Farm forced to move for all-new link

Last week, Remember When featured images relating to the changes that came about to the locality following the approval of plans and subsequent construction of the high-speed rail link which was built across the south east in the latter part of the 1990s.

Many towns and villages were affected by what were deemed as controversial plans at the time and fought to get the route changed on numerous occasions during the planning period, however planners and developers got their way.

In normal circumstances, the UK can’t get enough of the high-speed link now built, and scores use the facility to the continent and beyond, but the pandemic and its viral variants are dousing services that utilise the link in a dramatic way.

Farmland, houses and businesses all felt the brunt of the development which saw the aforementioned disappear in the name of progress.

The link created divisions as it carved its way through the heart of some places – much like the M20 carves through the village of Westenhanger between Ashford and Folkestone.

Seemingly, developers are poised for yet another challenge with HS2 already under construction, so scenes reminiscent of the HS1 scheme such as protests and picketing will be all too familiar.

More and more as the years pass, a trend has developed insomuch residents are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in and they will go to all sorts of extents to either halt or delay proceedings.

This week, Remember

When illustrates the medieval Yonsea Farm which was mentioned in last week’s piece.

The historic farm was taken down brick by brick and some of the buildings have so far been painstakingly re-erected at the Rare Breeds Centre at Woodchurch.

Many thanks to David Allard for providing this week’s trio of pictures.

■ Do you have any photographs or slides of old Ashford you would be willing to loan me to enable them to be scanned for a possible feature in the Kentish Express?

Please don’t delay, feel free to get in touch.

Write to me: Steve Salter, Kentish Express Remember When, Unit 4, Park Mall Shopping Centre, Ashford, Kent, TN24 8RY.

Email me: rememberwhen_ kmash@hotmail.co.uk

Or you can also leave a telephone message for me with brief details by calling the Kentish Express office in Park Mall Shopping Centre on 01233 623232.

1996 - The new re-aligned and elevated section of the A20 beside Yonsea Farm (right) to accommodate the rail link

1 1995 - The original location for the medieval Yonsea Farm (left) along the A20 near the Hare and Hounds public house. It was painstakingly dismantled as it was blighted by the HS1 project. It has partially now been rebuilt brick by brick at the Rare Breeds Centre in Woodchurch

1995 - Another view of Yonsea Farm beside the A20 before its removal for the rail link

The Victoria pub in Beaver Road, Ashford, was demolished as part of the town’s redevelopment