hythe Harbour, east Colchester, Hythe Station Building once served the needs of passengers, both the general public, perhaps going to a trip to the coast or into London, as well as the many workers who were employed in and around the Harbour.
The prosperous days of the Harbour may have faded into history, but the Station & Building remains. The station is still in use, but sadly the Station Building is not. Now weary Commuters etc have to brave the elements whilst waiting for the next train. It does seem like things have taken a step backwards here! The building is now standing empty, been subject to vandalism, arson & grafetti.
The fate of this local historic landmark now lies in the hands of the Train Company who owns it. Unless funding can be found soon, it is likely that the Building will be demolished -yet another piece of our built history disappearing forever (visit the Hythe section on me website link below),
http://notquitegone.moonfruit.com
to see the green arched window warehouse & house next to it -these have already been lost due to seemingly lack of imagination! Some more pics of the Station Building can been seen there too.
There are a few pics below, and the full set of pics, with more history, will be added a.s.a.p.
As of yet, I have not been able to find much more out about the history of the building. If anyone out there has any stories or knows anything, please feel free to get in touch here or via me website e-mail -thanks!

Lb

HYTHE STATION BUILDING PICTURES (2007)...............








AERIEL VIEW
http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=51.885635&lon=0.927539&z=18.9&r=5&src=msa

Hi LB,
Enjoyed your report & pics. Mmm...see someone's taken the fire surround out of the station waiting room!
Just trundled through the other Hythe pics on your site. It's such a shame that the whole area is going. Some rather interesting bits of architecture there; character, too. Love the half-moon windows and the ones from inside the warehouse.
In the background of some of them is a pink building which looks rather unusual, seemingly as if it ends in a sharp point (we've got something similar in a nearby village, though not, I think, quite so angular). Nice cast iron wall thingy (drinking fountain?). I like the artwork set into the bridge; it gives a sense of community.
Cheers
Foxy

I'm sorry, but I've just realised that I posted the above in the wrong place. Totally forgot it should go in Misc. chat. My apologies. Can it be moved please?
Cheers
Foxy

Hi LB,

Nice pics, old train stations and railway lines facinate me allot. I think it is imagining the hustle and bustle that used too be around these places.

Simon-G

Lightbuoy;10944; said:

more history, will be added a.s.a.p.
As of yet, I have not been able to find much more out about the history of the building. If anyone out there has any stories or knows anything, please feel free to get in touch here or via me website e-mail -thanks!

Click to expand...

Hi LB,

Hythe station originally opened in 1847 as the terminus of a branch from the mainline into the port. This line was was extended at various times, to wivenhoe and brightlingsea, eventually reaching weeley in 1863 and walton in 1866. it was around this time the present station was built. (See British history online for a more detailed account of the areas railways).

The station building was constructed to designs attributed to Francis Thompson (although Sancton Wood has erroneously been stated in the past). Thompson had done much architectural work for the railways in the East Anglia and North Wales/Chester areas dating back to the 1840's, and many of his stations survive on the Ipswich - Yarmouth line and Harwich Branch which were constituents of the Eastern Counties Railway (later Great Eastern Railway).

Thompsons later works, like Hythe, demonstrated a move toward corporate architecture and the same pattern was repeated elsewhere on the walton branch and also the waveney valley line, (opened 1854-66, now closed and lifted). Hythe is/was more or less identical to Arlesford, Gt. Bentley, Weeley, Kirby Cross on the former and Pulham St.Mary, Pulham Market, Starston, Geldeston, Earsham and Ditchingham, on the latter line and possibly others too.

Very sad to see it in that state alhough there may be hope as One has recently been refurbishing and letting a number of its stations in essex.
feel free to use this info

Pete

Hi all,

Appreciate your comments Foxy Yes, it's a real shame about the old buildings pull down (I've seen quite a few in the few years I've live in Colchecestershire)
The funny shaped pink building, as you can probably tell, is much older that the remaining warehouses by the river. Probably 17th. C but possibly earlier. The layout inside could perhaps give away more clues as to it's real age.
I'm guessing that the odd shape is due to part of the building being demolished, although saying that, many buildings are odd shapes due to the shape of the land it's on -a prime example would be the "Flat Iron" in NYC.

Thanks for the info -and lots too! When I get the chance, I'll pop some of this history onto me site (and credit you of course!)
I might have to visit some of those other Stations to get some comparisons.
Yes, noticed that the old stations, such as at Walton have been converted into residential.

Hi Simon G,

Ta very much matey!
'tis a real shame that these Stations are left to rot. And it's not as if there has been a decline in passenger numbers either -makes no sense to me!
If you're local (ish), or don't mind travelling (if you're not), there are plenty of working steam railway museums (one still connected to a working branch line!) around the East Anglia area. Not far from Colchester is Wakes Colne, with the amazing Chappel viaduct.

Lb