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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 Nicholas Church

Address

Little Braxted Lane, Little Braxted, Essex, CM8 3EU

Little Braxted

St. Nicholas in Little Braxted is one of the smallest churches in Essex and was built in the early 12th century. It is richly and beautifully decorated throughout.
Althorne War Memorial

Address

Junction of Main Road and Station Road, Althorne, CM3 6DB

Althorne

Althorne's unusual war memorial is in the form of a traditional, decorative lychgate, framed in oak, with a pitched roof covered with clay tiles. It was designed by local artist Walter Savage Cooper and built after World War 1. A metal plaque…
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.
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…
Monastery of St John the Baptist

Address

The Old Rectory, Rectory Road, Tolleshunt Knights, CM9 8EZ

Tolleshunt Knights

The Holy Patriarchal and Stavropegic Monastery of St John the Baptist is an Orthodox monastic community composed of nuns and monks of various nationalities. The monastery was founded by Sophrony Sakharov, later canonised as Saint Sophrony. The calm…
World War Two Avenue of Remembrance

Address

Promenade Park, Park Drive, Maldon, CM9 5JQ

Maldon

The World War Two Avenue of Remembrance at Promenade Park, beginning close to the boating lake, consists of 86 Horse Chestnut trees that were planted in 1987 to commemorate local people who died serving their country during World War Two.
St Lawrence & All Saints Church, Steeple

Address

The Street, Steeple, Essex, CM0 7RH

Steeple

The Grade II Listed parish church was built in 1884 and has a timber framed steeple, shingled spire and a 15th century font. The church contains two white marble War Memorial tablets.
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 Stephens Church

Address

St Stephen's Road, Cold Norton, Essex, CM3 6NP

Telephone
01621 742947

sandra.manley@btinternet.com

Cold Norton

A small church situated on the edge of the village of Cold Norton.
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.
Beeleigh Falls

Address

Beeleigh Falls, Maldon Road, Beeleigh, Essex, CM9 6QA

essex@waterways.org.uk

Beeleigh

Beeleigh Falls is home to a series of water falls, locks and weirs on the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation.
The Maeldune Heritage Centre

Address

St Peter’s Tower, Market Hill, Maldon, Essex, CM9 4PZ

Telephone
01621 851628

info@maelduneheritagecentre.co.uk

Maldon

The Maeldune Heritage Centre, set in the beautiful old St Peter's Church, is one of Maldon's most fascinating visitor attractions, mixing local history, temporary art and craft exhibitions, tourism information and the permanent home of the…
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…
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.
Maylands Baptist Church

Address

St Barnabas Family Centre, Imperial Avenue, Mayland, Essex, CM3 6AH

Telephone
01621 741770

Mayland

Maylands Baptist Church is a small, friendly fellowship enjoying a relaxed, informal style of worship. With no regular Pastor, the congregation enjoys a variety of preachers and speakers from many Christian sources and organisations. These often…
St Mary the Virgin

Address

Church Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, CM0 8QB

Telephone
01621 786066

stmaryschurchburnham@outlook.com

Burnham-on-Crouch

Affectionately known as St Mary's, there has been a church on this site since 1155, possibly even earlier, and as such the fabric of the building reflects a long and eventful history.
Sir William Arnold Lifeboat Experience

Address

Lock Hill, Heybridge Basin, CM9 4RX

Telephone
020 8168 5202

lifeboat5202@gmail.com

Heybridge Basin

Now moored permanently in Heybridge Basin, Maldon, Essex, the Sir William Arnold lifeboat is a 52ft Arun class lifeboat that was built in 1973 and served all her lifesaving career at St Peter Port in Guernsey. During her career, the lifeboat went on…
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.
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.
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…

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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