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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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St James Church, Dengie

Address

Keelings Road, Dengie, Essex, CM0 7UH

Telephone
01621 779620

Dengie

St James, Dengie is a small parish church serving the rural villages of Asheldham and Dengie. The Grade II listed church building dates back to the 14th century, but the Nave walls may be even earlier from Saxon times, and remains of Roman bricks…
Maldon Methodist Church

Address

135A High Street, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5BS

Telephone
01621 853423

mwbarrya@mweb.co.za

Maldon

Maldon Methodist Church has a varied programme of worship and activities. The main Sunday service is at 10:30 which features both traditional and modern hymns, with occasional livelier services aimed at young families. There are regular coffee…
The Moot Hall

Address

High Street, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5PF

Telephone
01621 851553

manager@themoothall.co.uk

Maldon

This 15th Century former manorial home houses a unique brick spiral staircase, a Georgian court room, a former prison and a Victorian Council Chamber.
Hythe Quay

Address

Maldon, Essex, CM9 5HN

tourism@maldon.gov.uk

Maldon

For well over a thousand years, Hythe Quay has been the home to Maldon's maritime community and the gateway to Maldon for vessels arriving from the sea. Linking the award-winning Promenade Park with the pubs, restaurants and shops of Maldon High…
The Museum in the Park

Address

47 Mill Road, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5HX

Telephone
07973 559981

enquiries@maldonmuseum.org.uk

Maldon

The trademark Penny Farthing bicycle entices visitors to explore the treasures of this compact museum. Housed over two floors of the former Park Keepers Lodge, the exhibits are wide ranging. The replica waistcoat of the Fat Man of Maldon, which…
St Thomas Church including War Memorial & Commonwealth War Graves

Address

East End Road/High Street, Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex, CM0 7PY

Telephone
01621 779620

Bradwell-on-Sea

Grade II Listed church dating from the 14th century, with the parish War Memorial inside and Commonwealth War Graves and a Roll of Honour memorial in its grounds. The church has a medieval timber porch, parish cage and peal of bells.
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…
Burnham War Memorial

Address

High Street, Burnham, CM0 8AG

Burnham

Burnham’s war memorial remembers 98 local soldiers who died in the First World War, and 27 soldiers and 10 civilians who died in the Second World War. The pale stone obelisk, which looks out over the estuary, was designed by the renowned architect R…
Mangapps Railway Museum

Address

Southminster Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, CM0 8QG

Telephone
01621 784898

jjmangapps@gmail.com

Burnham-on-Crouch

Extensive working railway museum including locomotives, carriages, wagons, historic buildings, memorabilia and a major collection of signalling equipment. Much of the collection is under cover. Train rides are available every open day.
St Mary's Chapel

Address

Braxted Road, Little Braxted, CM8 3LD

Little Braxted

The great church artist Ernest Geldart was Rector of Little Braxted from 1883 to 1900, and he built this little chapel beside his Rectory in 1885 during a time when he was incapacitated after breaking a leg.
Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation Sea Lock

Address

Lock Hill, Heybridge Basin, CM9 4RX

Heybridge Basin

Heybridge Basin's famous sea lock links the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation to the Blackwater Estuary and would once have enabled smaller boats to enter and exit the canal and travel around the coastline. Today it is can still be used by suitable…
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…
Burnham United Reformed Church URC

Address

Station Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, CM0 8HF

Telephone
01621 783393

Burnham-on-Crouch

Burnham-on-Crouch United Reformed Church (URC) has a modern building in Station Road and meets for worship on Sunday mornings at 10.30am as well as hosting a wide range of groups and events throughout the week, including youth clubs, children's…
D'Arcy House, home of Margery Allingham

Address

1 South Street, Tolleshunt D'Arcy, CM9 8TR

Tolleshunt D'Arcy

A blue plaque marks D'Arcy House as the home of famous novelist Margery Allingham who wrote the Albert Campion detective stories.
Bradwell-on-sea Shell Bank Nature Reserve and Mulberry Harbour remains

Address

East End Road, Bradwell-on-Sea, CM0 7PN

Bradwell-on-Sea

The Cockle Spit is a massive and ever-moving bank made from cockle and oyster shells. It's managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust and is visited by a huge number of wading birds. From here you can see concrete barges from the Second World War, used in…
St Andrew's Church, Althorne

Address

Fambridge Road, Althorne, Essex, CM3 6BY

lucientaylor@yahoo.co.uk

Althorne

St Andrew's is a Grade II listed building with a tower dating back to around 1500, although it is in need of restoration and funds are being raised. It has a modern church hall available for hire.
World War One Avenue of Remembrance

Address

Promenade Park, Park Drive, Maldon, CM9 5JQ

Maldon

The World War One Avenue of Remembrance at Promenade Park begins by the coach park and loops around the field to the main vehicle entrance from Park Drive. The Avenue originally consisted of 180 numbered trees and was dedicated on 27 November 1935…
St George's Church

Address

Basin Road, Heybridge Basin, CM9 4RJ

Telephone
07950 636 660

Heybridge Basin

The little church building behind the bus shelter in Heybridge Basin began life during World War 1, as an Armstrong Hut, used as the Sergeants’ Mess hut on Goldhanger Airfield. This airfield was first used as a night landing ground by the Royal…
Othona Community

Address

East Hall Farm, East End Road, Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex, CM0 7PN

Telephone
01621 776564

bradwell@othona.org

Bradwell-on-Sea

Othona is an open and inclusive Community rooted in the Christian tradition and drawing on a wealth of other inspirations.
Southminster War Memorial

Address

St Leonard's Church, Station Rd, Southminster, Essex, CM10 7EW

Telephone
01621 772300

vicar@stleonardsouthminster.org.uk

Southminster

Southminster War Memorial is a 2.4m obelisk in the grounds of St Leonard's Church, bearing the names of 75 casualties of war.

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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