Brighton Station is celebrating its birthday today, 175 years after it was first built.
It opened on May 11, 1840 for trains to Shoreham, with trains to London running the following year.
Its striking arched iron rooves were added later in the 1880s to replace the original slate roof, and an ornate port clochere now obscures much of the original frontage.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME, HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRIGHTON STATION, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME 175 YEARS OLD TODAY @SouthernRailUK
— Brighton Station (@brightonstation) May 11, 2015
A spokesman for Southern Rail said: “Brighton station has a rich and interesting history. We are just custodians of the station for all but a brief period, but in the 12 years we have been running the station, we have seen many changes, including a complete refurbishment of the concourse, a brand new state of the art cycle hub, rising passenger numbers and increased train services.
“In the 175 years since the station was first built, the station has seen almost all of the reign of Queen Victoria, been through two world wars and seen the birth of Brighton and Hove as a city.
“We are proud to be associated with such an iconic station and will continue to look after it so that future generations will be able to do the same in the years ahead.
“Brighton station has been, and continues to be an impressive, welcoming gateway to the city of Brighton and Hove.”
