The Downs Link is a 36.7-mile (59.1 km) path and bridleway in South East England. It connects the North Downs Way at St Martha's Hill in Surrey with the South Downs Way near Steyning in West Sussex, from where it continues as the Coastal Link to Shoreham-by-Sea. The majority of the route follows the trackbeds of two former railway lines, the Cranleigh Line and the Steyning Line, both of which closed in the mid-1960s.

The path was opened from St Martha's Hill to the South Downs Way on 9 July 1984, with ceremonies at the former Baynards station, in Surrey, and at St Botolph's, in West Sussex. The extension to Shoreham-by-Sea opened on 4 October 1993.

The Downs Link forms part of National Route 223 of the National Cycle Network.

Route

Overview

The double bridge over the River Arun south of Rudgwick station

The Downs Link is a 36.7-mile (59.1 km) path and bridleway in South East England. It runs from the North Downs Way at St Martha's Hill in Surrey to Shoreham-by-Sea on the English Channel in West Sussex.[1] It is accessible for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. Much of the route runs along the trackbeds of two former railway lines, which were closed in the mid-1960s.[2] The official emblem of the Downs Link, which appears on direction signs and publicity material, is a stylised version of the Rudgwick double bridge, completed in 1865.[3][4][a]

Unlike the National Trails, which are supported by the UK government through Natural England,[8] the Downs Link is a collaborative project between Surrey County Council (SCC), West Sussex County Council (WSCC) and Waverley Borough Council.[9][10] The path was originally opened in 1984 as a link between the North Downs Way at St Martha's Hill and the South Downs Way at St Botolph's near Steyning,[9][10] but was extended southwards to Shoreham-by-Sea in 1993.[11] It intersects other long-distance routes, including the Greensand Way, Wey South Path and Sussex Border Path.[2][12] It also forms part of National Route 223 of the National Cycle Network, which runs from the River Thames at Chertsey to the English Channel.[13]

The northern trailhead, St Martha's Hill, is on the Greensand Ridge, a prominent sandstone escarpment that runs parallel to and south of the North Downs.[14][15][16] The well-drained, sandy soils support oak woodland, with an abundance of hazel, holly and hawthorn. South of the River Tillingbourne, the land is marshier, supporting plant species such as alder, poplar and willow.[15][17] The acidic, sandy soils in the Blackheath and Chinthurst Hill areas support birch, broom and pine, as well as gorse and heather.[17][18][19] Between Bramley and Bramber, the route runs across Weald Clay and the landscape is dominated by open farmland and mature woodland.[17][20][21] The southernmost part of the route runs along the broad valley cut through the South Downs by the tidal River Adur.[17][22]

St Martha's Hill to Christ's Hospital

The Downs Link passing the disused Cranleigh Line platforms at Christ's Hospital station

From the northern trailhead on St Martha's Hill, at an elevation of 175 m (574 ft) above ordnance datum, the Downs Link descends into the valley of the River Tillingbourne, before swinging west towards Chinthurst Hill.[23][24] At Tannery Lane Bridge it is joined by the link from Guildford town centre, opened in 2006.[24][25] From there, it runs along the alignment of the former Cranleigh line, passing through the former Bramley & Wonersh station, where the platforms were restored in 2003–2005.[26][27] Between Tannery Lane and the hamlet of Rowly, the path runs parallel to the Cranleigh Waters, a tributary stream of the River Wey, and the disused Wey and Arun Canal is also visible in several places.[26]

At Cranleigh, a shopping centre development forces the Downs Link to the south of the original railway alignment, but the route returns to the original trackbed at the south end of Snoxhall Fields.[26][28][29] Although much of Baynards station survives, it is a private residence and is not accessible to public.[28][30] From Baynards station, the Downs Link deviates from the course of the Cranleigh line to climb over the hill above the inaccessible Baynards Tunnel.[31] No trace remains of Rudgwick station,[32] and the bridge over the A281 has also been dismantled.[33][34] The path crosses the River Arun on the top deck of the double bridge, completed in 1865.[3] Although Slinfold station was completely demolished after the closure of the railway,[32] the Cranleigh line platforms at Christ's Hospital were restored in 2000.[35][36]

