Station Name: TOLLESHUNT D'ARCY[Source: Darren Kitson]
Tolleshunt D'Arcy Station: Gallery 2: c1930s - July 2024
 We are informed by Joan Hart that the man standing on the left was Henry Hart who, from 1925, was a member of the station staff. Henry was the Grandfather of Joan's husband Mike and the lady on the right was Mike's Grandmother. Mike was born in the station house in 1947. The photograph is difficult to date; the original running-in board is still present as are the original double doors to the carriage body's former luggage compartment. The body is also starting to rot.
Photo from Joan Hart 
This view also from LNER days shows the brick lamp room rather more clearly and it would appear, when compared to other views, the Gentlemen's urinal had been altered to make room for it, the brick structure apparently being a little wider than its predecessor. As these lamp rooms stored paraffin one would assume the change from wood to brick was made as a fire precaution. On the right it appears a barrow is being taken over by vegetation.
Photo from John Mann collection 
In due course, the LNER fitted a relatively small, enamel nameplate to the running-in board. The size was probably to allow the full name to be applied on a single plate. Obviously the carriage body had become dilapidated as the original double doors to the luggage compartment had been replaced by 'barn doors' and the bodyside below the waste repaired with shiplap timber. Given the body was used as a store one may wonder why it was provided with a stove and the probable answer was to combat damp. On the left the hedge has been neatly trimmed while on the right nature is seemingly being allowed to do its own thing.
Photo from John Mann collection  This shot was taken fairly late in the life of the line beyond Tudwick Road, perhaps in 1950 in which year quite a few photographs were taken along the line. There are a few changes to note. For some reason the barrow crossing has been relocated nearer to the camera, an oil lamp has appeared on the front of the building and no bench seats are positioned in front of the building. One of the benches has been placed beside the brick hut but the other is nowhere to be seen. The area behind and beside the brick hut is being used to store what looks like coal while the lamp on the right is acting as a bufferstop for the loaded trolley, a phenomenon more often seen at the other end of the platform. The Gresley van is at the end of the platform and looking at the shadows it appears to be on its own; perhaps the rest of the train was busy shunting wagons.
Copyright photo from John Alsop collection  This photograph is believed to have been taken at Tolleshunt D'Arcy but is otherwise a mystery. The locomotive shows signs of being a Class J15. The number on the cabside appears to be of five digits which suggests British Railways days, yet the first digit looks like a '3' but this is probably an illusion. If it is a J15 at D'Arcy in British Railways days the locomotive may have been engaged in track lifting duties so circa late 1951 into 1952 period.
Photo from Joan Hart  This delightfully derelict scene is thought to date from 1952, immediately before the track was lifted. In exposed rural areas in particular it was surprising how quickly nature took over after train movements ceased. The level crossing can be seen in the background with, to its left, the gate at the entrance to the goods yard. The station building appears to have survived quite well.Photo
by Will Jenkins
After some difficulty this scene has been identified as Tolleshunt D'Arcy. The stanchions to left of the building would have originally supported the running-in board before the grounded carriage body was provided and the board moved to thereupon. However, what is not known is when exactly the grounded body was provided although it is thought to have been very soon after the station opened. Unless a photograph turns up showing D'Arcy on its opening day the question will remain unanswered.
Photo from John Mann collection  The site of Tolleshunt D'Arcy station on 30 December 1980, some twenty-nine years after closure of this section of the railway. Located some distance from the centre of the village, the railway was quite meandering in this area and the camera was actually facing due north. The area with road vehicle tracks was the running line with the goods yard, such as it was, and siding to the left. It appears some sleeper indentations still existed where the siding once was, lower left of centre. The passenger station was largely out of view to the right and at lower right is what could be the overgrown platform ramp. Left of centre Station Road, the B1026, crosses the former railway and this level crossing was gated. The crossing was to the right of the gap, the goods yard entrance being to the left. The road on the other side of Station Road is on the trackbed; it extends for about half a mile to serve a scattering of industrial buildings. Today there is another roadway, much shorter, opposite the cottage while the station site is now in industrial use. The cottage was provided for staff by the Great Eastern Railway, seemingly because of the remoteness of the station and when photographed in 1980 it appears to have been derelict. Now named 'The Old Station House' it has been renovated and extended. Passenger access to and from the station was via a fenced footpath which ran alongside what is now the hedgerow on the right. The path was a crude, probably cinder, affair of which there is no obvious
trace in this photograph. Photo by Mark Dufton 
Looking south towards the site of Tolleshunt D'Arcy station from the Station Road level crossing
in July 2024. Photo by Nick Catford  Looking north along Station Way towards the site of Tolleshunt D'Arcy station in July 2024.
Photo by Nick Catford 
Tolleshunt D'Arcy ' Old Station House' (originally two cottages). This is often referred to as the stationmaster's house. This is not true as Tolleshunt D'Arcy didn't have a stationmaster.
Photo
by Aiden Kelly
 Wisdom Art Prints is a Tiptree based studio, illustrating and producing the highest quality greeting cards and art prints. Artist Robert Wisdom has been illustrating professionally for over 45 years. Robert has a particular interest in his local railway, the Kelvedon & Tollesbury Light Railway, and has illustrated all the stations
Print by Robert Wisdom
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