Conservation Area (CA)
No
Local Listing Reference
LLHA0268
Description
The current site of Falmer Station is situated on the down (eastbound) platform side. It was opened in 1865 and in 1890 the station was rebuilt with brown Flemish bond brickwork with red brick dressings, integrating the station-master's house within the building. Windows have round-arched heads.; roof of slate with dentilled eaves and tall brick chimney stacks. The attached canopy with fretwork vallance on iron columns likely also dates from 1890, as does the lattice-work iron footbridge east of the station building, which is included in the local listing. The original canopy on the up (westbound) side has long been lost.
A. Architectural, design and artistic interest
i. The building represents a local vernacular design approach with echoes of Arts & Crafts style that was likely intended to reflect its semi-rural location close to the historic Falmer village.
ii. It is different in style to the urban railway stations of Brighton & Hove, with their Italianate design, but the canopy is recognisable as typical of Victorian station architecture. The lattice-work iron footbridge is also a distinctive feature.
B. Historic and evidential interest
ii. The building and associated structures illustrate the growth in importance of the railway as the primary means of transport in the second half of the 19th century. The Brighton to Lewes line had opened in 1846.
C. Townscape interest
ii. The building is located outside of a conservation area but makes an attractive, positive contribution to the townscape, which is regularly frequented by students/visitors to the two universities and the adjacent football stadium.
F. Intactness
i. The main station building on the eastbound side appears largely as it was built in 1890, including the canopy and the associated cast iron footbridge.
ii. The station and footbridge remain in their original use, though the north-east end of the Station is now in separate commercial use (but included in the local listing).
Date of inclusion
2023
