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Margery Allingham

One of the “Queens of Crime”, this Tolleshunt D'Arcy novelist was famous for her fictional detective Albert Campion

Allingham started writing in childhood, and her first novel, Blackkerchief Dick, an occult story allegedly based on a tale she had heard during a séance, was published in 1923. Her breakthrough occurred in 1929, however, with the publication of her first detective story, The Crime at Black Dudley. Although a fairly minor character in her first book, the detective Albert Campion caught the public’s attention and he returned in her next book Mystery Mile. He proved such a successful character that he became the centrepiece of another 17 novels and more than 20 short stories, continuing into the 1960s.

In 1941, Allingham published a non-fiction work, The Oaken Heart, in which she describes her experiences in Tolleshunt D’Arcy (which she nicknames Auburn) as the locals and troops prepared for the possibility of a German invasion. Allingham was heavily involved in the war effort as village billeting officer and first aid organiser, and her house became the Air Raid Precautions Post and accommodation for troops.

Allingham died from cancer in 1966, aged 62, and her final Campion novel, Cargo of Eagles, was completed by her husband at her request. She is buried in St Nicholas’ new churchyard, on the opposite side of the road from the church and to the south.

Her literary legacy regards her as one of the “Queens of Crime” from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, alongside Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers and Ngaio Marsh.

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D'Arcy House

A blue plaque marks D'Arcy House as the home of famous novelist Margery Allingham who wrote the Albert Campion detective stories.
St Nicholas's, Tolleshunt D'Arcy

St Nicholas Church is Grade I listed. Its churchyard extension, a little way up the road, has three Commonwealth War Graves.
Tolleshunt D'Arcy Maypole

In the middle of the road junction in Tolleshunt D'Arcy stands the village maypole, one of the few remaining original maypoles to be found. The bottom has been protected by a wooden cage.

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Tommy Garden War Memorial

Address

Corner of Chapel Road and High Street, Burnham-on-Crouch, CM0 8AA

Burnham-on-Crouch

Burnham’s Memorial Garden, known locally as the Tommy Garden, is a little haven of peace and quiet dedicated to the memories of soldiers who died in the First World War. On the corner of Chapel Road, within sight of the main war memorial, the garden…
Tillingham Congregational Church

Address

South Street, Tillingham, Essex, CM0 7TH

Telephone
01621 779160

philip_grove@msn.com

Tillingham

This church belongs to the Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches. It is the only remaining Congregational Church in the Dengie Hundred and as such draws a congregation from a wider area .
St Nicholas's, Tolleshunt D'Arcy

Address

Church Street, Tolleshunt D'Arcy, Essex, CM9 8TS

Tolleshunt D'Arcy

St Nicholas Church is Grade I listed. Its churchyard extension, a little way up the road, has three Commonwealth War Graves.
Little Totham War Memorial

Address

Totham Plains, The Street, Little Totham, CM9 8JQ

Little Totham

Little Totham's moving modern war memorial was only built in 2019 and commemorates Private Ernest Albert Belcher who died in 1917 and Private Charles Chaplin who died in 1920. The memorial, next to the village sign, comprises three steel Tommy…
St Mary & St Margarets Church & Commonwealth War Graves

Address

Church Lane, Stow Maries, Essex, CM3 6SL

Stow Maries

The parish church of St Mary and St Margaret is Grade II* Listed. The church chancel was built in the 14th century and the nave in the 15th century. The churchyard has five Commonwealth War Graves.
Religious Society of Friends

Address

Friends Meeting House (Quaker Church), Butt Lane, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5HD

Telephone
01621 854056

Maldon

Maldon’s Quaker Meeting House was built in 1821. It comprises two separate rooms; originally one for women and one for men, but now everyone worships together. The Georgian benches and tiered elders’ benches remain.
All Saints' Church, Tolleshunt Knights

Address

Rectory Road, Tolleshunt Knights, CM9 8HF

Tolleshunt Knights

This 12th century Grade II* Listed church is now owned by the nearby Orthodox Monastery of St John the Baptist. The churchyard has two Commonwealth War Graves.
Woodham Mortimer Hall - Blue Plaque Site

