Station Name: MILDENHALL
[Source: Darren Kitson] 24.jpg) Mildenhall station building presumably after it was auctioned by BR in 1971. This view affords a closer look at the alterations to the roof and also gives a vague idea of the gents' toilet layout. The doorway to the latter was in the centre of the now-demolished end wall. On the right was, obviously, a flushing toilet but it is not known if there was another at the left hand end or a urinal. Marks can be seen on the wall, left, which at first glance suggest that a cistern was once present but the marks present the wrong outline for the type of cistern seen on the right. Whatever was on the left, the darker wall of the central section suggests a lobby area. In an earlier image mention was made of a 'mysterious' chimney. This was the now-demolished chimney indicated by the made-good roof. The mystery surrounds whether the chimney was connected to a fireplace or stove in the toilet or in the adjacent part of the station building. Pictures showing the chimney in situ suggest the toilet but the above view shows no evidence of a fireplace or stove having been this side of the wall. Outside toilets, which is what those at branch stations effectively were, would freeze during winter so provision of a fireplace or stove is quite possible. Further, it is not known if plumbing was installed in branch stations from the outset but as no well is shown on plans it probably was. Even so, in Victorian times flushing toilets were something of a luxury, particularly in rural areas. Perhaps branch stations originally had a 'Thunderbox'; a wooden bench with hole beneath which was a bucket. These contraptions had an embarrassing tendency to greatly amplify the sound when bowel movements were accompanied by wind, hence the name. The amplification was much more effective than with a ceramic pan.
Photo from John Mann collection
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