LEVEL CROSSING GATEKEEPER, THE GROVE, RYE
Sarah Durrant was born in Cranbrook in 1865. She married Alfred, a railway platelayer, in 1886 and had six children. They lived for a time on Cyprus Place, Rye, then in her 40s and 50s Sarah was the gatekeeper at The Grove level crossing at the east end of Rye station from at least 1911 to 1921. This job came with a house by the crossing. Her role, considered a light occupation sometimes offered to disabled railwaymen, was to open and close the gates to trains and road traffic and pedestrians in a safe and timely manner.
Many railworkers’ wives were employed as gatekeepers along the Marshlink line. In 1921, to name just a few, there were: Florence Ransom at Bourman Crossing; Laura Fumiger at Ilbery Crossing; Agnes Beeching at Midley; Annie Gill at Church Lane Crossing, New Romney; and Alice Apps at Guldeford Crossing.
After a long career as a platelayer, Sarah’s husband retired and they moved to 15 Udimore Road, Rye, to live with their married daughter Ethel, her husband Percy, and their two children. Sarah died in 1950, aged 84.
NOTES/LINKS
https://www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk/ada-davies-gatekeeper/
https://www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk/female-gatekeepers-killed-by-trains-1846-1906
Research and design by:
Danny Coope / Street of Blue Plaques
https://streetofblueplaques.co.uk/