Address

Woodham Mortimer Hall, Maldon Road, Woodham Mortimer, CM9 6SN

Woodham Mortimer

Woodham Mortimer Hall is a private home, with no public access. The 15th century hall with its distinctive brick chimneys, heavily redeveloped in the early 17th century, was the home of obstetrician Dr Peter Chamberlen whose family invented the…
Burnham Clock Tower

Address

High Street, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, CM0 8AA

Burnham-on-Crouch
All Saints' Church, Ulting

Address

Church Rd, Ulting, Essex, CM9 6QU

Telephone
01245 380958

info@hatfieldpeverelultingchurches.org.uk

Ulting

All Saints Church stands in a picturesque setting on the River Chelmer. It is Grade II* Listed and was built in 1150, with a barrel vaulted chancel roof. There is a Commonwealth War Grave in the churchyard.
Purleigh War Memorial

Address

All Saints Church, Church Hill, Purleigh, CM3 6QJ

Purleigh

The war memorial at Purleigh stands in the graveyard extension opposite the Grade I Listed All Saints Church and takes the form of a 10ft granite obelisk on a three-stepped base, built by Wray & Fuller of Chelmsford. It commemorates the lives of 25…
Bakersfield

Address

The Drive, Mayland, Essex, CM3 6GT

Telephone
01621 743551

maylandpc@btinternet.com

Mayland

A large, open site adjacent to Lawling Playing Field which also contains the Memorial Wall. Large car park, enclosed children's play site, developing woodland areas and surfaced paths.
Maldon Baptist

Address

Butt Lane, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5HD

Telephone
07768 086248

Maldon

We are a friendly bunch of people who take seriously our responsibility to seek first the Kingdom of God.
St Nicholas, Tolleshunt Major, & Commonwealth War Grave

Address

Church Road, Tolleshunt Major, Essex, CM9 8EH

Tolleshunt Major

Grade I Listed St Nicholas church dates from the 12th century and has expansive views from the churchyard, which also contains a Commonwealth War Grave.
St Peter's Church, Goldhanger

Address

Church Street, Goldhanger, Essex, CM9 8AS

Goldhanger

St. Peter’s Church is central to the spirit of the village and the close community here. We hold services on the second Sunday of the month at 10:00am and a family service every other week.
RAF Bradwell Bay

Address

Trusses Road, Bradwell-on-Sea, CM0 7QS

Bradwell-on-Sea

RAF Bradwell Bay is a former Royal Air Force station located on the Dengie Peninsular, approximately 9.5 miles east of Maldon. It is the site of a war memorial to the 121 members of the Allied Air Forces who "in answer to the call of duty left this…
St Mary's Church, Maldon inc Commonwealth War Graves

Address

Church Street, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5HP

Telephone
01621 857191

Maldon

St. Mary's Church is known locally as the Fisherman's Church as its tower guides sailors and their craft into the Hythe Quay. The existing building dates from 1130, but archaeological evidence suggests that it used to be the site of a Saxon church.
Tollesbury Congregational Church

Address

East St, Tollesbury, Maldon, CM9 8QD

Telephone
01621 869230

philip.grove@tollesburychurch.co.uk

Tollesbury

Tollesbury Congregational Church has served the village since 1803.
Beeleigh Steam Mill

Address

Abbey Turning, Maldon, Essex, CM9 6LL

Telephone
0345 603 7624

Maldon

By appointment. Beeleigh mill was a large flour mill on the river Chelmer near Maldon, Essex. It had two water wheels driving 10 stones (later 12), to which was added a separate building which housed a steam-powered beam engine driving five…
Rickett's Lock

Address

Ulting Lane, Maldon, Essex, CM9 6QB

Maldon

Rickett's Lock and Gates is a Grade II listed site serving watercraft travelling along the River Chelmer, between Chelmsford and Maldon.
The site was first listed by Historic England in November 1985, and was constructed in around 1797 by engineer…

Margery Allingham

One of the “Queens of Crime”, this Tolleshunt D'Arcy novelist was famous for her fictional detective Albert Campion

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