Station Road

If you come to Herne Bay by train, you will alight at Station Road. Assuming you make straight for the seafront, here are some of the things you will see on your way. If you make your way directly, it's about ten minutes from station to seafront. Going through this page should take slightly less time, although it is long.

Herne Bay railway station, our starting point. Externally, not much will have changed here, other than things like the telephone boxes and the number of cars. Actually, the car park was relatively empty when I took this picture.

Should feel you need to quaff before you start, the Heron is the first pub you'll pass, as it is next door to the station.

Next to the Heron is what used to be St. Marys college, where French students would come to learn English. Or escape from their parents. Or maybe both. The college is now a luxury penthouse apartment building. Yes, I suppose it does bear a passing resemblance to the Bates House.

A friend in the building trade advised me that what I always thought were gas lamps are actually gas vents. There is a larger version at the top of Grand Drive but these were probably put up to provide venting for any residual methane that can build up in an urban area. Gas lamps, indeed.....

Oh, look; another one. This one is a little further up the road, on the other side. I don't know if Station Road had a particular gas problem. Perhaps someone can enlighten me.

This is Station Chine, on the corner of Station Road and Spencer Road. The Chine leads to the Memorial Park and eventually the centre of town. The house next to the entrance is typical of the eclectic roof design found all around town.

We're now at the junction with Western Avenue/Kings Road. This is the recently opened Café Latino coffee house. If I recall correctly, it was formerly a wool shop. Short term memory is always the first to go.....

.....and look; another "gas lamp". All right; I admit it. My mistake. I'm sorry - a gas vent, opposite Café Latino, on the corner of Station Road and Kings Road.

Also on the corner is Oakland Court, one of the growing number of residential homes in town.

Next up: Brunswick Square, one of the oldest streets in the town. There's a modern block of flats in the centre but many of the original houses remain round the outside.

If you didn't fancy a drink at the Heron, you may choose to pop into the Four Fathoms instead. We are now at the junction with Avenue Road, which leads into the High Street.....

.....which is here. Not particularly interesting or significant; it's merely a link.

All right, it isn't pretty. Every town has some less than redeeming feature. This is St Annes House, by the main health centre. There are only three tower blocks in Herne Bay, none of which are particularly tall. We're almost done.

This pub, standing in the shadow of St Anne's House, was for a brief time the Hope & Anchor. Last time I passed it, the name had changed again, to The Pier. However, the eagle-eyed among you will notice that it's up for sale again.

There we are - the coast, at last. Welcome to the North Sea. If it's warm, you can sit on one of the benches in the little green here. You could also try the offerings at the Sea Wise Shellfish and Oyster Bar across the road.