THE HERITAGE CENTRE
The vision is to create a place in the Community where it is possible to promote Hayling Island’s rich and diverse history through displays of artefacts, presentations, displays and exhibitions, whether this is military around the two world wars, architecture, transport (the Hayling Billy line and the ferries) farming and local industries, conservation, marine and coastal protection and many more.
It is also hoped to be able to give local community groups and societies, the opportunity to display, promote and share work they are doing locally on the island.
Hayling Island has many community groups that bring together people with shared interests. These include organisations such as Hayling’s Best, the COPPS committee and U3A Hayling Camera Club, as well as many others. While a great deal of information is available online, our aim is to bring people together to share stories, skills and ideas in person.
The railway welcomes around 38,000 visitors each year, many of whom ask about Hayling Island’s diverse history, identity and heritage. A heritage and visitor centre on this site would complement nearby businesses and facilities at Eastoke Corner and across the island, while giving visitors easy access to information, artefacts and displays without needing to travel off the island.
History
In the early 1980’s a group of enthusiasts tried to restore this railway line and build a 2-foot gauge railway along the old route alongside the Billy trail. However, because of the expense, especially restoring the bridge, no progress was made.
Eventually this group, led by pioneering enthusiast Bob Haddock, was able to build a heritage Railway at the Mill Rythe Holiday Village which opened in 1988. Therefore Hayling Light Railway first started operating trains in August 1988.
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The railway ran successfully at the Holiday Park for several years. However, Havant Borough Council invited Bob Haddock to build a railway along the seafront, and after several hard years of negotiation, the railway was transferred completely in 2003 to the seafront and operated between Beachlands and Eastoke Corner.
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Initially, the railway’s maintenance depot facility was located at Beachlands adjacent to the Funland Fair. However, due to insecure tenancy arrangements, the absence of proper service facilities such as water, sewerage, and an insecure power supply, planning permission was granted in 2014 to build the current Depot at Eastoke Corner which opened in 2017. This gave the railway long term security and financial stability. ​
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Before the depot was constructed, Havant Borough Council asked the Railway to submit a business plan setting out its future plans, and long-term goals. The business plan was accepted and approved by the Council. As part of the future vision, the plan included establishing a heritage centre, not only for railway history but to include all of Hayling Island itself, to incorporate its rich and diverse history.
Up until 2022 the railway was privately owned, so no funds for a Heritage Centre were available: this also proved to be too challenging for the owner. However, the railway was bought by the railway’s volunteers, who formed a Charity Trust, so the long-held vision could become a reality as a community project. Sources of funding through heritage lottery grants and from elsewhere are being sought once planning approval is granted.
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Approximately 38,000 visitors now frequent the railway, and most will have the opportunity to visit the new Heritage Centre, where they can engage with the island's extensive cultural heritage and history in a single location. This is important as they no longer will have to travel off the Island to find information.
