The Midland & Great Northern Railway
was a joint operation owned by, not surprisingly the Midland and the Great
Northern. It was a deliberate, costly attempt to infiltrate Great Eastern
territory.
Signalling between Peterborough and Sutton Bridge was provided by the Midland Railway, and whilst at first glance Massingham (seen here, rather derelict, long after closure) is a perfectly standard example of the Midland's 1884 design (see Bolsover) there is one significant difference. The base of the cabin is built in stone, although the Midland generally used all-wood construction.
Another factor that throws a spanner into the works on the history of this box is that it isn't actually on the Peterborough line, but on the former Eastern & Midlands Railway (taken over by the M&GN in 1893) between Lynn and Fakenham. The box was in fact supplied second-hand as a replacement around 1920 - and no doubt came from a disused location on the Peterborough line.
Massingham lived a peaceful existence, controlling a crossing
loop, level crossing and single goods yard connection from a 20-lever frame,
through to closure of the line in 1962.
Although in poor condition
when I photographed the box in the 1970's, Charles Tallis sent this marvellous
picture showing the state of the box in 2000. Somebody certainly loves it, and
has carefully restored it. How nice to be able to report good news for once.