Weights and Measures offences at Watford in 1857

Watford Petty Sessions December 29, 1857 Unjust Weights Measures and Scales People Mentioned Magistrates W. Stuart, Esq., Chairman Sergeant Woolrych Rev. A. H. Barker A. Currie, Esq. Before the Bench Mrs. Shrimp Mr. Mallard Mr. Preston Mr. Boddy Mr. Bates Mrs. Bye Mr. Gotley of  Frowley Bottom (Abbots Langley) Mrs. Neale Mr. Fensom James Weston Thomas Hawes Mrs. Ryder Solicitors, etc. Mr Adcock Mr Sedgwick Other Old Herts News

Bucks Herald 2nd January, 1858 (From British Newspaper Archive)

If you can identify any of the offenders please comment below.

Fasting at Champneys, nr Tring, in 1926

I have updated the Champneys page to included press cuttings and all the post card images now enlarge if you click on them

Old Newspapers and Private Schools - The Bourne Hall Academy Example

Over the last few years the digitization of old newspapers on the British Newspaper Archive has made it far easier to investigate at least some of the private schools whose records do not exist.

In 2012 I was asked about Bourne Hall Academy, at Bushey and came up with an outline history based mainly on trade directories and census returns. About a week ago Cynthia contacted me to say that her relative Henry Hunt Sirkett had been at the school and he was recorded as having passed exams in the Herts Advertiser.

I decided that it would be interesting to use this school as a case study to assess how much extra information was available - particularly in the Herts Mercury (for the early years), the Herts Advertiser from 1855 and later from the Watford Observer. In fact I found so many references that there was no way I could find time to view them all, much less record all the names and events.

I decided to concentrate on the ownership and naming of the school as told in adverts. I discovered that H L Biggs took over Grove House boarding school in January 1844 and moved to Bourne Hall Academy by 1850. From then on there were regular reports in the papers of events such as prize-giving days and cricket matches, and details of students who passed external examinations. (Because to their number I selected three or four such items to examine in detail.) Things seem to have gone well until 1882 when H L Biggs handed over the school to his son H B Biggs, and it would seem that the new headmaster was not a success and in 1884 it appears that some boys who had prepared for some external examinations were not entered.Definitely the number of boys listed as passing external exams in 1888 was lower than one would have expected some ten years earlier. In addition it seems thatsome of the school buildings may have been used teach girls foreign languages.

The exact date that the school closed is uncertain but the furniture was sold off early in 1889, and the landlord put the property on the market a few months later. The bankruptcy hearings were revealling and demonstrate than the young headmaster had failed to learn good bookkeeping while a pupil at the school ...

For full details see Bourne Hall Academy

Harpenden News from 1891 - A fire and a funeral

Old News

 Following an email from Colin relating to the Anscombe family of Harpenden I decided to update the Anscombe page with a link to Mrs Pamela Anscombe's funeral, which lists relatives who were still living. The page also included details of a fire at the Anscombe's shop and other local news which I have copied below.

HARPENDEN.

Messrs. Anscombe wish to thank all those who rendered each useful assistance at the recent fire on their premises.

St. George's School. — On Sunday evening at evensong a special sermon was preached in the chapel of this school by the Rev. B. W. Harris, in aid of the Home Missions in East London. The offertory was also devoted to the same object.

Young Women’s Guild. — The members of the above guild held their quarterly tea and meeting at the rectory Monday. Various games were indulged in ; the members afterwards attending a service in the parish church, when address was given by the Rector.

Accident to little Girl.— On Friday afternoon a little girl named Puter, of Luton, met with a somewhat serious accident whilst playing on the large roller near the cricket ground. She was running down the shaft, and falling on to some ironwork gashed her knee. Dr. Wilson dressed and stitched np the wound.

Wesleyan Chapel. — This chapel was well filled on Sunday evening, when a sermon was preached by Mr. M. White, a coloured student of Richmond College. Mr. White also gave an address to the scholars in the afternoon. He is now training to go back as missionary among his own people.

