Hollingbourne station from the forecourt, showing just how similar it is to nearby Harrietsham. As with Harrietsham, the station retains it's ornate canopy valance. Sadly, the boarded up windows and drab grey paint detract somewhat from the magnificent brickwork. It should also be noted that some scallywag has removed a number of the roof tiles that were replaced when the station was renovated in 1984.

photograph by Stephen Roffey

Hollingbourne was opened by the London Chatham & Dover Railway on 1st July 1884 with the other stations on the Maidstone & Ashford Railway route. The station building is a standard LCDR design based on that of Sevenoaks Bat & Ball and, like Bearsted, Hollingbourne, Harrietsham and the long since demolished Hothfield, was constructed using a rather attractive cream brick.

Hollingbourne seen from the up platform. A single storey flat roofed annexe stood at this end of the building until relatively recently.

photograph by Stephen Roffey

As with the other intermediate stations on the Ashford-Maidstone line a dock platform was provided for cattle traffic which was originally sited to the extreme left of the photograph. The goods yard was closed in the 60s and is now woodland, no evidence of the four sidings and goods shed remaining. Freight may once again come to the area, since the railhead for the proposed Kent International Gateway rail-freight interchange would be connected to this line by a new spur constructed between Hollingbourne and Bearstead.

photograph by Stephen Roffey

Also in common with the other intermediate stations on the Ashford-Maidstone line a substantial and attractive platform canopy was provided, this being on the down platform. The canopy mirrors that of the main building and originally sported an ornate valance with the same icicle design that survives on the forcourt canopy. The SE&CR removed the original valance fronts for some unknown reason during their tenure, a piece of vandalism repeated at Harrietsham but nowhere else on the line. Despite being modified during the 1984 renovation, it has still been necessary to cut into the shelter's canopy to allow the passage of international freight trains (out of gauge for the line) following the opening of the channel tunnel link, presumably due to the curvature of the line at this point.

photograph by Stephen Roffey

Hollingbourne, as with the other stations on the route, lacked a footbridge until 1961 when this standard product of prefabricated Exmouth Junction concrete was installed prior to the energisation of the third rail for the Kent Coast Phase II electrification scheme. Prevously the up platform was accessed by means of a wooden crossing at the eastern end of the platforms in common with many out-of-the-way LCDR and SER stations.

photograph by Stephen Roffey

Both platforms were extended in 2003 in the run up to the phasing out of slam door stock on the line.

photograph by Stephen Roffey

Detail shot showing the ornate cast iron canopy supports on the up platform.

photograph by Stephen Roffey

Another view of the station from the forecourt, showing the ornate canopy, boarded up windows and more missing tiles.

photograph by Stephen Roffey