About Frenches Halt
The history of the gates
We believe that these gates were originally sited on the Cuckoo Line at Polegate but removed and replaced by the current barriers.
Following this they were used as a fence on the Pevensey Marshes and we became aware of them around 1992.
As the gates were not maintained they slowly decayed until November 2011 when they were taken down and burnt.
The farmer kindly let us retrieve the metal brackets and during the first half of 2012 the gates were rebuilt with 200-feet of new timber and around 100 nuts and bolts.
This would not have been possible without the very patient neighbours putting up with a lot of noise and also helping with the final positioning of the gates.
Many thanks to 'Bob' who sourced and restored the two lamps.
Sound and movement
When you arrive at Frenches Halt there is a button you can press.
By pressing this button you will see the signal arm move and hear random train or background sounds.
You will also see a person in front of the signal box waving a flag.
Once the sound has stopped the signal arm will return and the person will stop waving the flag.
The person waving the flag is called "Rodney", please say hello to him while he's waving.
This is a great way for children and adults to interact with what's on show.
gate metal work
Making the signal post
the electronics
Coming Soon
This section will be updated soon.
Photo Gallery - click an image to make it bigger
the history of the cuckoo trail
The Cuckoo Trail is now owned by Wealden District Council and East Sussex County Council but was not originally built as a leisure facility.
Opened in 1880, the Cuckoo Line was the Polegate to Eridge railway built by the London Brighton and South Coast Railway to prevent its rival, the South Eastern Railway, accessing the Eastbourne traffic. It was named the Cuckoo Line after the tradition that the first cuckoo of spring was always heard at the Heathfield Fair. In time it settled down to become a country railway carrying milk, coal, livestock and timber as well as passengers.
From the 1950s onwards, rail passengers and goods were lost to the more convenient buses and lorries serving the area. Facing mounting financial losses, the line was closed by British Rail under the “Beeching cuts”. Passenger trains north of Hailsham and goods trains north of Heathfield were withdrawn in 1965. Three years later all remaining services were curtailed and the track was torn up.
The Cuckoo Trail now runs for 11 miles along the route of the railway, linking three of the District’s larger towns – Heathfield, Hailsham and Polegate. It also passes through the villages of Horam and Hellingly. An extension south of Polegate takes the Trail to Hampden Park, near Eastbourne forming part of the National Cycle Network (Route 21).
Benches have been erected along the Trail, many carved from fallen trees by local craftsmen. Picnic tables and bike racks are located at intervals along the Trail, but you are welcome to picnic where you like en route.
Sculpted gateways to the Trail are provided at the access points between Hailsham and Polegate, whilst a Wildlife Sculpture Trail is laid out for a mile north of Hellingly.
How to find us
Frenches Halt is located in Heathfield, East Sussex.
It is approximately 1.2Km (3/4 mile) South on foot from Heathfield high street.
Use postcode TN21 8AW
This will take you to Ghyll Road which runs along side this part of the Cuckoo Trail.