essexpubyarns
Stane Street Halt about 1950
Wash and Pencil Drawing by John Meyer from an old photograph.
To read more about the Bishops Stortford. Dunmow and Braintree Branch Line, please click here: Branch Line
"THE GHOST AT THE HALT"
As told to John Meyer by Colin Thurley.
"Once upon a time", old William said, as he settled in his chair, by the fire, of the Green Man at Takeley Street. "Once upon a time, when the railway ran past here, between Stortford and Braintree, up at the halt, there ust' to be a ghost".
"Its gone then", said young Bill, winking at his mates over his glass, "Caught its train I suppose an' left". "You're right yur' young stancher", replied William, "That's just wot' it done, when the last train stopped at the halt, the ghost got on the train an' left".
The tale runs, a young lady from Broad Oak, fell for a young fireman who worked the Stortford - Braintree branch, this young man was a nasty ol' bit of work and after he had taken his pleasure with this lady, he made a great play of parading his many conquests before her. The driver with whom he worked often chided the lad on his evil behaviour, and once they came to blows, which ended with the lad getting the sack.
Now as I said, this lad who's name was Cuppy Gilbey, was a nasty ol' piece of humanity, and whilst it was his own bad behaviour which caused him to loose his work, he blamed the innocent girl and made her life a real misery.
To cut a long story short, he was so wicked to her, the poor young thing ended her life, after killing the poor baby boy, which the lad had fathered. After this tragic event, drivers often stopped their trains at Stane Street Halt, to pick up the young lady who stood on the platform, only to find she never got off. This went on for several years, up to the closing of the line. As soon as the trains stopped running, the lady was never seen again.
"What did she look like", asked Bill, as all eyes turned to him. "Well now", said William, "I can tell of knowing, she had long dark brown hair, and her had deep green eyes". "You know'd her well then", laughed Bill, "Dew fancy her, or something".
"She wuz' my sister", sadly replied William.
The Green Man - Takeley Street
One of the most visited areas of the old Anvil Home Page, was the Essex Pub Yarns section, a PDF file of the best 'yarns' is now available from Johns Book Shop
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