Points of interest between St Martha's Hill and Christ’s Hospital (ordered from north to south)
Point of interest Description Coordinates
St Martha's Hill Northern trailhead on the North Downs Way[2] 51°13′31″N 0°31′23″W / 51.2253°N 0.5230°W / 51.2253; -0.5230
Bramley & Wonersh station Platforms refurbished and replica level crossing gates installed in 2003–2005[27] 51°11′46″N 0°33′22″W / 51.1962°N 0.5561°W / 51.1962; -0.5561
Cranleigh station Station and goods yard demolished, now the site of the Stocklund Square shopping centre[37][38] 51°08′29″N 0°29′32″W / 51.1413°N 0.4923°W / 51.1413; -0.4923
Baynards station Station is a private residence.[39] 51°06′18″N 0°27′48″W / 51.1049°N 0.4632°W / 51.1049; -0.4632
Rudgwick station Station demolished and replaced by a health centre[40] 51°05′23″N 0°27′03″W / 51.0897°N 0.4509°W / 51.0897; -0.4509
River Arun bridge The upper bridge deck was installed in 1865 to ease the steep approach to Rudgwick station.[3][6] 51°05′01″N 0°26′23″W / 51.0835°N 0.4396°W / 51.0835; -0.4396
Slinfold station Station demolished and replaced by a caravan park[41][42] 51°04′04″N 0°24′48″W / 51.0678°N 0.4134°W / 51.0678; -0.4134
Christ's Hospital station Station open; abandoned Cranleigh Line platforms restored in 2000[35][36] 51°03′04″N 0°21′51″W / 51.0511°N 0.3641°W / 51.0511; -0.3641

Christ's Hospital to Shoreham-by-Sea

The Downs Link at West Grinstead station

Between Christ's Hospital and Shoreham-by-Sea, the Downs Link mostly follows the route of the former Steyning Line. The path runs through the site of Southwater station, where only short sections of the platforms survive.[43] After passing Southwater Country Park, opened in 1985 on the site of a former brickworks,[44][45][b] it continues under the A24, before reaching West Grinstead station.[47] The platforms at this station are mostly intact, and a railway signal and a replica station sign have been installed by the local parish council.[43] A Mark 1 railway carriage acts as an information point for walkers,[45][48][49] and the old stationmaster's house is now a base for the WSCC Low Weald Countryside Rangers.[50] At the south end of West Grinstead station, the path runs beneath the A272 in an underpass tunnel, built in 1987 as part of a road improvement scheme.[51][52]

There are no traces of the stations at Partridge Green and Henfield, and the Downs Link briefly leaves the railway alignment at both locations to avoid subsequent development.[53] The path crosses the River Adur at Betley Bridge and Stretham Bridge, to the north and south of Henfield respectively.[54][55] Between Stretham Bridge and Bramber Castle, it diverges from the route of the Steyning line to avoid sections of the former track bed in private ownership.[54][56][c] The original railway bridge at Coombes was dismantled after the Steyning line closed,[58] and so the Downs Link crosses the River Adur via Bramber Bridge, which it shares with the South Downs Way.[59] The path then follows the river for the remaining 2.7 mi (4.3 km) to Shoreham-on-Sea, passing to the east of Shoreham Cement Works, before rejoining the former track bed. The Downs Link remains on the former railway alignment to its southern terminus, close to Shoreham station.[11][60]

