Site of mid 19th century railway station, Kelvedon main line or 'High Level' Railway Station, Kelvedon (EHER 40531)

Now destroyed. An intermediate station built as part of the Shoreditch to Great Yarmouth Line in 1840-1843, and a branch station for the Crab and Winkle line (EHER 45184). It worked in tandem with Kelvedon Low Level Station (EHER 83022) but was never actually given the prefix 'High Level'. The station closed in 1961. There remains a modern train station at this location, but the original 19th century building has been destroyed.

The Eastern Counties Railway (ECR) were charged with the construction of a main laine from Shoreditch in London to Great yarmouth via Colchester, Ipswich and Norwich. The first trains rans from Shoreditch (Bishopsgate) in 1840 and by 1843 the line reached Colchester. Here the line terminated due to the lack of funds however it was subsquently taken on to Ipswich by the Eastern Union Railway. The main station was transferred from Bishopsgate to Liverpool Street by the GER (Great Eastern Railway) in 1874. Built as part of this line Kelvedon also provided access to the Crab and Winkle branch line (EHER 45184) which ran between Kelvedon and Tollesbury and included Feering, Inworth, Tiptree, Tolleshunt Knights and Tolleshunt D'arcy. The branch line was established following the Light Railways Act of 1896 which to relieve agricultural depression were keen to relax rules regarding construction, particularly if farming would benefit or a link was made between a harbour and a market i.e. to support a definitive industry. The branch line was authorised by the Light Railway Order of 1901 and the line opened on the 1st October 1904. Among the many promoters backing the scheme was Arthur C. Wilkins owner of the Britannia Fruit Preserving Co. at Tiptree, who would benefit greatly from improved overland freight. The Branch line however, survived for less than 50 years for passenger travel closing in 1951 and finally in 1962. <1> Note: The branch station referred to by source <1> is probably EHER 83022, the Kelvedon 'Low Level' Station which served passengers disembarking the main GER line and transferring to the Crab and Winkle line (EHER 45184). Kelvedon main line closed to goods traffic on 7 December 1964. The main line station was never given a suffix, such as 'High Level', to its name but signage informing passesngers they could change for the Light Railway was abundant. It is not thought that the reverse applied, i.e. signage at 'Low Level' informing passengers they could change for main line trains. Pasengers for the 'Low Line' station did, howeer, have to use the main line station entrance as there was no other public access. <2> There remains a train station at this location, but the original 19th century building has been destroyed. <3> <4> <5> NRHE data transfer: See <6>. NRH summary description: Railway station on the Great Eastern Railway opened in 1843.