A look at Lintot Square
In our last issue, we left you at the corner of Andrews Lane, contemplating “The Tipsy Fox”. Now we are at an area which has seen possibly the greatest number of re-incarnations in the village – Lintot Square and the Downs Link Path.
If you look at the Tithe Map of 1844, you will find no signs of any railway, only fields and farms. Scutts Field and Scutts Mead are where Lintot Square now stands. The Cock Inn is on the corner of Worthing Road and what became known as Church Lane a few years later when Holy Innocents was built. Opposite, Andrews Lane led past Andrews Farm to join Cripplegate Lane at the point where Station Road now forms the junction.
Skip forward to 1861 and the coming of the railway. Work was carried out at speed, the first girder of the bridge being put in position on 23rd April, the first steam engine arrived by the middle of June and the first up train came through on 12th July. Maybe Crossrail should take some notes!
The railway was of major importance to the local brick making industry and the two operations enjoyed mutual success. The line finally fell victim to Dr Beeching’s axe and the last train ran through the village on 3rd June 1964. The redundant station building was taken over by Southwater Horticultural Society and used as a shop for members to buy horticultural supplies. Sadly, the building deteriorated over time and eventually it became unsafe and the shop ceased trading. The Village Surgery is approximately on it’s site now.
The village was by now expanding as a result of the postwar building explosion and 1970 saw the construction of a shopping precinct and light industrial estate. However, within no more than 20 years it was obvious that with the continuing expansion of housing in the village, it was no longer adequate and the major reconstruction that is Lintot Square came into being, even re-routing the Worthing Road from running over the railway bridge under which the Downs Link Path runs alongside the old platform.
s this the final apotheosis? Only time will tell.
If you want to find out more about this and many other aspects of Southwater over the centuries, Southwater Local History Group have a few copies left of their excellent book, “Southwater A to Z – A Miscellany” at a very affordable £13.50!
Contact Jeremy Senneck 01403 731247 for this and for any other SLHG information while group meeting are suspended during the Covid19 restrictions.