Points of interest between Christ’s Hospital and Shoreham-by-Sea (ordered from north to south)
Point of interest Description Coordinates
Christ's Hospital School designed by Aston Webb and opened in 1902[61] 51°02′39″N 0°21′47″W / 51.0442°N 0.3631°W / 51.0442; -0.3631
Itchingfield Junction The Steyning Line diverged from the Arun Valley Line at this junction.[62] 51°02′32″N 0°22′14″W / 51.0421°N 0.3706°W / 51.0421; -0.3706
Southwater station The Lintott Square development, completed in 2004, covers most of the station site, but short sections of the platforms remain.[43] 51°01′27″N 0°21′07″W / 51.0242°N 0.3520°W / 51.0242; -0.3520
Southwater Country Park The 54-acre (22 ha) country park opened in June 1985 on the site of a former brickworks.[44][45] 51°01′13″N 0°20′46″W / 51.0203°N 0.3461°W / 51.0203; -0.3461
West Grinstead station Platforms survive; a Mark 1 railway carriage stands in the former goods yard[63] 50°59′22″N 0°18′51″W / 50.9895°N 0.3143°W / 50.9895; -0.3143
Partridge Green station Station demolished and replaced by an industrial estate[53][54] 50°57′27″N 0°18′25″W / 50.9574°N 0.3069°W / 50.9574; -0.3069
Betley Bridge The original railway bridge crosses the eastern branch of the River Adur[55] 50°56′41″N 0°17′36″W / 50.9446°N 0.2933°W / 50.9446; -0.2933
Henfield station Station demolished and replaced by residential development[53][54] 50°55′56″N 0°17′06″W / 50.9321°N 0.2851°W / 50.9321; -0.2851
Stretham Bridge The original railway bridge crosses the River Adur[54][55] 50°54′36″N 0°17′41″W / 50.9099°N 0.2946°W / 50.9099; -0.2946
Steyning station Station demolished and replaced by Steyning bypass[64][65] 50°53′22″N 0°19′17″W / 50.8895°N 0.3213°W / 50.8895; -0.3213
Bramber Castle A ruined motte-and-bailey castle occupied from 1075 to c. 1450[66] 50°53′02″N 0°18′58″W / 50.8839°N 0.3162°W / 50.8839; -0.3162
Bramber station Station demolished and replaced by a roundabout on the Steyning bypass[64][67] 50°52′54″N 0°18′59″W / 50.8818°N 0.3164°W / 50.8818; -0.3164
Bramber Bridge The South Downs Way also crosses the River Adur on this bridge, which was opened in 1974.[59] 50°52′15″N 0°18′04″W / 50.8708°N 0.3012°W / 50.8708; -0.3012
Shoreham cement works Served by rail until 1981[68] 50°51′53″N 0°17′48″W / 50.8647°N 0.2967°W / 50.8647; -0.2967
Shoreham Tollbridge Erected in 1781; Grade II* listed[69] 50°50′26″N 0°17′17″W / 50.8406°N 0.2880°W / 50.8406; -0.2880
Shoreham-by-Sea Southern trailhead[2] 50°50′01″N 0°16′52″W / 50.8337°N 0.2810°W / 50.8337; -0.2810

History

Cranleigh station in 1957

For much of its route, the Downs Link follows the course of two dismantled railways: the Cranleigh Line, which ran from Peasmarsh Junction near Guildford to Christ's Hospital station, and the Steyning Line, which ran from Christ's Hospital to Shoreham-by-Sea. Both were listed for closure in the 1963 Beeching report,[70][71] and passenger services were withdrawn from 14 June 1965 (Cranleigh Line)[72] and 7 March 1966 (Steyning Line).[73][74] Freight services continued to operate on the southernmost section of the Steyning Line, between the cement works at Beeding and Shoreham-by-Sea, until 1981.[68][75]

Following a failed proposal to run a private train service over the Cranleigh Line, the track was lifted in April 1966,[76] and dismantling work on the Steyning Line began that October.[77][78] In December 1966, West Sussex County Council (WSCC) agreed to buy the trackbeds of the lines south of the border with Surrey, for £165,000 (equivalent to £3.88 million in 2023), with the intention of converting parts of the routes into roads.[79] In April 1970, much of the route north of Baynards Tunnel was bought by Surrey County Council (SCC) and Hambledon Rural District Council.[80][81]