Congregational Chapel. — The anniversary services of this chapel were held Wednesday. A public tea was provided at which good company assembled. Two excellent sermons were preached afternoon and evening by the Rev. J. Brown, D.D., of Bedford (Chairman of the Congregational Union of England and Wales), at which there were large congregations.

Outbreak of Fire.—On Saturday night, about 12.30, an outbreak of fire in some sheds on the premises at Messrs. Anscombe and Son's was simultaneously discovered by several persons. Mr. W. H. Anscombe, who is captain of the Fire Brigade, was quickly on the spot, and was shortly afterwards followed by the other members of the Brigade. It was then found that a shed, utilised as a storehouse for empties, with some chairs and fixtures, was in full flames. It was impossible to save this building, and the efforts of the Brigade were then directed to preventing the fire spreading to adjoining stables and premises. The structure was composed of wooden walls, and was about 30 feet long by 12 feet wide and 16 feet high, with galvanised iron roof. Messrs. Anscombe are insured in the Union Office, and the damage is estimated at about £30.

Death of Mrs. Anscombe, Jun. — The death of Mrs. Allen Anscombe. jun., occurred on Thursday in last week. The deceased lady, who was the daughter of Mr. Rothwell, had been married about eight years, and leaves three sons. She had been suffering for about eleven months from a cancer of the tongue and throat, for which she was attended by Dr. Blake. At that time an operation was performed upon her at King's College by Mr. Heath. It was hoped that this would prove effectual, but although it afforded temporary relief, it was necessary that other minor operations should be undergone. Notwithstanding the treatment and the supreme efforts used the cancer gradually increased, and eventually terminated fatally. Mrs. Anscombe bore the trouble with great fortitude and courage. For some time prior to her marriage the deceased lady took an active interest in the Congregational Chapel at Harpenden. The funeral took place onTuesday afternoon at Harpenden Church, a large number of the inhabitants of the village, and personal friends, together with relatives, being present. The service was conducted by the Rev. E. T. Vaughan, rector. The mourners were — Mr. Allen Anscombe, jun., and Mr. W. B. Bothwell, Mr. and Mrs. Mr. W. H. Anscombe and Mrs. Mallett, Mr. and Mrs. Anscombe. Mr. B. Anscombe and Miss Anscombe. Mr. A. E. Ansoombe and Miss 8. F. Anscombe, Rev. W. R. Price and Miss Ashworth. The employes of Messrs. Anscombe also followed. The funeral arrangements were carried oat by Mr. Irons, the coffin being of oak with burnished brass plates. The inscription was: Pamela Ansoombe, died 25th June, 1831, aged 36 years.” A large number of beautiful wreaths sent by relatives and friends completely covered the coffin. Among them were the following : from W.H. Ansoombe: “From brothers and sisters,” A.E.A., E.A., E.M.A., and S.F.A.; from W. E. Rothwell; “With loving sympathy.” from E. M. Rothwell; With deepest sympathy. ’ Mr. and Mrs. Frear, sen., and the Misses Frear; "With respects,” from Lizzie and Emily: With deepest sympathy,” from Mr. and Mrs. Winter: from Mrs. Claridge ; “With deepest sympathy.” from Mr. and Mrs. Willmott; "With sympathy,” from Mr. and Mrs. Simons and all at Cell Park-farm: "In token of our esteem and sympathy” from the assistants; “With sincere respect and sympathy,” from the workroom; “In loving memory," from Eliza and Harriett Walsh.

