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Kemp Town Branch

The tunnel, then and now

By John Leach

I used to live in Brighton. And as a child I used to play in Kemp Town Station. Here are some black & white photos of the other end of the Tunnel.

I don't think that these photos are very good as I took them when I was about 8 years old in about 1953. I used a snapshot 127 camera.

View from the tunnel on Kemp Town Branch Line in about the 1960's

Photo by John Leach

View from the tunnel on Kemp Town Branch Line in about the 1960's

Photo by John Leach

Kemp Town Branch Tunnel as it looks today

Photo by John Leach

Sent to the website via the contribution form by John Leach on 05-07-04

This page was added on 22/03/2006.

Comments:

Which end of the tunnel is this?

By Mike (19/07/2004)

I would say that the photo is from the north end of the tunnel as it emerges from under Elm Grove at the back of Seville Steet where I live. The track was taken up in 1971-2 and the cutting was filled in - it's now the William Clarke Park where many children, including my own, continue to play. We're holding a Street Party this Sunday 15th Aug (2 - 7pm) to mark the centenary of Seville Street for which I've assembled various photos and stories. I'd love to hear more about the games that were played in this once hidden wild-life reserve. If you can e-mail further memories (to duncanblinkhorn@yahoo.co.uk) before 15 Aug'04 I'd love to post them up with the rest of the exhibition.

By Duncan Blinkhorn (Friends of William Clarke Park) (12/08/2004)

The photos of the tunnel were taken in the 1960s. They are of the other end of the tunnel from Kemp Town Station, comming out under Elm Grove.

By John Leach (24/08/2004)

I used to play here as well. We would have to watch out for trains and then, when they abandoned it, we would go right into the tunnel. We lit our way with saltpeter and sugar mixed together and set it alight. I know the entrance was blocked off pretty soon after that.

By Kevin Bushby (09/04/2005)

Does anybody know whether there is anything left of the tunnel now (that isn't blocked up)? I know its blocked up at Elm Grove end, but what about Kemp Town end? If so, any idea who should be contacted?

By Jackie Blackwell (20/08/2007)

Hi Jackie. The tunnel is still there and doesn't look too dissimilar from the picture above. It is now used as a storage area, through the storage centre in the industrial estate.

By Mike (27/01/2008)