Hassocks sand pit tramway (Stonepound)

This tramway ran from Hassocks railway yard to a sand pit the other side of the Clayton road. It was only worked from the 1870`s through to the early 1900`s and passed under the road in a short tunnel which can still be seen. It has been filled-in at the western end so I couldn`t get to see the remains of the sand pit.

1912 map showing the tramway and the pit

It looks to me like a single line of standard gauge went through here.

The tunnel cannot be walked through unfortunately.

The unfinished railway near Lindfield

This line would have branched off the Brighton Line at Skew Bridge near Borde Hill. This would have been called Skew Bridge junction. If you look carefully when you drive under Skew Bridge, you`ll see some extra brickwork on the Lindfield side. This would take the new line off towards Lindfield. Much of the embankment was built and some brick bridges are drawn on an 1885 map I purchased. It can be clearly seen from Copyhold Lane and also on the western side of the Lindfield to Ardingly road. It even crossed this road and a station for Lindfield would have been built here! Works were also carried-out at the Uckfield end but nothing in the middle. All this was taking place in the 1850`s but they eventually ran out of money.

1885 map showing the two bridges, one over Spring Lane and one over the Ardingly road. You can also clearly see the embankments.

The site of the Spring Lane bridge.

The embankment at Spring Lane

The embankment coming into Lindfield from the right

The remains of the Ardingly road bridge.

The remains of the Copyhold Lane bridge

And the other side.

Fulling Mill lock near Lindfield

This very old lock was built at about 1810 and there isn`t much left to see. Made of large sandstone blocks with brick at either end, 52 feet long and 13 feet wide. Some of the brickwork can be clearly seen.

1885 map showing the lock near the top right. With
the coming of the railway the canal is already unusable

My old office

Once I`d moved out, it didn`t take Tony long to clear-out my old rubbish!!!

Before I left

After I`d gone

Folkington post boxes

This old Edward VII post box looked nice in the early sun and soon after, I saw a treecreeper and got a lucky shot at it.

Near Folkington church is this nice Victorian postbox.

Freddy and Mabel on Butts Brow

Had a lovely walk with Sue and Freddy...

Naughty Mabel

Bloody dog, brushed her and got her looking good for training. Let her out for a wee and she comes in after digging a muddy hole!!!

Winter

Surprise surprise! It`s February, it`s cold and there`s snow on the ground!

Snowy drive into work

I managed to drive from Polegate to Brighton via Falmer Hill and Woodingdean despite the heavy snow. I was very pleased with my efforts but was scuppered just 30ft from the depot gate when the stop/start brigade brought me to a halt :o(

I had to be pushed into the depot!

The Beddingham flyover (A27)

I took a photo before the road was started and just took one the other morning to show the difference. I`ll need to take one in the summer to make it look greener.