Herts Advertiser, 4 July, 1891
From British Newspaper Archive

The Cricketers Public Houses of Hertfordshire

Noeleen has written to say I found your site via Google after I could not read an address in a census. It turned out to be ‘The Cricketers’ in Bennington. In 1851 and 1861 census  Frederick  Parkins was the Victualler and a Shoemaker with his wife Sarah. He was just a Shoemaker in 1841 census. In 1861 it is listed as Cricketers Public House, Bennington Road. By 1871 and 1881 census he is Publican and Shoemaker at the Green Dragon in Waltham which his wife Sarah was head of as a Widow in 1891 census. I hope this is of interest to you and I loved the addition of a shoemakers occupation plus I enjoyed reading about Cricketers Pubs on your site, something unknown to me in NZ.

I have added her comment to the page on the Cricketers pubs I first posted in 2006, together with some relevant news items from the British Newspaper Archive.

Cricket

In addition I have added an advert relating to the Cricketers public house in Hitchin from 1836 which records that the associated cricket ground was well established at that date. I have also added a Licencing Day report for St Albans for 1884 which mentions The Cricketers in that city (which unfortunately no longer trades under that name).

The Alcoholic English Origins of "Tom and Jerry"

How did Tom and Jerry come to get their names?

When I give talks on the history of Hertfordshire newspapers I usually include a few snippets of old news which I hope will amuse the audience. I often use the following 1829 news item from just over the Buckinghamshire border which refers to the activities of a couple of drunks as a "Tom and Jerry" freak"

Francis Fisher and Thomas Collins appeared before the Aylesbury Magistrates court and the "Tom and Jerry freak" involved breaking windows  and forgetting "that the aforesaid breakage, which they undoubtedly thought sport, was likely to be regarded very differently by the party aggrieved."

Life in London

A quick investigation revealed that the book Life in London; or the Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn, Esq, and his elegant Friend, Corinthian Tom, in their rambles through the Metropolis was written by Pierce Egan and was first published in parts starting in October 1820. It became very popular nationwide and within a year there was a Tom and Jerry play on the stage in London. 

But could there really be some link between the activities of  two 1820s fictional London toffs and antics of the cartoon cat and mouse duo created in America in 1940?  It was nice to speculate but I left the question unanswered until it surprisingly came up in conversation last week.

A "Tom & Jerry"

At a family gathering in a restaurant in London the bartender came especially over to the table to speak to my Canadian daughter-in-law. He had prepared her cocktail and wanted to say that in ten years this was the first time anyone had ordered a "Tom and Jerry." The ensuing conversation - and a subsequent check on the internet provided the missing link.

The key link would seen to be the fact that to publicize the book and play Egan introduced a "Tom and Jerry" drink which was an eggnog with a dash of brandy. Undoubtedly this helped to keep the memory of "Tom and Jerry" alive in the United States. The drink was recorded by famous American bartender "Professor" Jerry Thomas who wrote one of the earliest guides entitled How to Mix Drinks in 1862 and is reputed to have kept a pair of mice named Tom and Jerry. From then on a "Tom and Jerry" became a regular feature of the American Christmas celebrations - although the original Corinthian Tom and Jerry Hawthorn were less well remembered in England.

Between 1931 a series of short cartoons were made by Van Beuren of a pair of men, one big and the other small, which may in some way related back the original pair. However in 1940 there was the first release of a cartoon, by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera of the cat and mouse figures we all know today.

Your ancestor may be relieved that he had one of these

I have just updated the page about the modified earth closet made by William Brown and exhibited in the Tring Agricultural Show of 1871 and 1872. It was a modification of the closet designed by the Rev. Moule and may have used levers similar to the levers shown in this later advert. It is not clear whether William Brown's version ever went into commercial production.

MORE INFORMATION

The Half Moon and Holloway's Brewery, Hemel Hempstead

Breweries

Alister has provided a useful update on the history of the Half Moon public house, High Street, Hemel Hempstead, at the end of the 18th into the early 19th century. The earliest known owner was a Dr Hugh Smith (does anyone know anything about him), and through marriage the pub became part of the estate of the Holloway's Brewery. On the death of George Holloway in 1827 the brewery was sold but the following pubs were transferred to Weller's Amersham Brewery.

