Where Eagles Dare

At the original west entrance to Dullingham House/Park, off Eagle Lane, there used to be four eagles, each sitting on its own pillar. Alas, at start of the Second World War, the eagle on left gate pillar was toppled from its perch and so, for the last 80+ years, the gates have been guarded by only three birds.

The culprit for the bird's demise was a "Matilda" army tank which had tried to enter the Dullingham Park, rather unsuccessfully early in WWII.  Joseph Moore, who lived in the village at that time as a schoolboy, wrote in his memoirs 

I remember going to look at the shattered Eagle laying on the ground, this caused quite a stir in the village at the time, it was almost more tragic than what was going on in the war. I don't remember the wrought iron gates being there at the time, were they taken away for the war effort? After this the Tank Regiment kept their tanks on the side of the road in Eagle lane, mainly at the village end, opposite the houses. The types of tanks were "Valentine's" and "Matilda's. As boys, we spent quite a lot of time with the soldiers and their tanks.

The culprit - a Mk2 Matilda Tank

A Dullingham Eagle in 2022

A snowy winter's day in 2003

Late afternoon in December 2005

Can't really see the eagles, but a pretty photo anyway!

A rather tired eagle

The three remaining eagles guarding their newly restored wall in 2022

Eagle Lane Corner

 

At the west end of the village proudly stands Flint Cottage, on the corner of Eagle Lane and Station Road.  In modern times this junction is a staggered crossroad, but at the time this photograph was taken ca.1930, the entry to Balsham Road was directly opposite Eagle Lane.  

With the exception of the Balsham Road, it all looked much the same in 2003 and still does in the present day (2022).  The fir tree, Flint Cottage and the guard rail next to the brook remain in place, although the cottages to the right of Flint Cottage (in the older picture) no longer exist.

This 20 second clip goes back in time from 2002 to ca.1931.  The modern house was built in 1983 and now houses probably the finest archive of Dullingham photos and newspaper cuttings in the world.

Looking east along Station Road (away from the railway station) ca.1931

By 2012 Flint Cottage has had a few alterations, but is pretty much the same.  

And in winter months (2009).