My A to Z of Stations: Aylesford

Station info
One of the few substantial buildings on the line (Cuxton, East Farleigh and Maidstone West being the others) the building is not longer in railway use. It was cold on my visit so a waiting room or decent shelter would have been nice. The station building is on the Strood bound platform but there is little else. There is a small bus shelter type cover that really doesn't proect passengers from the weather. At the Paddock Wood end of the platform stands the signal box that still retains its NEtwork Southeast nameplate albeit being rather faded.
The Paddock Wood bound platform just has the shelter and backs on to an industrial estate.
The station buuilding has been repurposed as an Indian takeaway. I have to admit the smell coming out of there was lovely. Luckily I had the previous nights leftovers at home awwaiting my return.
History
Aylesford station opened on 18th June 1856 by the South Eastern Railway which was then merged with London, Chatham & Dover Railway on 1 January 1899 to form the South Eastern & Chatham Railway. The station building was restored to its 1856 state and a plaque was unveiled by Chris Green in 1988. The ticket office was decommissioned in 1989. Services

Monday to Friday & Saturdays it is a half hourly service with Sundays having only an hourly service.

Information for all articles come from various souces including but not limited to: Kent Rail, Historic England, Wikipedia, various books.