Bull, Markyate

Half Moon, High Street, Hemel Hempstead

Leather Bottle, Leverstock Green

Queens Head, Corner Hall, near Two Waters

Red Lion, Nash Mills

More about the Half Moon

Sales details of Holloway's Brewery, 1827

The Latest Old Hertfordshire News updates from the BNA

Newspapers

Recent additions have been made to improve the coverage of Hertfordshire news in the last 30 days.

• Coverage of the Hertford Mercury & Reformer (starting in 1834) has been extended by including the Hertfordshire Mercury for 1939
• The 1859 editions of the Hertfordshire Express & General Advertiser mean that coverage is now from 1859 to 1871
• Just over the border the Bedfordshire Mercury (formerly just 1843) now covers from 1837 to 1871.
• Bell's Weekly Messenger was a Sunday paper, with National coverage, and is now online (with some gaps) from 1801 to 1871.  From 1832 it gave extensive coverage to agricultural affairs and was for many years the leading agricultural newspaper in the U.K.

I decided to do a quick check on the two out-of-county publications and a pretty random search immediately found several interesting items in : Bedfordshire Mercury

Seven St Albans Brothers all become soldiers in First World War

Seven brother in the Corley family became soldiers in the First Word War and at the time of the press cutting (July 1917) two had been killed and one injured twice.

MORE

Edward Barber, V.C., is killed - and Tring News on 17/4/1915

Extracts from the Bucks Herald of 17th April, 1915

Edited from British Newspaper Archive
Previous week ~~~~ Tring News Index ~~~~ Next Week

News has reached Tring of the deaths of Edward Barber, V.C., and Frank Marcham. Lieut.-General Sir Edward Hutton's letter about is leaving the 21st Division is published, and fifteen soldiers are confirmed by the Bishop of St Albans. Arthur Macdonald writes to the paper on the army's need for more sand-bags and William Mead, of Tring Flour Mill, agrees to be a collecting point.  At Tring Park Cricket Club's AGM it was said they would be having a reduced fixture list and would not be employing any permanent ground staff - and would reduce the subscription accordingly. It was agreed that the rents paid by the Tring Tennis and Bowling clubs would be reduced if they also reduced their subscriptions. The Easter festival normally held by the Church Girls' Union had been cancelled due to the War.  At the Easter Vestry Meeting the Vicar, Rev. H. Francis mentioned with pride the towns role it the war, with 298 being on active service, of which 79 had been members of the Church Lads' Brigade, with 5 having been Boy Scouts. At the National level local farmers may well have been unhappy about the Government's arrangements for buying hay. The death of Lord Rothschild, reported two weeks earlier, featured in a number of reports. He had been the president of the Tring Agricultural Society and there were many tributes at the meeting of their committee. He had actively helped the Tring Park Cricket Club, although his son Walter was the club president. Hew was also briefly mentioned in the vicar's report given at the Vestry Meeting. However much of the long report at this meeting provides an interesting review of the town during the previous year. Other news included the wedding at Wigginton of Miss Petronella Trickey of Champneys (the home of Mr Alexander Marc) and Mr, Thomas J. N. Perkins, headmaster of Helensburgh School, the high prices at William Brown's fat stock sale, and William Rodwell having been prosecuted for riding a motor bkie and side car with inadequate lights. Perhaps because of the other news there was less church news than usual. Surnames mentioned this week:  Bagnall Bailey Baker Baldwin Barber Barton Bathurst Bedford Beech Bishop Brackley Bright Brown Bull Burnham Butcher Carr Carter Clarke Clissold Coker Cole Cox Crossland Dawe De Fraine Dickens Elliman Fells Finch Flowers Forestier-Walker Fountaine Francis Fulks Fulley, Gibbs Grange Gregory Hayes Heading Hedges Hardern Horwood Houchen Howe Huckvale Hull Hutton Jenney Kidstone Kingham Kirk Lepper Macdonald Marc Marcham Mash Mathews Mead Miller Newman Newton Pearce Perkins Pond Poulton Pratt Reeve Rodwell Rothschild Rowe Smeathman Smith Steadman Trickey Turner Tyler Vaisey Waterton Williams

