Essex Midland Junction Railway

In 1845 proposals were laid before the Clerk of the Peace for the County of Essex for an Essex Midland Junction Railway, a 15 mile line running from Harlow to Brentwood.

The route would follow low-lying land from near Harlow, touching High Laver parish and on to Magdalen Laver near the Hall and Church, then following the line of the river to just below the bridge at Moreton.

The railway would hug the Bobbingworth side of the river to Cripsey Brook Bridge, just below Ongar on the Epping road. From there the route would have traversed the edge of Greensted parish to the bottom of Ongar High Street, near to The Two Brewers and the present lorry park.

Land, which included pasture at Greensted Hall, would be taken from Philip Budworth in the occupancy of J. Gibson.

The line would continue to Stondon Massey, passing Langford Bridge and acquiring meadow land from Staines Esq., occupied by John Coe, and pasture land at Great Myleses owned by Major Fane and occupied by William Dodd.

From there it would be a fairly straight run across country, clipping Wright’s Coppice on the edge of Blackmore parish, on to near Doddinghurst Rectory and Shenfield Church, to join the Eastern County Railway at Thrift near Brentwood.

The railway was never built, but the ambitious plans and maps are preserved in the Essex Record Office (ERO Q/Rum 2/35).