Snettisham Railway Station 1862 - 1969

From 1971 - 2001, Ken and Mavis Leeson lived in Snettisham Disused railway station in West Norfolk. Interesting snippet i just found out it actually closed on the 5th May 1969, Mavis's Birthday.

Snettisham was a railway station on the King's Lynn to Hunstanton line which served the village of Snettisham, a few miles north of King's Lynn in North Norfolk, England. Opened in 1862, the station closed along with the line in 1969.

History

Although essentially a minor passing place on the King's Lynn to Hunstanton line, when the proposal for a railway line between King's Lynn and Hunstanton had been first mooted, the possibility of building a new harbour at Snettisham had been discussed. This, it was said, would provide a safe haven for trading and fishing vessels on the eastern side of The Wash, enabling the local mussels to be brought in there rather than King's Lynn or Boston. However, the coming of the railway actually put pay to these ideas by eroding the local coasting trade which was hit by severe gales in the 1870s.^[2]
Snettisham station was equipped with up and down platforms and its platform buildings were constructed out of the local Carstone. Four sidings diverged from the main line to the north of the main station, serving respectively a small goods yard, a goods shed, the local coal merchants and Messrs Vynne & Everitt's granary. Goods traffic consisted of mainly coal and agricultural produce such as grain, bagged manure and vegetables.^[3] On the up side of the line was an 18-lever standard Great Eastern signal box. Snettisham was initially considered important enough to boast its own stationmaster, but this post was later abolished leaving the station with a staff of 4/5; in the station's later years one of the signalmen, Gerry Kendall, created a topiary on the up platform which marked out the station's name.^[4]
In 1962 the poet laureate John Betjeman visited Snettisham station as part of a 10 minute documentary film detailing the journey from Kings Lynn to Hunstanton. The film was a collaboration between BBC East Anglia and British Transport Films.

Preceding station	Disused railways			Following station
Dersingham		British Rail Eastern Region King's Lynn to Hunstanton branch		Heacham

Present day

Engine shed in 2006.

Following closure in 1969, the main station building became a private residence, while the adjacent engine shed and granary are used by a furniture dealer. In the garden of nearby "Granary Cottage" stands the buffer stop which was originally at the end of Vynne & Everitt's siding.^[4] In 2004, the signal box was moved to Hardingham on the Mid-Norfolk Railway.^[5]

Snettisham
Location
Place	Snettisham
Area	King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Norfolk
Grid reference	TF677334
Operations
Pre-grouping	Lynn & Hunstanton Railway Great Eastern Railway
Post-grouping	London and North Eastern Railway Eastern Region of British Railways
Platforms	2
History
3 October 1862	Opened
5 May 1969	Closed[1]

Dawn Davies Baptism

On Sunday 13th March 2011, i woke up a bag of nerves, i only wish my children would be there with me, oh well this is to be as expected that they couldn't be bothered, but it still hurts.

I arrived at Church to a lovely warm atmosphere, there at my invitation was Mum, Bob, Jan and Holly Wiegand and Hilary Letch, and Janet Lawrence and yes, Jen, Andy and the children actually turned up.

Also present was Elaine and Richard Bird and Mayor Elect Carol Bower.

Bob has been helping to set up the sound system, as they have had problems, so went off to do that.

 It started off with the hymn 689 Thine be the Glory then the prayer and offering, the reading was Romans 6 v 1-12.

Then David read out the message.

Then it was my Hymn choice 133 Father I place into your hands here i fell apart and started crying, then i plucked up courage to go and read my Testimony, and i dont think i did too badly.

Then it was Joanna Forts turn her choice of hymn was 37 As the deer pants, followed by her testimony.

Then it was Sandys turn her choice was hymn 857 I the Lord of Sea and Sky followed by Sandys testimony.

Then came Carols Hymn choice Hymn 41 At the Name of Jesus, Carol didn't feel able to do a Testimony.

Then Janet Groom did the Prayers for all of us being baptised.

Then it was the time for the Baptisms

1st Carol, followed by the Chorus of 367 Jesus is Lord

Then it was my turn it was very moving, although i paniced when i was underwater, then Sophie held the towel as i got out and Bob came to help me, then the Chorus of 220 He is Lord was sung, afterwards i wrapped in a towel i went to join Carol and we had a hug.

Then it was Joannas turn followed by verse 1 of Hymn 281 I lift my eyes.

Then it was Sandys turn who was the only one of us who elected to be baptised backwards followed by Chorus of 367 Jesus is Lord.

We then went into the toilet to get dry and changed and afterwards came back out. Bernard had been telling a messaged and then the Hymn 708 To God be the Glory.

 When we came out Fergus present all of us with certificates.

Finishing with the Hymn 501 O Jesus i have promised.

