Site of 19th century railway station, Ashdon Halt (EHER 40467)

Site of railway station on the Saffron Walden Railway, opened in 1866 and closed in 1964.

Ashdon Halt was the only (public) scheduled stop between Saffron Walden station and the Bartlow junction. Reached from Fallowden Lane, originally the Halt merely comprised a length of raised platform built along the south-eastern side of the rail cutting. Later in 1915, a disused GER coach was provided to act as waiting room (Daly, 1998). Both the platform and the former waiting room/carriage remain in situ. Measuring c.50m in length, typically the platform is ramped at both ends and was built using a railway sleeper revetment holding back an earth and clinker bank. The sleepers were laid on-edge four courses high (c.1.2m) and were held by sleeper posts at c.1m intervals. Set onto the platform bank and toward its northern (village) end is the derelict GER carriage. The undercarriage was removed prior to its relocation onto the platform bank. It is mainly constructed of timber, with close boarded timber-framed walls supporting a shallow arched timber boarded roof (latterly felted). Latterly it was refitted with continuous bench seating, built along three walls and replacing the original front-facing seat layout. No glazing remains. Current Use: The site lies redundant and although some protection to the carriage has been made through its re-roofing with felt, it generally survives in a poor condition. The loss of cladding from the carriage body has exposed its structural timber frame, which is showing signs of wet rot. <1>