The bricked-up southern portal of Baynards Tunnel

A year after the Cranleigh line closed, Hambledon Rural District Council suggested that the trackbed should be turned into a "walking freeway".[82] In 1973, it signed a seven-year lease on the part of the railway that had been purchased by SCC with the intention of creating a "greenway" between Gosden, north of Bramley, and the border with West Sussex.[83][d] The works included sealing the entrances to Baynards Tunnel with concrete blocks and filling the cutting on the northern approach with inert waste to create a ramped access to Cox Green Road.[87] A strip of land was purchased to enable the path to reach the county boundary, and drainage, fencing and landscaping works were also undertaken. The total cost of £15,000 (equivalent to £229,000 in 2023) was funded from the sale of Baynards station.[88]

In West Sussex, WSCC began to sell off and infill sections of the railway lines. In 1968, it authorised the filling of cuttings at Southwater and north of Steyning with domestic waste.[89] Rudgwick and Slinfold stations were demolished and their sites were used for a health centre and caravan park respectively.[90][91][40] Similarly, the station sites at Partridge Green and Henfield were sold for development.[54] Construction of the Steyning bypass, which runs along part of the former railway line, began in summer 1978[92] and was completed in July 1981.[93]

Plans for a unified long-distance pathway along the courses of the old railways began to emerge in the early 1970s. A report for Hambledon Rural District Council, published in 1971, recommended the development of a route from Bramley to Shoreham-by-Sea, and assessed the cost of infrastructure works to be around £500 per mile (equivalent to £9,000 in 2023) with an estimated annual maintenance cost of £100 per mile.[94][95] Work to create the new path began at the end of that decade. In 1978, new bridleways were designated north of Steyning, bypassing a section of the railway that had been bought by the Wappingthorne estate.[54][96][97][e] At Cranleigh, a diversion from the railway route was required to bypass the Stocklund Square development, but the Bonham Trust initially refused permission to create a new bridleway through Snoxhall Fields, which it owned.[29]

The Downs Link, connecting the North Downs Way at St Martha's Hill to the South Downs Way at St Botolph's near Steyning, was formally opened on 9 July 1984 with ceremonies at Baynards station and at the southern terminus of the new route. The path was a joint project between SCC, WSCC and Waverley Borough Council.[9][10] The Downs Link received a commendation in the 1985 National Conservation Award Scheme jointly organised by The Times newspaper and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.[99] That December, Waverley Borough Council and the Bonham Trust concluded a Path Creation Order Agreement, allowing the route through Cranleigh to be finalised.[81] The underpass tunnel beneath the A272, at the south end of the former West Grinstead station, was built in 1987, when the original humpback road bridge was replaced by the current structure.[51][52] The Downs Link extension from the South Downs Way at St Botolph's to Shoreham-by-Sea, also known as the Coastal Link, opened on 4 October 1993.[11]

The Downs Link bridge over the River Wey

In the early 21st century, two separate projects allowed the path to be extended over additional sections of the former Cranleigh Line. Firstly, the demolished railway bridge over the River Wey was rebuilt in July 2006, allowing easier access to the Downs Link from Guildford town centre.[25] Secondly, the 0.87 mi (1.4 km) section of the trackbed east of Slinfold became part of the route in September 2020. The project, which was funded as a collaborative project between Christ's Hospital school and WSCC, included the restoration of the Cranleigh Line platforms at Christ's Hospital station.[100][101] It was made possible through the creation of a new right-of-way between Baystone Bridge and the station in December 2004.[102][f]