Herts Regiment Casualties from Tring - Commander of 21st Division Steps down

Tring in War Time, 1914-1919

News reached Tring of casualties among local soldiers from the Hertfordshire Regiment.  Four (Marcham, Rodwell, Bruce and Barber) had been in a stable which was hit by a shell. Frank Marsham was killed and Fred Rodwell was badly injured and is now in a military hospital in Camberwell. Elsewhere on the Front Archibald Bishop had been wounded. Lieut.-General Sir Edward Hutton,commander of the 21st Division, based in Tring, has stepped down, and soldiers billeted in the town attended a Sunday parade on Easter Day, athletic sports, and yet more concerts. The coroner heard of the sad death of Miss Eliza Barber, who used to scavenge in dustbins, and who died of starvation. She was found to have cash and a bank balance totalling over £200. G. Stratford had take over Goodson's blacksmiths in the High Street while clover seed could be purchased from Church Farm, Little Gaddesden. I have also included an advert picturing one of Lord Rothschild's shire horses. I have not included the full texts referring to Lord Rothschild's funeral and a further obituary, or the account of the Conservative Club's AGM, but have extracted the long list of people from Tring (including many estate employees) who caught a train to attend the funeral but who, due to delays on the railway, only arrived at the end of the ceremony. I have also extracted the names of the Conservative Club committee. Edited from British Newspaper Archive Previous week ~~~~ Tring News Index

Who "stole" the Four Swans Inn, at Waltham Cross in December 1835?

About 4 years ago Nick wrote asking me about his ancestor, Joseph Tydeman, who was the landlord of the "Four Swans Inn", Waltham Cross. In answering him I listed the landlords of the ancient coaching in from 1839 to 1937. (See TYDEMAN, The Four Swans, Waltham Cross).

Recently Alison wrote to tell me that Thomas Childs, who dies in 1835, was the landlord of the Four Swans Tap, which was a beer house associated with the Inn. Sarah Childs died shortly afterwards and the two will mention a John Monk and a Henry Heward, landlord of the Falcon Inn. As the British Newspaper Archive is now available I decided to investigate the earlier history of the Inn.

I found that John Monk had been the landlord of the Four Swans Inn, and Henry Heward owned it, as well as being the landlord of the Falcon. But who was George Wildbore? and how did he "steal" the "Four Swans?"  To find out Read on ...

Death of Lord Rothschild - and News of Hertfordshire Regiment in April 1915

Tring in War Time, 1914-1919

Undoubtedly the big news of the week was the death of Lord Rothschild - and there was a very extensive obituary. There were reports of the  Hertfordshire Territorials in action at the front, including the way Sergeant Raven had rescued an injured officer officer who had lain where he fell for four days. There was only the routine news of concerts and church services for the soldiers billeted in the town, except that two deserters from Tring appeared before the Petty Sessions in Winslow. William Brown held the Easter Fat Stock Show (detailed report) and also advertised the sale of 600 books from the Mechanics' Institute Library, the closure of which was announced last week. Extracts from the Bucks Herald of 3rd April, 1915 Edited from British Newspaper Archive Previous week ~~~~ Tring News Index

Lord Kitchener inspects troops at Tring 100 years ago

Military

LORD KITCHENER AT TRING

 On Saturday afternoon Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener, Secretary of State for War. paid a brief visit to Tring for the purpose of inspecting various contingents of the 2lst Division who are training in the neighbourhood. The greatest interest was manifested in in the War Secretary’s visit. In the regrettable absence of Lieut.-General Hutton, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., commanding the Division through indisposition, the command was assumed by Brigadier-General T. G. L. H. Armstrong, Commanding Officer of the 62nd Infantry Brigade.

