Some of the old railway stations have since been converted into pubs and tea houses

Found this - Known as the ‘Castleman’s Corkscrew’ due to the shape it cut across the forest and Charles Castleman who promoted it. The now disused railway line was first proposed in 1844 and ran from Southampton to Dorchester. The line was only closed in the 1960’s with over a hundred years of use

Through the magic of storytelling, we went back to speak to the Signalman. Here's some brief edits from that interview . . .

#booksky #books #brackenlowehalt

IMAGE:1 Most of the old 'Castleman's Corkscrew' line has been dismantled and is now a popular walk.

1858 - 1861: Branch connections grow around the New Forest. Brockenhurst becomes a more important junction point as traffic patterns develop. Maybe Brackenlowe Halt (some references refer to it as Brackenlowe Road?) was part of this expansion?

This map might shed some light on the station's exact location.

We found a bundle of station notes tied with green twine inside an old map case. No author name—only: “For the one who keeps the lamp.” One page lists times, but the timetable doesn’t match any public record we can find.
If you’ve heard stories about Brackenlowe Halt (or street), let me know below.

Archival Note, Folio A: Initial cataloguing of the Brackenlowe Halt correspondence is complete. The material suggests a sustained, gentle observation of the local fauna, recorded in a precise hand across several ledgers. The station's own history remains fragmentary.

It's coming together 😊

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Trying to capture the signalman's voice and tone . . . . Slow progress, but at least its progress I suppose 😊

The signalman's stories are beautifully written, I hope I can capture that in the illustrations.

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Inventory note: the Signalman’s journals contain sketches, rail timings… and small woodland visitors he wrote of as if they were old friends.
We’ll share the first page soon. 🕯️”

We’re piecing together the Brackenlowe Halt Archives from some old journals found at the station.
If you’ve heard stories of this place—family tales, sketches, rumours—share them with us.
The lamp stays lit. 🕯️”

Time has taken the station, but not its light. The lamp still shines for those who return.
Welcome to the Brackenlowe Halt Archives. 🌿🕯️