The Blue Plaque Town Trails were launched to commemorate the contributions of everyday railway workers who played extraordinary roles in the development of the railway system and their local communities in Lancing and Littlehampton, West Sussex. This initiative was conceived as part of a wider effort by the Southeast Communities Rail Partnership (SCRP) to mark 200 years since the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1825 — the birth of the modern railway.
The primary aims of the project were:
SCRP, with the support of local partners including the Keep Lancing Lovely station group and Littlehampton Museum, designed and implemented commemorative trails in Lancing and Littlehampton. Each trail begins at the respective town’s railway station and guides participants through a series of specially installed ‘blue plaques’.
Each plaque highlights a different railway worker and includes a story that illustrates their unique contributions and resilience during transformative moments in history, such as wartime, industrialisation, and societal change.
The project was made possible through grant funding from Southern Railway, which covered the cost of plaque production and trail materials. Free trail leaflets with maps and background information were distributed at both stations to encourage participation from the public.
What an amazing history project, can't wait to do the trails and will travel by train!