A Mystery Farm at Brent Pelham

A FARMYARD SCENE      A tractor coming in after ring rolling autumn wheat, and a three-horse ploughing team returning from the day's work at Brent Pelham, Hertfordshire.

 Eric has discovered this picture of a farm somewhere near Brent Pelham, pictured in The Countryside Companion, by Tom Stephenson, and published by the Odham Press in 1946 (according to the British Library) although the book is not dated. Can anyone identify the actual farm, with its thatched barns?.

Where was the last witch killed in Hertfordshire

Ruth Osbourne was believe by local people to be a witch and in 1751 was ducked in a pond to test her powers - and drowned! Rosie is currently investigating the story and while there are many accounts of the incident, and the subsequent trial of those guilty of murdering her, none of the accounts are very specific as to the location of the pond.

By looking at old maps it would seem that the most likely pond was on a stream in what was then the hamlet of Wilstone Green. For full details see Ruth Osbourne, witch, of Tring, 1751.

New light on the management of Whitwell's Brewery's Pubs.

Breweries, etc

Alan Whitiker's book Brewers in Hertfordshire says that when the Archer family gave up their brewery in Whitwell (a hamlet in St Pauls Walden) the licensed houses passed to the Hope Brewery in Wheathampsted. 

I have just found a short letter suggesting that for a time the Whitwell licensed houses were managed by Harpenden Brewery  - and may only have been passed to the Hope Brewery when Harpenden Brewery, which had been leased to Bennett's Brewery of Dunstable,  was sold to Mrs Martha Mardall (nee Long - see Who was related to Who?).

The Harpenden Brewery Letter, 1891,  shows how an apparently simple letter, which could easily have ended up in the waste paper basket, can provide important in reconstructing the past.

Update to the Gilbey Funeral at Bishops Stortford

A few years ago I acquired two photographs of a grand funeral procession and by carrying out some detailed research, using clues such as poster on the wall, and in windows, in the background was able to identify the place where one of the photographs was taken, and to date it to a very narrow period. While it has not yet been confirmed it seems very likely that the funeral was of Walter Gilbey, of Gilbey's Gin fame, in Bishops Stortford, in November 1914. For details of the interesting story behind the pictures see The Funeral, Bishops Stortford.

 At the time the location of the above picture was not known, although it shows the same hearse with the same floral arrangement on the top. Now David Brown, of Bishops Stortford writes: 

From the houses - particularly the small gable end you can see behind the house on the left, and the windows in the attic - it is pretty clear that the procession is in London Road just south of the junction with South Street (the Whitepost roundabout).  The procession is heading south along London Road and presumably would have turned right up Thorley Hill towards the cemetery

 I have also added a brief news report of the funeral, which took place on November 16th, from The Times and a portrait from the Illustrated London News.

Traffic on the Old North Road

READ   ALL   ABOUT   IT

I am currently considering an answer to a query about Wadesmill and as a result have collected together some old news items about traffic along the Old North Road.

Read what happened when Hancock drove his 20 seated Automaton Stem Bus to Cambridge in 1839 or when the Marquis of Exeter's carriage was side-swiped by a waggon in 1841. Find out why Romaine's massive steam cultivator (picture above) was going to Royston.

The Story of Markyate Cell - and the Markyate pages are updated

Markyate Cell has an interesting history, starting as a nunnery in the 12th century, and was converted into a private house in the 16th century. It is associated with the myth of The Wicked Lady of Markyate Cell, and the above picture shows the house before a fire which led to rebuilding in 1840.

At the same time the Markyate pages have been given a significant face lift, including some new information about the books.

The Burchmore Family Graves at Flamstead

A Verse on my Gt. Gt. Gt. Gt. Grandfather's grave (1806)

Affliction sore long time I bore

Physicions were in vain

I found no ease till God did please

To ease me of my pain

I recently took a series of pictures of Flamstead, and St Leonard's Church, with the intention of posting details of the complex group of Burchmore graves on this site later this year. Shortly after I had posted some picture on this web site I had an email from a distant cousin, who lives in Australia and has carried out extensive research on the Burchmore family. As a result we have exchanged information and I have made some additions to my Ancestors pages - including showing three of the grave stones - Thomas Burchmore (1706-1787), the adjacent stone - almost certainly his son Thomas Burchmore (1729-1806) and Thomas junior's wife, Sarah Andrew (1735-1816)

Better Access to Earlier Posts on this Newsletter

When I started this blog I didn't make use of the labels facility - which allows you to quickly look at other posts which use the same keyword as the post you are currently looking at. 

This is changing and I am now using labels on all new posts (except temporary topics -such as notification of meetings). Each new post will contain the relevant place names as a label, and also the more important surnames. There are also topic labels such as "Football", "Royalty", "Brickmaker" and "Medieval Fields".

I am currently scanning the old posts and have already labelled some 200 posts - with another 200 to go - hopefully by the end of the week.

To use the facility simply click on the desired keyword at the bottom of the post. For many posts you will then need to click through to the main web site to seen even more information.

Bourne Hall Academy, Bushey - c1845-c1885

Linda has discovered that Henri Lemenager, the Watford photographer, was related by marriage to Henry Lewis Biggs, who ran the Bourne Hall Academy in Bushey - where Henri worked for a time around 1861. She commented about the lack of information about the school and as a result I have drafted a history, as far as I could, with a picture of the building, map showing its location, and a list of the pupils I have identified from the census returns.

I have added brief information on the pupils who were born in Hertfordshire. Herbert Austin was a paper manufacturer of Solesbridge Mill, Chorleywood; George Capel was the son of a master upholsterer of Watford,; Edward Hampton, and his brothers, were sons of Edward Hampton, a local master baker who later had the Swan Inn, Rickmansworth; and Harry Finch Woollatt was the son on a farmer living at Samwells Farm, Sandridge.

Information on small schools such as this one is hard to find - so if you can add anything  - such as your ancestor went to this school, please let me know and I can add the information to the school history.

Another WW1 post card - Middlesex Regiment, by Cull of Watford

Five of these soldiers have the Middlesex regiment cap badge and a large version of the picture, which should make it easier to recognize any of the men, can be seen on the Later Troops at Watford page. I have not yet been able to pin down an exact date for when the regiment troops were based in the area. The message on the back suggests they were about to leave the area and go to "the seaside." The writer also asks his wife to sent fifteen shillings to he can make up deficiencies in his kit.

One of the soldiers had a different cap badge which I have not been able to identify.

The photographer was Harry Cull, of Watford, and the number 9162, which is the highest reference number I have found for him.