During the 19th and early 20th centuries, railways were instrumental in transporting holidaymakers to seaside resorts. Before the railway arrived, visitors to Walton could arrive by sea and land at the resort's timber pier. A second pier was built in 1871. The railway arrived at Walton in 1867. It connected the relatively remote resort to Colchester and the Great Eastern Main Line to London.
Historic England Archive EPW001843