force its way through the floods got stuck and the passengers were rescued by boat. Further closures occurred in November 1901, November 1903, December 1904, January 1928 and April 1949. Finally after the Great Storm of 31 January 1953 the line was closed for eleven months In 1930, the LNER consulted about making the bridge fixed and the Colchester Planning sub-committee was asked to consider whether this would impede navigation. Other incidents are recorded of the bridge not closing properly in 1938 and of the bridge being hit by a barge "Serlo" causing £148 damage in 1940. This line closed in 1964, and the swing-bridge removed in 1967. This route was filmed in Autumn 1963 and is free to watch at the BFI. The railways spurred on some growth in Alresford. A post office and smithy at the junction of Coach Road and Wivenhoe Road are marked on the 1874 Ordnance Survey 1:2500 map. There is also a Primitive Methodist Chapel a mile north of the Church on the Main Road (near to the current Alresford Garage). In 1931 Census, there were 312 villagers living in only 87 houses in Alresford. During the 1930s more houses were built along Wivenhoe Road, Station Road and the Main Road. The village was bypassed with the building of a new bridge over the railway between High Elm Farm and Wivenhoe Road. This opened on Saturday 17 March 1938 at a cost of £21,800. Prior to this the main road had crossed the levelling crossing in Coach Road, then turned at the Post Office corner before continuing along Wivenhoe Road. The Alresford Sand and Ballast Company was incorporated in 1932 by Ben and Martin Barrell after selling the ropewalk at Wivenhoe Cross and used the ballast quay at the Creek to send sand to London via Thames barge. The remains of the wooden beamed sand conveyor and aerial runway to the processing plant can still be seen. The village contains the ruins of St. Peter's Church which are now a scheduled monument under the care of Essex County Council The earliest church was built in the 12th century as a simple nave and cancel. At the south-west and north-west corners Roman bricks were used for the quions. In the 13th century the chancel was extended. The church was again rebuilt in the 14th century and a singled tower added. This was recorded on a