Site of early 20th century railway station, 'Kelvedon Low Level' Railway Station, Kelvedon (EHER 83022)

Now destroyed. Kelvedon Low Level station was situated on the south-east side of the main Great Eastern railway line and was the terminus of the Crab and Winkle light railway (EHER 45184). Opened in 1904, it was only ever a passenger station, therefore it did not need goods facilities and the site was quite compact. The title 'Low Level' was probably adopted at the outset to avoid confusion with the main line station, EHER 40531. Access to the station was via the main line station entrance, using a partially covered walkway which connected with the 1000ft long platform. The platform had a small enclosed shelter and Gentlemen's toilet. The station closed in 1951 and was subsequently 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 this record, the Kelvedon 'Low Level' Station which served passengers disembarking the main GER line at the main line station (EHER 40531) and transferring to the Crab and Winkle light railway (EHER 45184). Kelvedon Low Level station was situated on the south-east side of the main line and on the north side of the River Blackwater. It was the terminus of the Crab and Winkle line (EHER 45184) and was connected to the main line on a 1:50 incline. Goods traffic to and from the light railway ran directly to and from the main line to Kelvedon goods yard, of which there were two: the main yard being on the Down side and the smaller, which served the cattle pens, being on the Up side. Both were at the London end. Parcels had to be transferred between the two stations via the connecting walkway. Kelvedon Low Level was only ever a passenger station, therefore it did not need goods facilities and the site was quite compact. The title 'Low Level' was probably adopted at the outset to avoid confusion with the main line station, EHER 40531, though the main line station was never given a suffix, such as 'High Level', to its name. Signage informing passengers 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. Passengers for the 'Low Line' station did, howeer, have to use the main line station entrance as there was no other public access. The platform was about 100ft long with a small enclosed waiting shelter. At the Tollesbury end was a Gentlemen's toilet. Access to the platform was via a partially covered footpath from the main line station. It became open at the Low Level end where it sloped to to meet the platform. Passengers transferring from the main line would need to cross the river via bridge. The station closed in 1951 and was subsequently destroyed. <2> The original early 20th century building has been destroyed. <3> <4> <5> NRHE data transfer: See <6>. NRH summary description: Site of railway station on the Kelvedon, Tiptree and Tollesbury Light Railway, opened in 1904 and closed in 1951.