Hall Farm Rail Bridge

With the recent closure of the Hall Farm rail bridge, now is an opportune time to post an article about the bridge's replacement 43 years ago in 1982.  It could be argued that this is a Stetchworth rather than Dullingham Memory as it's just over the parish boundary but since some Stetchworth villagers use Dullingham Station I'm fairly confident that this post won't result in an internecine between the two parishes. 

The original bridge, looking downhill towards Stetchworth in 1980

Two more photos from the same time looking at the western 'portal'

In 1982 it was determined that the bridge needed replacing.  This had an impact on the area as Hall Farm road had to be closed for three months or so.   In an article for the Cambridge Evening News Rodney Tibbs - who appears to have lived locally - described that to get from one side to the other without the bridge was a 5 miles trip as modern day Googlemaps confirms.

 The following photos from the Dullingham Archives shows the replacement work for the new bridge, 43 years ago.  They are probably more of interest to railway/civil engineering buffs but nonetheless worth including here.  Whilst the original arch was replaced it's fair to say that Rodney's aspiration that the new bridge remained sympathetic to the surrounding country side was met and there no sign of any girders or steels. 

The Dullingham side of bridge just before demolition in 1982

"Mind the Gap"

Road platform in place.  It was around this time that the line between Cambridge & Newmarket was reduced to a single track with the exception of the Dullingham loop.

The parapet in place.  This must have taken some time as the fields in the previous photograph were green.

Too Fast at Dullingham Crossroads

In recent years speeding through the village has incensed many villagers and this has led to the formation of our own Speedwatch. A group of which aspires to make the village safer for everyone.

Looking through the archives of the Newmarket Journal shows that speeding is a not a recent problem.  The following transcript was taken from an article called "Too Fast at Dullingham Crossroads" in the Journal published on 2nd August, 1941.

Robert Edward Roberts, farmer, Great Wratting Hall, Haverhill, summoned for driving a motor car without due care and attention on the Newmarket-Brinkley Road, Dullingham on July 12th [1941].   Mr C. Morgan (Messrs Bendall) appeared for the defendant, who pleaded not guilty.

PC Frederick Charter (Stetchworth) gave evidence that at 10:25 pm he saw a Ford 10 hp motor car coming from the direction of Newmarket on the Newmarket-Brinkley Road at a speed which he estimated at 30 to 35 mph passed over the crossroads in Dullingham village without slackening speed.  Witness signalled to the driver to stop.  Defendant who took 20 paces to pull up, admitted that he had seen the danger sign at the crossroads and said he had driven over the crossroads hundreds of times.  He said his speed was 20 mph.  Defendant began to shout and was insolent.  There were a number of pedestrians about at the time.  The King's Head corner, which the defendant passed, was absolutely a blind corner.  The crossroads were in the centre of the Dullingham village.

Cross-examined:  The road from Newmarket to Haverhill could be regarded as the main road no one was in any danger.

Joseph Baldwin, a special constable at Dullingham, who was standing on the corner of the green with PC charter, corroborated the constable's evidence and said he estimated the speed of the car at about 35 mph.  The crossroads at Dullingham were very dangerous, and defendant came over them too fast.

Cross-examined:  If I had been alone I would have stopped the defendant.

By the Chairman:  Defendant was going so fast that he could not have pulled up if anything had been coming from Stetchworth.

Albert Edward Bailey, licensee of the King's Head, Dullingham, and a Lieutenant in the Home Guard, also corroborated, and said he was standing with PC Charter and Mr Baldwin.  He estimated the speed of the car at 35 or 36 mph.

Cross-examined:  There have been quite a number of accidents at the crossroads lately.

Defendant, giving evidence on oath, said his speed at crossroads was about 15 mph, and he sounded his hooter.  He saw no other traffic.  He was on the crossing before the constable put his hand up and applied his brakes at once.  He pulled up in 17 paces.  The Chairman said the Bench were unanimously of the opinion that defendant was going too fast at the crossroads.  He would be fined £2, with £1, costs and his license would be and endorsed.

King's Head Corner c1910 - 30 years before the reported incident

On an aside it's interesting to note the length of the article compared with our modern times where speeding in villages is considered the norm.  Also court reports of this period, and before, almost read like a script.  

Regardless, the crux of the article is still about a driver who, once behind the wheel of their chariot, has a blatant disregard for the safety of others.  A problem we still suffer 84 years later.