The abandoned Essex railway station that is spelt two different ways

A lost Essex railway station closed more than 60 years ago – but confusion still reigns over the spelling of its name. Thorington was between Colchester ^[1] and Walton.

However the station – on what is now known as the Sunshine Coast Line and part of the Great Eastern Line/East Anglia Main Line – has also been referred to with an extra R in its name. It was opened in 1866 and maps from the Victorian era show it as “Thorrington Station”.

Many argue this makes it the correct spelling – however British Rail timetables up to the station’s closure in 1957 are said to have shown it as “Thorington”. Signs on the platforms reportedly also gave it this name, although there is no photographic evidence of this.

The railway revolution came to the Tendring coast on July 28, 1866, with the first train from Colchester to Kirby Cross Station. According to the Tendring Transport Users Group ^[4], the Tendring Hundred Railway (THR) Company was formed in 1859 to extend the line from Colchester (Hythe), initially to Wivenhoe, opening in May 1863.

Construction progressed to Weeley by January 1866, reaching Walton in May 1867. The line was later bought by the Great Eastern Railway, which doubled the single track line between Great Bentley and Thorpe-le-Soken in 1891. The line then became part of the London and North Eastern Railway in 1923.

Thorrington’s station was closed because of its proximity to Great Bentley station, half a mile away. This station was formerly known as Bentley Green and is now run by Greater Anglia.

There have been calls over the years for Thorrington/Thorington station to reopen, with trains between Colchester and Clacton/Walton still passing through. Campaigners have pointed out that the station was the only one on the Colchester to Clacton line to close.

In December 2002 it was reported that Tendring councillors had met with Network Rail to explore whether the station could be reopened. However, it was said to be too expensive, with estimates at the time putting the work needed in the region of £3-4million.

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References

^{^} Colchester (www.essexlive.news)
^{^} Plans to rebuild demolished Essex train station to make it ‘a local landmark’ (www.essexlive.news)
^{^} Problem-ridden A13 project on Thurrock road finished 3 years late at double the cost (www.essexlive.news)
^{^} Tendring Transport Users Group (www.ontracktendringtransportusers.org.uk)
^{^} here (www.essexlive.news)