In different ways, the Brighton Line has been part of members of my family's lives ever since it was constructed through the Sussex Weald between 1839 and 1841. For in 1839, my fourth great uncle, Jeremiah Bartley, opened a pub called ‘The Oak’ in the village of Hurstpierpoint to cater for the thirsty navvies building the earthworks and tunnels between Haywards Heath and Brighton. Apparently no fewer than 70 men, almost the total able-bodied male population of Hurstpierpoint, were attracted away from the farms and shops of the village to take part in this exciting new development, just a mile or so away.
It is hard to imagine that, equipped with only horses, carts and shovels, these men and many more from other villages and further afield, were able to create the railway that has carried millions of passengers at speeds far higher than was then thought possible. The towns of Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill and Hassocks did not exist at that time, with the bulk of the population living in small villages. Brighton was the only exception, having been made famous by the Prince Regent half a century earlier.
The coming of the railways created new employment opportunities, attracting many men away from their home villages to seek secure employment, although not much more pay! One such was my great-grandfather Henry Packham, who started as a platelayer, graduating to be signalman, first at Preston Park, and later at Clayton Tunnel South box near the village of
