Route of Bishop's Stortford to Braintree Railway (EHER 19629)

The former Bishop's Stortford, Dunmow and Braintree Branch Railway opened in February 1869. Passenger services ceased in 1952 and the line had closed completely by 1972. Since the early 1990s the part of the former line from Start Hill to Braintree has formed a Country Park known as the Flitch Way.

The railway line between Braintree and Bishop's Stortford should be classified as an industrial archaeological site. Although the track has been removed the remains of the stations, some of the bridges and the route are all present. The extension to the Witham to Braintree line, Between Braintree and Bishop Stortford was originally suggested in 1860. Permission to build the line was received, and building began in 1864. The first train left Braintree at 7am on 22 February 1869 arriving at Great Dunmow 35 minutes later. The railway proved a great stimulus to industry, attracting both heavy engineering and small workshop activity. The line gained a measure of importance in the early 1890s with the frequent conveyance of the Prince of Wales to Easton Lodge for his meetings with Lady Brook (later Countess of Warwick). This station had been specially built and financed by Lady Brook near to her home. In 1922 two further stations were constructed at Bannister Green and Takeley Street. The railway continued to be used until its closure in 1969 although this was largely for freight with the last passenger train running on 3rd March 1952. Represents the remains of a disused railway line. The track has been dismantled, but the stations and several bridges are still intact. The industrial history, development and dismantlement of the branch line provides opportunities for displays, especially within the proposed visitor centre(s). <1> 2002. Archaeological Assessment. The railway branch line which ran for almost 18 miles between Bishop's Stortford and Braintree was opened by the Great Eastern Railway in 1869 in response to the need to move agricultural produce eastwards out of Essex. Although never a great commercial success, the line survived for just over 100 years. From the early 1990s the part of the former line from Start Hill to Braintree has formed a country park known as the Flitch Way, owned and managed by Essex County Council. The survey identified significant remaining elements relating to the railway. The most obvious of these is the linear nature of the route itself and the bridges. There are also numerous brick culverts channelling streams beneath the embankment. Excluding the working station at Braintree, all the main station buildings, with the exception of Great Dunmow, survive. Evidence of the impact of the railway on the pre-industrial landscape also survives in the form of crossing points, typically signified by gaps in the hedge line with concrete posts for hanging the gates. In some cases the wooden ground surfaces at level crossings also remain. Other remnants along the line include concrete signal cable conduit, and gradient posts, which are likely to date to a later phase of the railway. The report makes a number of specific recommendations, with the overarching message that significant remains survive and that all efforts should be made to repair these, with demolition, and/or replacement, only to be considered as a last resort. <2>. Information from NRHE data import: The 18 mile long Bishop's Stortford, Dunmow and Braintree line was authorised in 1861, absorbed into the Great Eastern Railway in 1865 and opened in February 1869. Passenger services ceased in 1952 and the line closed completely by 1972. <3>