The troops on parade were:

 96th Brigade Royal Field Artillery (Lieut.-Colonel R. C. Coates, D.S.O., commanding);

21st Divisional Royal Engineers (Major C. Coffin,  R.E.. commanding);

97th Field Company Royal Engineers (Major B. S. Phlllpotts, R.E.);

98th Field Company Royal Engineers (Major C. Coffin. R.E.);

126th Field Company Royal Engineers, (Major A. L. Cooper, R.E.).

62nd Infantry Brigade (Brigadier-General T. G. L. H. Armstrong commanding);

12th Batt. Northumberland Fusiliers (Colonel W. B. Mullins);

13th Batt. Northumberland Fusiliers (Colonel W. Prior);

 8th Batt. East Yorkshire Regiment Colonel L. C. Fryer)

10th. Batt. Yorkshire Regiment (Colonel A. de S. Hadow).

14th Batt. Northumberland Fusiliers (Pioneers), (Lieut.-Colonel F. B. Morley)

Divisional Mounted Troops: 21st Divisional Cyclist Company (Major A. O. Vaughan commanding).

Lord Kitchener inspected as many Battalions as the time at his disposal permitted, and afterwards the troops who had been inspected marched past the saluting point where the War Secretary stood with the Staff Officers. On leaving the parade ground he was loudly cheered.

Lord Kitchener made it known that he was much pleased with the appearance of the troops he saw on parade, and was  especially struck with the progress made since he last inspected the troops of the Division.

from the Bucks Herald of 27th March, 1915

Click here for the latest Tring News in 1915

Tring News on 20th March, 1915

Military

While there were a large number of troops billeted in and around Tring the main military news in the local section of the paper was that there had been two concerts for their entertainment. One was put on by Mrs Williams at Pendley Manor and the other was arranged by the Soldiers' Entertainment Fund and held in the  Medical Inspection Hall (now the Victoria Hall). However in the main part of the paper, covering Aylesbury, there are indications that billeting is to end in April, and the soldiers will be moving on.

Old News

One of the soldiers, based in nearby Aston Clinton was before the court for driving a car with no lights and one can only wonder if the police were tightening up after the accident in which two soldiers had been killed a week or so earlier. One may also wonder if some of the road repairs deemed necessary were due to the wear and tear due to the number of troop movements in the area, and the construction of the camp at Halton.

Tring

In normal years local gardeners would be able to compete for prizes in events such as the Tring Agricultural Show, but many had been cancelled, However the Daily Mail had announced a grand show of vegetables in London in September, and Arthur Dye, of Tring Park Gardens, was co-ordinating entries for the area.

On the religious front the Baptist Church at New Mill had meetings supporting the Baptist Missionary Society while the Baptist Chapel at  Wigginton celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Sunday school.  There was also the usual order of services for the Parish Church.

Easter was being celebrated in a different was by W. Brown & Co, auctioneers - who were inviting entries to the Tring Easter Fat Stock Show and Sale - and they were also to sell off a baker's tools and trade utensils - including a dough mixer, a cake making machine, and a waggonette and a useful tradesman's horse.

Surnames: Ariston, Bagnall, Baker, Birch, Brooks, Brown, Clark, Curtis, Dell, Downes, Dye, Eggleton, Fulks, Gomme, Groome, Hazell, Heading, Hemmens, Hutton, Kirby, Kirk, Lang, Locke, Longman, Mather, Mullins, Page, Rothschild, Rowe, Sait-Knight, Swann, Taylor, Thorne, Ward, West, White, Wilding, Williams, Winterton

Extracts from the Bucks Herald of 20th March, 1915

Edited from British Newspaper Archive

Today's Tring News, 100 Years ago

For temporary technical reasons it has not been possible to post the normal detailed report on the main web site. Until the problem is solved a few selected extracts from the Bucks Herald of 13th March 1915 are being posted here.

The Council Election.

