Mount Bures Level Crossing.

A Mr. H. W. Harmer was in post at Mount Bures from c.1951. He had a wife and four children.

He had some form of 'disability' making him eligible for a 'Light Work Post', which the crossing was at that time.

The normal position of the gates at that time was 'closed to road' (as stated in BR Rule 99), and the gates required attending to each time a road vehicle arrived. Because road traffic over the crossing had become in excess of rail in the mid-fifties, application was made by BR to the Ministry of Transport and Essex County Council Highways Department for an 'exemption from Rule 99' in late 1955, meaning the normal position of the gates would be be 'closed to rail', the crossing keeper being required to attend to the gates for the passage of each train.

This exemption was granted during 1956 and the crossing was no longer considered a 'Light Work Post'. Mr. Harmer was asked to consider transfer to another 'light work post'.
He was reluctant to do this as he had become settled at Mount Bures and the house was due to be modernised. He eventually selected a vacancy at Panswell LC, Wisbech St. Mary (his preference was the Spalding area). He gave up tenancy at Mount Bures on 11th January 1957.

Courtesy of David Underwood 17/1/23

Crossing Keeper circa 1960

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Kathleen Willingham

Reprint of text above:-
Kathleen`s 91 hour week
BUT BRITISH RAILWAYS SAY SHE'S GOT ONLY A PART-TIME JOB

The level-crossing gate has to be worked 48 times a day. Slightly built - Mrs Kathleen Willingham is shown pulling a signal lever. It`s a tough job, equal to pulling a hundredweight and Mrs Willingham does this it at least 144 times a day.
Then she swings the large level crossing gates - she does that 48 times a day.
From six in the morning until 10.30 at night
"I can`t manage of six and a half hours sleep a night "she said
So the 36 year old mother of four, is fighting British Rail to get her 91 hours reduced.
The hard working little woman who is only 5ft 2" and weighs just 8st 7lbs.

Kathleen, said "We women level crossing keepers are the Cinderellas of the railways, but we are forgotten"

SHOPPING
There are at least 24 trains a day except on a Sunday.
Even on her weekly day off, her rest day "Kathleen has be to be on duty from 6am until 10.15 am. when her relief man arrives.
Another man takes over in the afternoon because men are allowed to work only an eight- hour shift
'No such rules apply to women" said Mrs Willingham

Each week she is allowed four hours off for her weekly shopping.
Her pay is just £4 10.10d after deductions for income tax, insurance and the rent for her railway cottage.
Why does she do it ?
"We needed a house, my husband and I were desperate. We took this job 18 months ago as a last resort."

An Eastern Region spokesman said, "The Keeper knew what the conditions were when she took the job".
Mrs Willingham, he said, "was able to do things about the house between trains and so she was considered to be only working part time"

Courtesy of Helena Wojtczak, author of "Railwaywomen" and David Underwood for the press cutting

Photograph taken 6th July 1960

Genealogy Kathleen May Willingham Born 7 May 1924 probably in Chelmsford 1939 Chelmsford Census records Father:- Christopher Willingham aged 51 Mother:- Ethel Willingham aged 51 Children Olive Willingham Age27 Kathleen Willingham Age25 (ARP Telephonist) Kenneth N Willingham Age1 Other unknown Married 1958 to Leonard F Clist, who would have been 64 Leonard was a School Teacher and Head ARP Warden in Chelmsford 1893 -1977 Probably moved to Mount Bures Crossing Cottage in 1958. (unconfirmed) Lived at White Colne Died 2005, Registered at Braintree NB- There was a large Willingham family living in Bures after the end of WW2. I have found no family connection between Kathleen and this local family. ============================================
Not sure of the dates of the subsequent ladies Call of Duty for Mrs Jean Carr is the sound of the Gong. in her British Rail cottage at Mount Bures. It means that a train is due in five minutes at the Level Crossing, where she is the Keeper. Mrs Carr, wife of a railway signals technician has been in the job for 2.5 years, and she loves it, Courtesy of David Underwood, ============================================	Shirley Tricker Followed by:- Mrs Condra cira 1965 Mrs Stannard late 1970`s There were numerous relief Signalmen including Mr Baty and Peter Sandeman, until automation arrived
Crossing Gates 1974	Crossing Gates 1974
Crossing September 1977 David Underwood

Crossing 1991

Neil Widdock and Tony Fisher relief Signalmen, possibly 1990`s
Ian Tudball was the operations supervisor based at Witham during the early ‘90s

Dilapidated Crossing Cottage 2010

Cottage 2014

Cottage 2020	Cottage 2020
Cottage 2020	Cottage Cottage Nameplate
2020 Crossing photographs courtesy of David Paris, Facebook	Crossing Cottage 2021
Several potential buyers have approached Network Rail to purchase the property. Others had tried to get it designated as a Listed Building As far as I am aware, the cottage will never be released for residential occupation, due to its proximity to a live rail. Network Rail seem to have no incentive to demolish it. January 2023 - The Crossing Cottage still lies derelict.

updated 22/08/2021
Thanks to David Underwood, Facebook for his help with the crossing keeper information
updated 18/01/23