Colonel Stephens and the Hop Pickers Line, new information board unveiled at Paddock Wood

Back in January 2023, David Sargison of Paddock Wood Town Council proposed that we work with the Hop Pickers Line Heritage Group, to celebrate the former branch line that wound through the Kent countryside from Paddock Wood to Cranbrook. This would build on work from 2017, when information boards outlining the history of the line were sited at the station and key points along its route.

A waymarking sign for the Hop Pickers Line Heritage Trail mounted adjacent to an information panel about the line.

Kent CRP were asked to use our connections with Kent County Council to assist Paddock Wood Town Council with gaining consent to site a further information panel on highway land opposite the John Brunt VC public house, waymarking a link between the station and a future Hop Pickers Line Heritage Trail and creating an additional heritage board at the station.

 

Hop Pickers Line Heritage Group had funding for their panels and the costs of the waymarking were something we could easily cover. We were happy to help and by the Autumn the information panel and waymarking were in place.

A lectern style in information panel for the Hop Pickers Heritage Trail. An information panel mounted between upright posts A green waymarking sticker with British Rail double arrow symbols attached to a lamppost. Adjacent is the pub sign of the John Brunt VC, displaying an image of Captain John Brunt. A waymarking sign for the Hop Pickers Line Heritage Trail mounted to a wall

Funding was still required for the information panel, where we had a stroke of good luck.

Jonathan Fryer, volunteer Deputy Chair of our Swale Rail Line, had proposed a project at Queenborough, to celebrate the Sheppey Light Railway. He had secured funding from the Colonel Stephens Society for information panels. 

Formed in 1985, the Colonel Stephens Society caters for enthusiasts of the highly charismatic railways engineered and/or managed by Colonel Holman Fred Stephens. Both the Sheppey Light Railway and the Hop Pickers Line were connected to Colonel Stephens.

 

We had found other funding we could use to support the project at Queenborough and were delighted when the Colonel Stephens Society said we could switch some of their generous donation to fund the board at Paddock Wood. They also helped us with content for the panel and guided us to the Colonel Stephens Museum for images.

Gary in blue Kent CRP rain coat and beannie hat standing beside the new Colonel Stephens information panel at Paddock Wood station. A crowd of people gathered on the platform at Paddock Wood station, pose for a photo beside the new Colonel Stephens information panel.

On Wednesday 18th December; we invited the Colonel Stephens Society, Paddock Wood Town Council, the Hop Pickers Line Heritage Group, Southeastern, and our Medway Valley Line Group members to attend the unveiling.

It was our opportunity to thank them all for their support in delivering this project to celebrate the history of Colonel Stephens’ Hop Pickers Line.

A great way to round off our Railway 200 year.

Information panel celebrating Colonel Stephens and the Hop Pickers Line. Images of Colonel Stephens and a steam locomotive. A brief written history of this railway engineer and the 11 mile line connecting Paddock Wood to Cranbrook.

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