Polling to fill the casual vacancy on the Urban District Council caused the death of Dr. Brown took place on Friday, 5th inst., at the Market House, Tring. Mr. Roland M. Vaisey was the deputy returning officer. There were two polling stations, at the first of which Mr. R. M. Vaisey presided, with Mr. A. H. Randall as poll clerk. At the other station the presiding officer was Mr. J. H. Casey, and Mr. H. N. Hedges was clerk. There was an utter absence of interest displayed in the proceedings, only about a fourth of the electors the register taking tho trouble record their votes. It is difficult to understand this apathy, seeing that there was such apparent eagerness to nominate candidates for the vacant seat. The votes were counted immediately after the close of the poll, and the result was declared as follows:- Mr. William Smith, 149 (elected); Mr. John Bagnall, 66; Mr. John Smith, 48; Mr. Edward Wright, 33. 

Marriage.

On Saturday, 6th inst.. Miss Lucy P. Steel was quietly married at the Parish Church to Mr. C. Victor Bunker, son of Mr. B. Bunker, ex-superintendent of police at Buckingham. The bride, who was for about 12 years telephonist at the Tring Post Office, was married in a travelling costume, and her only bridesmaid was her sister, Miss K. M. Brown. She was given away by her stepfather, Mr. A. H. Brown. Mr. Percy Bunker (brother) acted as best man. The marriage service was conducted by the Rev. H. Francis, vicar of Tring. Mr. and Mrs. Bunker left early for Bournemouth for short stay. 

The Price of Gas.

We are informed that the directors of the Gas Company have had the price of gas under consideration, and a rise of 5d. per 1,000 has been suggested, but they have not as yet decided what the almost inevitable increase shall be.

For Soldiers.

The Rev. Kenneth Kirk, C.F has been enabled, by the courtesy of the Alerta Film Company, to secure the loan of the great picture "The Messiah.” This will be shown at the Picture Hall on Sunday evening next, commencing at 6.45. Admission free. Soldiers only. 

      URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL.

 The Hospital.

The Matron reported that one case of "Spotted fever" had been admitted to the hospital from Chesham. The patient has since died. Two cases of enteric fever were now in the hospital.

Sanitary

The Sanitary Committee met on March 4. The Surveyor reported that he had applied to Mr. W. Kingham for the payment of 10s. 2d. for unstopping drains at his premises, but had not been able to get the money.

The Clerk was instructed to write demanding payment. 

The question of the disposal of house refuse was discussed, the present system being considered unsatisfactory, but no action was taken. 

The question of urinal accommodation was also considered, but no action was taken in the matter.

Old Tring News - POW returns to England - Soldiers die in road accident - more urinals requried

    Extracts from the Bucks Herald of 27th February, 1915

Military

Compared with previous weeks there is more news about individual soldiers. Captain Edmund S. W. Tidswell, son of the previous vicar of Tring, has been mentioned in dispatches. Private F. Birch (Herts Regiment) of Wigginton, has been wounded. Private W. G. Mustill (1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers), of the Cow Roast Lock, Tring, had been earlier wounded and captured by the Germans, but he was part of a prisoner exchange, which he describes, and is now in a London Hospital. Also from Wigginton Harold Gurney is still in hospital at Oxford, while Albert Baker has returned to duty after coming home on sick leave.

Among the forces stationed locally the 15th Platoon, D Company, 8th Lincolnshire Regiment sent a wreath to the funeral of their late officer, Lieut. Wm. Crabtree, who was killed in a taxi-cab near Tring a fortnight ago. An Inquest is to be held on Private White and Thomas of the 12th Northumberland Fusiliers who were found dying by the side of the road at Aston Clinton - a matter which makes Captain's Icke's letter about who had done the fastest route march seem rather insignificant.