It was a wonderful service, and people came upto me afterwards and hugged and kissed me and gave me loads of card altogether i had 21 Cards.  I was also given a bunch of flowers from the Church. It was beautiful and moving. An amazing Day.

Dawn Karen Leeson

Dawn Karen Leeson daughter of Kenneth John Leeson and Mavis Jackson,
Born on 19 Dec 1957 in Leicester, England
Christened on 23 Feb 1958 in Leicester, England

Febrile Convulsions

Dawn 1958

Dawn 1959

Dawn and Debbie 1965

Director of Jacksons the Shoe People Ltd from 2000 in Hunstanton, Norfolk, England. www.jacksons-shoes.co.uk

Dawn married Robert Davies, son of Henry Farnell Davies and Evelyn Bowker, on 11 Apr 1977 in Snettisham, Norfolk.

Dawn and Bob 1977

He worked as a Computer Analyst later worked in Retail

Children from this marriage were:

Steven Robert Davies was born on 30 Nov 1977 in Norfolk And Norwich Hospital, Norwich, Norfolk, England and was christened on 9 Apr 1978 in All Sants Church, Mattishall, Norfolk, England.
Godparents - George Jackson, Stephen Jones, Debra Leeson
He was confirmed on 1 Nov 1992 in St Edmunds Church, Hunstanton, Norfolk, England.

Had open heart surgery operation, in November 1983 at Great Ormond Street Hospital. He had a replacement Mitral Valve. He had his 7th birthday in the hospital.
Stationery Shop Manager, Care Home Caterer
Steven married Shirley Carolyn Smith, daughter of John Smith and Ann Smith on 30 Oct 1997 in King's Lynn Registry Office, Norfolk. The marriage ended in divorce in 2002.
Children from this marriage were: Kira Jade Davies was born on 5 Aug 1998 in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, Norfolk.
Steven married Judith Margaret Best, daughter of Peter Alan Best and Patricia Ann Plascott


Jennifer Dawn Davies was born on 31 Aug 1980 at 76 Burgh Lane, Mattishall, Norfollk, England and was
christened on 14 Dec 1980 in All Saints Church, Mattishall, Norfollk, England.
Godparents Peter Davies, Marge Healey, Mavis Leeson
Confirmed on 20 Nov 1994 in St Edmunds Church, Hunstanton, Norfolk, England
Jennifer had a daughter Sophie Paige in 2000.
Jenny Married Andrew Smith on 12th April 2004.
Children of the Marriage Dylan Andrew was born on 27th February 2006

Micheal Kenneth Davies was born on 5 Jun 1986 in Norfolk And Norwich Hospital, Norwich, Norfolk, England and was christened on 28 Sep 1986 in All Saints Church, Mattishall, Norfollk, England.
Micheal had a daughter Iliana Fearce Davies-Ward on 13th April 2010.With Partner Tracey Ward the relationship ended in November 2010.

Kevin Henry Davies was born on 17 Jan 1991 at 3 Crescent Road, . Hunstanton, Norfolk, England and was christened on 24 Feb 1991 in St Edmunds Church, Hunstanton, Norfolk, England
Godparents:- Gloria Green (Family frend met in Mattishall) David Bancalari (Family Friend met through fathers work in Norwich) Peter Davies

Robert Davies

Relationship to Dawn - Husband

Robert Davies, son of Henry Farnell Davies and Evelyn Bowker, was born on 16
Feb 1955 in Buckingham, England.1 Another name for Robert was Bob.
• He worked as a Computer Analyst, later in the retail trade

Bob and Janet

•
Robert married Dawn Karen Leeson, daughter of Kenneth John Leeson and Mavis Jackson, on 11 Apr 1977 in Snettisham, Norfolk.
Febrile Convulsions
• She worked as a Director of Jacksons the Shoe People Ltd in 2000 in Hunstanton, Norfolk, England. www.jacksons-shoes.co.uk

Dawn and Bob 1977

Children from this marriage were:

Steven Robert Davies was born on 30 Nov 1977 in Norfolk

Jennifer Dawn Davies was born on 31 Aug 1980 in 76 Burgh Lane, Mattishall, Norfollk, England2 and was christened on 14 Dec 1980 in All Saints Church, Mattishall, Norfollk, England.

Micheal Kenneth Davies was born on 5 Jun 1986 in Norfolk And Norwich Hospital, Norwich, Norfolk, England2 and was christened on 28 Sep 1986 in All Saints Church, Mattishall, Norfollk, England.

Kevin Henry Davies was born on 17 Jan 1991 in 3 Crescent Road, . Hunstanton, Norfolk, England2 and was christened on 24 Feb 1991 in St Edmiunds Church, Hunstanton, Norfolk, England