The Lavender Line runs for a 2 mile round trip through the beautiful Sussex countryside between the village of Isfield and the parish of Little Horsted. Come and enjoy the sights and sounds of a steam railway whilst travelling through the picturesque Wealden countryside.
Why call it the Lavender Line?
There has been much speculation over the years as to the real reason why the railway was named the Lavender Line. For example the railway seems to produce a large amount of lavender growing in the wooded areas around the line. However, the real reason why it’s called the Lavender Line is because of the activities of a local business man A.E Lavender who had his coal merchant office located by the cattle dock at Isfield station.
Although his business was based in the nearby village of Ringmer the closest railway station was Isfield and he therefore had his office situated at Isfield station which enabled coal delivers to be taken straight from the railway coal yard to nearby businesses. The unique coal office still remains at Isfield station to this day and now houses our model railway, along with a number of pieces of railway memorabilia of which would have been used at the station during the days of steam.
Cinders Buffet
Cinders buffet provides the perfect opportunity to soak up the atmosphere of a steam railway, with its unique railway memorabilia and beautifully restored original fireplace our buffet really shows you how cosy and warm a railway waiting room would have been.
The railway’s buffet provides a large selection of hot and cold food, from a full English breakfast to a humble ploughman’s. We are even able to provide accommodation for larger events such as anniversaries, birthdays and even weddings.
The Gift Shop
Our gift shop situated on platform 2 is home to a small collection of railway gifts, ranging from children’s colouring books to railway DVD’s.
The shop itself is a replica of the railway’s original waiting room of which was removed in the early 1970’s and relocated at the nearby Bluebell Railway as their model railway centre. In the early 80’s the then owner of the line Mr Millham erected a new replica building to house the railways gift shop.
The railway’s buffet provides a large selection of hot and cold food, from a full English breakfast to a humble ploughman’s. We are even able to provide accommodation for larger events such as anniversaries, birthdays and even weddings.
Signal Box
This grade 2 listed building was one of the first buildings restored on the site when it was privately purchased back in the early 1980’s. To this day it still provides the insight into what it would have been like when the railway was in its heyday, from watching the first goods trains making their way to London to tracing the footsteps of secret trains making there way to Newhaven during the preparation of D-day during the Second World War.
Beautifully restored inside and out this building provides the perfect background to a typical country station, The starter signal can still be moved just outside the box by pulling one of the red levers!
Children’s Playground
At the Lavender Line you will find a small but adventurous playground in the gardens of the station master’s house for children of all ages. With swings, climbing frames and slides there is enough here to keep any small child entertained whilst waiting for the train to arrive.
We also provide a small number of picnic tables as well as chairs to accommodate families at lunchtimes if they wish..
