The Railwayman of Haddenham Station.

Old Railway line from Sutton towards Haddenham

The Ely to St Ives line opened in 1866 and stopped at a number of villages along the way. Haddenham station was one of the busiest stations on an otherwise fairly quiet passenger route. The station closed completely in 1964 (having already closed to passengers in the 1930s) and is now the site of Anson Packaging. Only the station house remains, but the site is still reported locally as being haunted. It is said by many locals that it is haunted by a railwayman, who may have died at the site. I haven't found any reports of a fatal accident during the time of the railways, but he may be someone who died of natural causes which would be more difficult to find evidence of. 

The stories range from the feeling of a presence in certain areas to full body apparitions being seen. I'm not sure if any investigations have taken place there, but it would seem an interesting sort of place to visit by an expert. As stated, the site is now in private hands and is used for commercial purposes. It is not open for public visits, although the site can easily be seen from the road. The route of the old railway line makes a pleasant walk between Wilburton station (now a private house) and Sutton station - the platform of which can just be made out under decades of overgrown brambles and ivy. Nothing more of Sutton station exists and is also largely under a commercial site. 

Last remnants of Sutton Station

Looking towards the former railway station at Wilburton. The line of the track identifies the old railway line.

Hangmans Cottage Dorchester

Hangmans Cottage, Dorchester

As the name suggests, this cottage was at one time home to the town's executioner. I is not far from several other interesting sites of interest, including the gaol, execution site and many haunted buildings. Dorchester has many things to interest the paranormal enthusiast.  

Piles....

Yes, I know; there is a joke somewhere about there being cream for that. It was a frequent comment when I worked in insurance before the days of a 'paperless office'. That never really did happen, but its safe to say that not since I was working through archives of files all those years ago did I have such a case of piles as I do now. Today, however, the piles are not miscellaneous data on form after form, but scribbled notes from conversations had and old photos inherited from my Grandfathers own research. I have a box full of images taken in the 1970s and 1980s which I am slowly sharing to my Flickr account, but which I also need to identify and find information about. Sadly some of the houses, windmills and dovecots photographed have since been lost, but many have been restored and are on my list of places to visit and re-photograph. I have many notes to write up, which all need additional research and my biggest problem now is knowing where to start. I work full time from home, which you would think would offer me some opportunity to get these things slipped into my day; it does not. If anything, now I am self employed I have less time off for writing than when I worked 9 - 5 with a 'proper job'. Still, I hope to work through a little bit at a time and eventually get these piles under control.....