Incidents

In July 2020, a fatal accident occurred near Rudgwick, in which a cyclist was killed at the intersection between the Downs Link and the A281.[104][g] At the inquest into the death the following year, the coroner criticised the signage on the approach to the junction from the Downs Link as "inadequate".[105] A campaign by local residents and the family of the victim called for the replacement of the crossing with a bridge. However, a study by WSCC estimated that the cost would be around £2 million and instead proposed the installation of a pegasus crossing, with traffic lights, which would be significantly cheaper.[106][107] A horse was hit by a car at the same crossing in May 2023.[108]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ When the Cranleigh line opened on 2 October 1865, the Board of Trade inspector insisted that Rudgwick station should remain closed until the 1 in 80 gradient to the south was eased.[5] The remedial work included the raising of embankments and a second bridge deck was added 10 ft (3.0 m) above the original brick arch over the River Arun, reducing the gradient to 1 in 130.[6] Rudgwick station opened on 1 November 1865, one month later than the other stations.[7]
  2. ^ The original Steyning Line bridge over Cripplegate Lane, Southwater, was demolished in August 1986, requiring the Downs Link to descend from the railway embankment to cross the road.[46]
  3. ^ An alternative walking route for pedestrians only is available along the bank of the River Adur between Stretham Bridge and St Botolph's near Bramber.[57]
  4. ^ On 1 April 1974, Hambledon Rural District became part of Waverley District,[84] which became the Borough of Waverley on 21 February 1984.[85][86]
  5. ^ The total cost of the pathway works in West Sussex was £40,000 (equivalent to £217,000 in 2023), part of which was funded by a grant of £8,600 awarded by the Countryside Commission in May 1980.[98]
  6. ^ The 2004 Definitive Map Modification Order that created a right-of-way along the southernmost part of the former Cranleigh Line, between Baystone Bridge and Christ's Hospital station, was unsuccessfully challenged at an inquiry held in December 2006.[103]
  7. ^ The original railway bridge over the A281 at Rudgwick, known as Swaynes Bridge, was demolished in November 1967 by West Sussex County Council.[33][34]

References

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  102. ^ "Downs Link campaign is step nearer to reality". West Sussex County Times. 3 December 2004. p. 7.
  103. ^ "Order Decision" (PDF). Planning Inspectorate. 4 May 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 September 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  104. ^ Dixon-French, Sam (6 August 2020). "Fatal crash sparks call for safety measures". Sussex Live. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  105. ^ Page, Sarah (3 June 2021). "Death of young cyclist leads to criticism of 'inadequate' warning signs at A281 junction". Sussex Live. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  106. ^ Page, Sarah (14 April 2022). "Study dashes hopes of a bridge over lethal A281 crossing". Sussex Live. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  107. ^ Page, Sarah (25 July 2022). "Call for A281 bridge to be named after young cyclist killed on charity ride". Sussex Live. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  108. ^ Graves, Kevin (18 May 2023). "Horse on Downs Link 'stung by wasp' then hit by car at 'lethal' crossing". Surrey Live. Retrieved 6 February 2025.

Bibliography

  • Beeching, Richard (27 March 1963a). The Reshaping of British Railways Part 1: Report. London: HMSO. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
  • Beeching, Richard (27 March 1963b). The Reshaping of British Railways Part 2: Maps. London: HMSO. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
  • Buckman, James (2002). The Steyning Line. Seaford: SB Publications. ISBN 978-1-85-770254-5.
  • Budgen, Christopher (2008). Cranleigh: A History. Chichester: Phillimore. ISBN 978-1-86-077503-1.
  • d'Enno, Douglas (2016). Sussex Railway Stations through time. Stroud: Amberley Publishing. ISBN 978-1-44-564876-7.
  • Gallois, R.W. (1965). The Wealden District. British Regional Geology. Keyworth: British Geological Survey. ISBN 978-0-11-884078-1.
  • Mitchell, Vic; Smith, Keith (1984) [1982]. Branch Lines to Horsham. Midhurst: Middleton Press. ISBN 978-0-90-652002-4.
  • Oppitz, Leslie (1987). Sussex Railways Remembered. Newbury: Countryside Books. ISBN 978-0-90-539299-8.
  • Oppitz, Leslie (1988). Surrey Railways Remembered. Newbury: Countryside Books. ISBN 978-1-85-306005-2.
  • Reynolds, Kev (1989). The South Downs Way & the Downs Link. Milnethorpe: Cicerone Press. ISBN 978-1-85-284023-5.
  • Vinter, Jeff (1990). Railway Walks: GWR & SR. Gloucester: Alan Sutton Publishing. ISBN 978-0-86-299722-9.
  • "Surrey Landscape Character Assessment: Waverley Borough" (PDF). Hankinson Duckett Associates. April 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  • "Downs Link: Six Stage Route Guide" (PDF). Chichester: West Sussex County Council. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

51°02′20″N 0°22′13″W / 51.0388°N 0.3704°W / 51.0388; -0.3704 (Downs Link)

Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downs_Link
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