A little further south the line passes a site known as Folly Hall. When the line was built, the path from Melton Road and past Folly Hall was a public road, and had to be raised where it passed over the line at Bridge 43. I also understand that at the time of construction, there was a Public House, "The Pig & Whistle", at the junction of Folly Hall Lane and Melton Road (now the A606), used by the navvies.

Folly Hall Lane is still a public road today as far as the bridge, and used to be a popular place for locals to stand and watch the "midnight" expresses.

As you would expect from its name, opinions about "Folly Hall" vary. An 1825 map shows 2 buildings labelled "Folly Hall", but within living memory it has been a farm.

Another interesting feature is the presence, just south of bridge 43, of two brick walls, perhaps fifty yards long and on both sides of the line. The eastern wall was to stop flooding from "Big Pool", the western from nearby Fareham Brook.

Bridge 43 in May 1989

Looking north from 113m 20c towards Bridge 43 in Sep 1967

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Copyright Colin Aldworth 1989 - 2004