The number of troops in the area affects the provision of public services, and in nearby Wendover there was a discussion about the provision of public urinals. The Ruri-Decanal Conference at Berkhamsted (attended by many Church of England ministers and lay members) discussed the provision on intersession services, while the people of Tring were warned that the street lighting might have to be turned off because of the shortage of coal  (in part because so many former miners were now training at Tring?)

On the home front Tring was getting ready for a council by-election following the death of Dr Brown and William Smith, builder, and Edward Wright wrote letter to the paper addressing the electorate.Jack Grange, the son of Herbert Grange, the farmer at Grove Farm, was found to have advanced cancer while James Clark, a Post Office pensioner,  had a successful operation at the West Herts Hospital, at Hemel Hempstead. Both Lord Rothschild, of Tring Park, and J G Williams, of Pendley, won top awards at the Shire Horse Show at Islington. On a more mundane level Percy Mead, farmer of Gubblecote had mangolds for sale.

Surnames this week: Bagnall, Baker, Beal, Bedford, Beech, Birch, Boswall, Brackley, Brown, Bull, Cartwright, Cattell, Clark, Cockburn, Crabtree, Craufurd, Dale, Eccles, Evetts, Ewing, Farran, Field, Finch, Francis, French, Gaussen, Gilbert, Grange, Greey, Gurney, Halsey, Hart-Davies, Hastings, Hilderley, Hodgson, Holland, Houchen, Houseman, Hutton, Icke, Lea-Wilson, Lendrum, Ling, Moore, Lowe, Mead, Muntz, Mustill , Norris, North, Penny, Pope, Ridley, Rolfe, Rothschild, Smith, Smith-Dorrien, Spark, Thomas, Thring, Tidswell, Ward, Weston, White, Williams, Wood, Wright.

Prince of Wales visits Panshanger and Hertford in 1874

The Library at Panshanger

Old News

In 1874 the Prince of Wales visited Panshanger and he and some other gentlemen spent part of the time in shooting, and had excellent sport, bagging in one day no fewer than 760 pheasants, besides partridges, rabbits, and hares. The Princess planted a chestnut tree in the grounds in commemoration of the visit. The visit (which included the town of Hertford) was described by The Graphic which printed engravings based on photographs taken by Elsden, of Hertford.

While doing the update I added a press cutting dating the opening of Elsden's Mill Bridge studios to 1872 - providing a benchmark for dating his old photographs, and also an advert from 1876.

Military Funeral of Private Crichton and other Tring News from 1915

Extracts from the Bucks Herald of 20th February, 1915

Edited from British Newspaper Archive
Previous week ~~~~ Tring News Index

The big event of the week was the funeral of George Crichton, of  "D" Company, 13th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, who had been billeted with Mr and Mrs J. Shephard of Lonbgfield Road, Tring, and who was buried, with full ceremony, in Tring Cemetery.

The religious needs of the troops were also to the fore. The Right Rev. Bishop J. Taylor Smith, Chaplain-General to the Forces gave a service, In addition to the regular church parades some soldiers had joined the parish church choir, and the Y.M.C.A. put on an event in the Gem Picture Palace. More everyday needs were supplied by the Rothschild children who gave 300 lbs. of tobacco and 2,300 packets of cigarettes to the men stationed in the town and surrounding villages.

The letter in last week's paper about the verse "The Lads of Halton Park" produced a response from the author, G. Patterson, who was billeted at New Mill, Tring, complaining that it had been reprinted without permission on post cards in Aylesbury and Leighton Buzzard - and he hopes that any profits are donated to charity. The camp was also in the news because work on the butts was nearing completion.

Other news was that Frederick Plumeridge, who worked on the Grand Junction Canal, had died - and the vicar of Marsworth had left and his replacement had not yet been named.

Surnames this week: Anderson, Atkins, Clarendon, Clissold, Crichton, Essex, Francis, Hampden, Holdaway, Kirk, Lang, Mullins, Palmer, Patterson, Pearce, Plumeridge, Prior, Pickett, Rothschild, Sheppard, Smith, Wright