Signal Box At Havant Station

SU 7206 HAVANT FAIRFIELD ROAD

100/10/10015 Signal Box at Havant Station

II

Railway signal box. Built c1890 for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway and extended in c1938 for the Southern Railway. Large Type 5 Saxby and Farmer signal box. Brick frame floor with timber framed upper floor and hipped Welsh slate roof. Five bays, of which the two furthest from the crossing (ie. the west end) were added in c1938. The trackside elevation has blocked arched openings to the locking room, the stone cills are still evident. Balcony at first floor level running in front of three light windows, each light is cross framed, which appear to be plastic replacements, but reproducing the previous timber design except that they are now pivoted; they probably slid horizontally before. Deep eaves brackets top each bay post, the fascia above the windows is divided to match each pane width. The hipped roof has lost its ventilators. Two bay end walls. Rear elevation has corner windows for viewing the crossing and the Hayling Island branch. The external stack has been removed. Ground floor extension probably dates from c1938. Interior : not available for inspection but is said to contain a Westinghouse 70 lever frame dating probably from c1938 when the box was extended. History : This box controls the very important and busy junction between the Portsmouth Direct line of 1859 of the London and South Western railway, and the Brighton to Portsmouth line of the LBSCR of 1847. It also controlled the large joint goods yard at Havant station and the Hayling Island branch opened in 1867. The pattern of box used, a large type 5 Saxby and Farmer was current between 1876 and 1898, but it is said that this one was erected between 1888 and 1897. The dualling of the line from London, completed in 1878, will have led to more traffic on the LSWR line. The box was extended in c1938 when the Southern Railway rebuilt Havant station and it was refitted with a 70 lever frame by the Westinghouse Brake and Signal Company of Chippenham. This company had taken over the Saxby and Farmer works in 1903. References : Peter Kay, The Signal Box, OPC, 1986, p.86. Reasons for listing : This is a very good example of a Type 5 Saxby and Farmer signal box which has additional interest from its extension and refitting by the Southern Railway in c1938. It controls an important junction between what were the lines of two important railway companies and which are now once again carrying the trains of competing companies.

Listing NGR: SU7201705467