The level crossing at Aylesford station

Image: © Marathon Taken: 23 Apr 2013

The Medway Valley Line was built in two stages by the South Eastern Railway. The first stage opened in 1844 was from Paddock Wood following the Medway Valley to Maidstone. In 1856 the line was extended up the Medway Valley to the North Kent Line at Strood (which had opened in 1847). Aylesford station opened like the rest of the line on 18th June 1856. The section of the line surrounding Aylesford Station passed through the Preston Hall Estate, which was the then home of Edward Betts, the railway contractor who built this part of the Medway Valley Line. As a result the station building on the northbound platform is much grander than the other country stations along the line. The station buildings are gabled and highly decorated, and in part reflect a simplified version of the style of Preston Hall. This building closed in September 1989 and an Indian restaurant was subsequently established in the building, which had been extensively renovated in a prizewinning scheme in 1988. This view taken from the Strood-bound platform looks towards the level crossing. The station building is just to the right (out of the picture) but the old crossing keeper's house to the left of the crossing is in the same attractive style.

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