Battle has one of best stationsin whole of UK

It even comes out ahead of St Pancras in a top ten of Britain’s Greatest Railway Stations named by conservation group English Heritage.

It means the Gothic designed station at Battle ranks alongside Brunel’s masterpiece Paddington, which tops the list.

Commenting on Battle Station, English Heritage said: “William Tress’ Gothic-style station balanced the new technology of the Victorian era with the rich architectural tradition of England’s past. He chose a Gothic style to evoke the former splendours of the famous Battle Abbey.

Battle comes in at number seven ahead of Tudor style Wolferton in Norfolk which was built to serve the Royal Family’s Sandringham estate.

Great Malvern, “one of the most characterful stations of the 1860s”, is ninth.

Britain’s most celebrated terminus, St Pancras, makes the list for engineering as well as aesthetics: “The largest man-made span in the world for over 20 years,” says English Heritage.

Some rail experts expressed surprise at the organisation’s choice.

Mark Smith, founder of the Seat61.com website, said: “The stations listed are wonderful - but there are so many more. Battle but not Rye’s lovely Italianate station? Paddington but not King’s Cross? Newcastle but not York?”

Mr Smith added that a place should have been found for Bristol Temple Meads, “including Brunel’s first trainshed”.

Other railway buffs were dismayed that Darlington was not included in the list.

The survey was welcomed by Nigel Harris, managing editor of Rail magazine: “Stations made statements on behalf of the companies that built them - and the grandeur of the architecture speaks of an era of massive corporate pride and chutzpah. We invented the railways, they changed and created the world we live in and it’s right that we should care for and continue to use and enjoy them.”