Station Name: MILDENHALL
[Source:
Darren Kitson] Mildenhall Station Gallery 4: July 1969 - May 1975
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Spot the dock. This is the scene in July 1969 looking east towards Mildenhall station building and into the dock. The cattle pens were to the left. The fencing on the right is at the rear of the passenger platform. The odd-looking stanchions on the platform ramp were a feature of the station for many decades and - at the time of writing - still are. In the right background stands the later pair of staff cottages. The vertical post towards the far end of the fencing was a gas lamp standard.
Photo by John Mann 26.jpg)
Mildenhall goods shed looking west in July 1969. The track had been lifted during the second half of 1964. Nearest the camera is the rail entrance to the shed. It is assumed that these gates were of railway origin but this particular detail is unconfirmed. The photographer is standing on what would have been the west end of the station run-round loop and site of the points leading to the turntable.
Photo by John Mann 31.jpg) Mildenhall station forecourt looking east in July 1969. At this time, part of the building was in use by Chic Products (Lampshades) Ltd. As the station was sold by BR at auction in 1971, presumably Chic Products had a short term rental agreement with BR. The wooden fence probably acts as a demarcation line. In the left background can be seen 1 and 2 Station Yard, the first pair of staff cottages. This view is deceptive thanks to the chimneystack; we appear to be looking at the rear of the cottages but in fact the rear was on the left and the front faced the railway track to the right. It is not known for certain what the flat-roofed single-storey structure at the corner of the station house was, but as the doorway appears to be the back door of the house it was probably just an entrance.
Photo by John Mann 21.jpg)
Mildenhall station building presumably soon after it was auctioned by BR in 1971. It appears that part of the single-storey section is in use but the rest is derelict. The Portakabin, to use a trade name for convenience, may be in use by the owner or a building contractor. Few intricate details of the station at the time are known but photographs tell us some chimneystacks and the lock-up and gents' toilet had been removed.
Photo from John Mann collection
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In another post-auction view the angle reveals some of the initial alterations. Two chimneystacks have gone and the roof made good while a third stack has been shortened. The gents' toilet has gone, leaving a cistern exposed, and the lock-up has also gone. The apparent haste with which these features were removed suggests structural problems, but there was no such haste at other branch stations with the obvious exception of Burwell, which was demolished in its entirety for other reasons. One of the former staff cottages is visible on the right.
Photo from John Mann collection 23.jpg)
In this view, taken at the same time, the iron fencing alongside the dock can be seen on the left and the second pair of staff cottages is visible in the right background. Nature is well and truly taking over but thankfully this situation was not to last. The signal box stood on the right, and the goods shed is behind and to the left of the camera.
Photo from John Mann collection 20.jpg) Mildenhall station building from the forecourt side circa post-auction. This is looking west towards the goods yard and Worlington. The view shows the general features common to many Mildenhall branch stations and, being on the down side Mildenhall, was to all intents and purposes identical to Burwell and Isleham. These were the only stations on the branch which did have their main buildings on the down side. Unlike at Isleham, where Mildenhall station had its windows and doorways altered it was done in a uniform, and thus more aesthetically pleasing, way.
Photo from John Mann collection 15.jpg)
Progress had been made by May 1975 and things now look much tidier at Mildenhall station although the new building on the site of the lock-up and toilet does not sit too harmoniously. It does not, however, fall into the ‘monstrous carbuncle’ category. It was temporary, in any case. The fencing on the left may not appear to be of railway origin but it is. At first there were the six posts of the type supposedly made from contractor’s rail, seen nearer the station building, with the lighter fencing added at a later date. It extended down the platform ramp. In front of the station building it would appear that a start has been made on creating a lawn in the area. All four former staff cottages can be seen, the original pair being just visible beyond the station building.
Photo by David Burrows from his Flickr photostream 16.jpg)
A rustic May 1975 view looking north towards Mildenhall station. This is the platform side of the station, of course. We can see how alterations to doorways have been more tastefully executed than at Isleham. The turntable was located left centre of the image.
Photo by David Burrows from his Flickr photostream 6.jpg) We are deliberately going out of sequence for a moment as this view from June 2006 offers a frightfully good comparison with the May 1975 view from roughly the same spot. A conservatory has been added on the platform area in front of the station building and steps lead from the platform to the grassed area. The single-storey building on the right is, obviously, a modern addition. The original gable over the doorway to the house has now been converted into a porch; a sensible alteration which does not detract from the original character of the building. The temporary building once on the site of the lock-up and toilets has now gone. The circle on the grass, which the ball just sits inside, does not mark the site of the turntable - this was located further to the left. Where Cravens once rasped, tranquillity now prevails. Photo by Nick Catford Click here for Mildenhall Station Gallery 5:
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The fabric of Mildenhall station in July 1969. The lock-up, which was to the left, had already gone by this time but the reason for its hasty removal is not known. The apparently new flashing on the roof dates from BR days. Compare this view with other post closure views; of particular note is the later removal of most of the chimneystacks seen above, only for some to later reappear. The small brackets on the wall once supported the bottom of the canopy support spandrels and were later to vanish entirely. On the left is the gents' toilet, still intact at this time. No.2 Station Yard, one of the staff cottages, is visible on the right.30.jpg)
A July 1969 view of the platform side of Mildenhall station. By this time even the white platform edging had completely eroded away. The fencing between platform and dock is just visible on the left while, right background, is the second pair of staff cottages. The unidentified item of ironmongery on the right is not the same as that seen in the 1969 view of the turntable pit. The turntable was some way off the image to the right.
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