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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 Bartholomew's Church

Address

Church Road, Wickham Bishops, Essex, CM8 3LA

Telephone
01621 892867

priest@churchinwickhambishops.org.uk

Wickham Bishops

St Bartholomew's Church is Grade II Listed and is a fine example of Victorian Gothic church architecture. In the churychyard you will find three Commonwealth War Graves.
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 .
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.
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…
Holy Trinity Church

Address

Church Road, North Fambridge, CM3 6LU

Telephone
01621 742947

North Fambridge

This 200 year old church is the only place of worship in North Fambridge.
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…
All Saints' Church, Gt Braxted

Address

Church Chase, Great Braxted, Essex, CM8 3EW

Telephone
01621 819557

thurstableteamadmin@btinternet.com

Great Braxted

The medieval church features a Nave and Chancel from the 12th century and is situated within the 2,000-acre Braxted Park estate. The churchyard is home to the Commonwealth War Grave of Brigadier General Hubert John Du Cane.
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.
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…
Museum of Power

Address

Steam Pumping Station, Hatfield Road, Langford, Essex, CM9 6QA

Telephone
01621 843183

enquiries@museumofpower.org.uk

Langford

Housed in a former water pumping station, the museum has a fascinating collection of power related exhibits, a tea room and picnic area, a miniature railway all set in attractive riverside grounds.
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 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.
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.
Northey Island

Address

Northey Cottage, Northey Island, Maldon, Essex, CM9 6PP

northeyisland@nationaltrust.org.uk

Maldon

Northey is an island in the Blackwater Estuary in Essex, connected to the mainland by a causeway that is covered by the tide twice every day. It is a Site of special scientific interest with a large area of undisturbed Saltmarsh. It is also the site…
Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome

Address

Hackman's Lane, Purleigh, Essex, CM3 6RN

Telephone
01245 329358

info@stowmaries.org.uk

Purleigh

Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome is a unique place with a unique history. It is the largest known surviving group of RFC buildings on a WWI aerodrome which was not adapted for further military use later in its history.
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…
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…
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.
Woodham Walter War Memorials & Commonwealth War Graves

Address

Woodham Walter, CM9 6RF

Woodham Walter

War memorials in the village of Woodham Walter include a Memorial Shelter, a Memorial Garden and a Memorial Clock on the parish church. The churchyard also contains two Commonwealth War Graves.
St Giles Church

Address

Maldon Road, Langford, CM9 4SS

Langford

St Giles' is a unique Grade II* Listed parish church dating from the late 11th century, with an unusual apse at the western end.

Margery Allingham

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

Inspiration

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