One of the original stations and in 1927 known as Holiday Camp (for Jesson and St. Mary's in the Marsh). In those days, the local village was Jesson and the station was built to serve the holiday and boys camps popular in the area.

Later the location changed its name to St. Mary's Bay (sounds more like a holiday resort, doesn't it?) and the station changed also. However, since the 1970's many of the camps have disappeared to be replaced by housing estates.

The station is not too far from the beach which is fine for bathing. On the way to the beach you will pass a pub, local shop, take-away and Post Office. Martello towers can be seen near here. These were part of the coastal defences built to repel Napoleon and his troops should they have chosen to invade.

Walking in the other direction takes you out into the Romney Marsh, past the local recreation ground with swings and room to play football. After about a mile and a half you will come to the village of St Mary in the Marsh, which has an Inn and a fine church. Edith Nesbitt, authoress of 'The Railway Children', who lived for many years in one of the buildings near our station, is buried here.

All trains stop here and the station has a booking office and platforms.

November 2000 saw another name change for this station, from Jefferstone Lane — as it had been known through the 80's and 90's — back to St Mary's Bay. To celebrate this, the station site is having some love and attention lavished on it: repainting, repairs and so on.

Facilities at St Mary's Bay

• Seating
• Ticket office (peak times)
• Platform
• All trains stop here

Places to visit...

• Local shops, pub, take-away, Post Office (walking distance)
• St Mary in the Marsh Village (long-walking, cycling or driving distance)
• Recreation Ground (walking distance)
• St Mary in the Marsh Church(long-walking, cycling or driving distance)
• Beach (walking distance)
• Brenzett Aeronautical Museum (driving distance)

...see our links page for more local places of interest.

How to get to St Mary's Bay Station

• St Mary's Bay station is off the main A259 coast road (from Folkestone, Hythe, Hastings, etc.), between Dymchurch and New Romney.
• From the M20, leave at junction 10 and follow A2070 towards Brenzett and then the A259 to New Romney. Continue on A259 to St Mary's Bay and follow brown RH&DR signpost.
• Bus: Stagecoach buses serve St Mary's Bay from Ashford, Folkestone, Dover, Hastings, Rye, Hythe (Contact Stagecoach on 08702 433711)