A very charming rural station set in the heart of Kent, which is more that meets the eye.
A railway station has been in the area since 1842, but this current station opened in 1844. As with most small stations in this area it has a staggered platform design. The building here is not the original, but a rebuild done in 1885 and is a superb example of a south east railway structure. In fact it is the oldest station building in the country still in regular use, albeit only on weekday mornings.
Pluckley had various sidings in its time, serving a coal yard and goods yard, the latter supplying horse manure. But the main purpose of the station yard was to supply the Pluckley tile and brickworks to the west of the station.
Many walks can be had from this station, and the areas rich history can be seen on an information board just outside the station building.
Entry and Exit figures for 2019 / 2020 were 122 696
Although very unassuming at first, Pluckley railway station has a charm which lends itself to further exploration. The area around the station is steeped with history and the overall feel is that the station is loved by the community. I hope this continues, as it would be a shame to lose the old station building and the history which surrounds it.
A video I took in 2021 takes you on a tour of this station.
Rainham Rail Enthusiast 