THE Beeching period was featured heavily in the Railway Observer, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s when most of the line closures occurred. The route from Guildford to Horsham was no exception.
Originally built by the London Brighton and South Coast Railway, it opened on October 2, 1865, linking Guildford and Horsham, a distance of about 20 miles. Stations along the route consisted of Bramley and Wonersh, Cranleigh, Baynards, Rudgwick, Slinford, Christ’s Hospital and Horsham.
Although the first railways to Horsham and Guildford were built in response to local demands, the further developments of these towns and villages in the nineteenth century was governed by railway business.