The Community Rail Network board was delighted to hold its recent away day and meeting at Bishopstone Station, where it has supported the Friends of Bishopstone Station (FoBS) and Southeast Communities Rail Partnership to develop the station into a thriving community hub.
Board members arrived on Thursday 1 August, having travelled on the Sussex Downs Line from Lewes to Bishopstone. FoBS chair Barbara Mine and vice chair Jim Stanford gave everyone a tour of the station, as well as a brief history of the work which the volunteers have carried out to bring the redundant building back to life.
The previously neglected and unused parcels office was refurbished and reopened as the new community hub in November 2022, after five years of fundraising by FoBS. Additional grant and project support was provided by Community Rail Network, Railway Heritage Trust, Lewes District Council and Sussex Community Foundation.
The building has been transformed into one that is warm and welcoming, with activity space, a kitchen, storage areas, and full access for wheelchair users.
FoBS continue to manage and maintain the hub, which hosts weekly ‘Meet Up Mondays’ drop-in sessions, local history talks, arts and crafts classes, French language tuition and yoga practice, while also providing a meeting space for other local community organisations.
Jools Townsend, chief executive of Community Rail Network, said: “The board were delighted to hold their most recent meeting at Bishopstone, and we all thoroughly enjoyed our visit.
“The Friends of Bishopstone Station are one of many community rail groups across the country taking pride in our railway buildings, and turning previously neglected and unused spaces into ones that are warm and welcoming, helping communities get greater value from their stations and putting stations at the heart of community life.
“The Old Parcels Room has been completely transformed, and it was fantastic to see first-hand how it has become a thriving hub of community activity.”
You can keep up to date with future news, projects and events from the Friends of Bishopstone Station via their website.
Top photo shows from L-R: Roger Tolson (CRN board member), Richard Burningham (CRN board member), Andrew Dandridge (FoBS director), Jeremy Whitaker (CRN board chair), Jim Stanford (FoBS vice chair), Mick Stone (CRN board member), Barbara Mine (FoBS chair) and Wendy Everest (FoBS member).
