Saffron, The White-Tailed Fox - from the Tales of Brackenlowe Halt. #childrenstories #childrensbooks #booksky

All are invited to be part of the project. Our aim is to bring calm, mindful children's stories and make them available online for schools and nurseries - for FREE. We are just at the beginning of this long, but worthwhile adventure! (DM's are welcomed)

Are you creative? This collaborative community arts project is open to all, wherever you are . It's a 12 month project to bring old-charm children's stories FREE to all schools and nurseries. It's a big ask but I'm sure that together we can do it! #mindfulness #BookSky #childrensbooks #booksky

The signalman of Brackenlowe Halt recounts a tale from his journals to the children waiting for their train. It's set in Victorian England on a little-used branch line. (6 mins) www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fqQ... #booksky #childrensbooks #folklore

Update: I have launched "The Brackenlowe Halt Project" - a community arts project for creatives that will eventually deliver FREE children's stories and activity packs to all schools, nurseries and educational organisations via a soon-to-be-built website. I'm so excited it's all coming together!

I’ve just moved house for this very reason. Where’s your commitment?

World Book Night is taking place on the 23rd April and all The Reading Agency are asking, is that people participate in a #readinghour from 7pm. For this, we may need to draw on the power of a short story. The floor is now open for ideas 🤔 #books #booksky #yearofreading

The Brackenlowe Halt Project is a community arts innitiative based in Hull, UK. Our mission is simple - to bring the old Victorian signalman's tales back to life for a new generation of wide-eyed children. thebrackenlowehaltproject.org #booksky #childrensbooks #childrensstories #writers #writing

The journals had always been about the children, now a new generation of children can once again join the signalman at his station bench and hear the tales of Saffron, Pip and friends. His lamp still glows for those that care to look . . . #booksky #writing #childrensbooks #childrensstories

The old signalman of Brackenlowe Halt looks back on his life and has a wonderous tale to tell. This is where the legend began . . . www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMJe... #books #childrensbooks #childrensstories #booksky #writing

The Brackenlowe Halt Project is officially launched today!

Calling all creatives - visit our website and get involved!

The project is now entering phase 2. We have applied for Arts Council England funding (pending) and are reaching out for collaborations with fellow creatives. @brackenlowehalt.bsky.social brackenlowehalt.co.uk #booksky #brackenlowehalt #illustrators #childrensbooks

The signalman tells his story. www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMJe... #BrackenloweHalt #MindspringStudios #WoodlandWorld #TalesFromBrackenlowe #TheSignalman #LostWorldFound #booksky #writers #illustrators #childrensbooks

The signalman is such a wonderful and rich character to work with. I think I was born to write this story and pass on his wonderful tales. #BrackenloweHalt #MindspringStudios #WoodlandWorld #TalesFromBrackenlowe #TheSignalman #LostWorldFound #booksky #writers #illustrators #childrensbooks

The signalman reads a story to "The shy one with a thousand questions" #brackenlowehalt #mindspringstudios #woodlandworld #talesfrombrackenlowe #thesignalman #calmstorytelling #lostworldfound #booksky #childrensstories #childrensbooks #illustrations #illustrators #writers

Looking for creative collaborators for the Brackenlowe Halt Project - visit - brackenlowehalt.co.uk #BedtimeStories #StorytellingForChildren #FolkloreInspired #ChildrensBooksUK #IndependentChildrensBooks #IllustratedStories #booksky #illustrators #writers

The signalman speaks about the animals of Brackenlowe Woods . . . #MindfulParenting #CalmBedtime #GentleParentingUK #SlowChildhood #EmotionallyIntelligentKids #BedtimeRoutine #RaisingKindKids www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaGd...

An invitation from the signalman . . . . #BedtimeStories #StorytellingForChildren #FolkloreInspired #ChildrensBooksUK #IndependentChildrensBooks #IllustratedStories

#BrackenloweHalt #MindspringStudios #WoodlandWorld #TalesFromBrackenlowe #TheSignalman #CalmStorytelling #LostWorldFound

An example of the signalman's sketches

The signalman of Brackenlowe Halt looks back on his life on the railways. www.youtube.com/watch?v=8orJ... #BrackenloweHalt #books #childrensbooks #childrensstories

Part of the Brackenlowe Halt Project. Ive had to savagely edit the interview to make small enough to post, so my apologies.

The Brackenlowe Halt Project

Some of the old railway stations have since been converted into pubs and tea houses

Found this - Known as the ‘Castleman’s Corkscrew’ due to the shape it cut across the forest and Charles Castleman who promoted it. The now disused railway line was first proposed in 1844 and ran from Southampton to Dorchester. The line was only closed in the 1960’s with over a hundred years of use

Through the magic of storytelling, we went back to speak to the Signalman. Here's some brief edits from that interview . . . #booksky #books #brackenlowehalt

IMAGE:1 Most of the old 'Castleman's Corkscrew' line has been dismantled and is now a popular walk.

1858 - 1861: Branch connections grow around the New Forest. Brockenhurst becomes a more important junction point as traffic patterns develop. Maybe Brackenlowe Halt (some references refer to it as Brackenlowe Road?) was part of this expansion?

This map might shed some light on the station's exact location.

We found a bundle of station notes tied with green twine inside an old map case. No author name—only: “For the one who keeps the lamp.” One page lists times, but the timetable doesn’t match any public record we can find. If you’ve heard stories about Brackenlowe Halt (or street), let me know below.

Archival Note, Folio A: Initial cataloguing of the Brackenlowe Halt correspondence is complete. The material suggests a sustained, gentle observation of the local fauna, recorded in a precise hand across several ledgers. The station's own history remains fragmentary.

It's coming together 😊 #booksky #brackenlowehalt #books