Essendon in 1880 (and better pictures)

I have added a 1880 description of the village, together with some more post card images - with higher resolution images a single click away.

Essendon Mill

First World War Billeting - A Berkhamsted clue

Much of Hertfordshire became a large military training camp when the First World War broke out, and large numbers of soldiers were billeted in private houses. When I researched the book The London Gunners come to Town in proved hard to establish which units were posted where, because the relevant records had not survived. Much of the surviving information is scattered and the envelope illustrated here provides a named soldier, a regiment, a named address in Berkhamsted, and a date. The page Billeting in Berkhamsted in the First World War provides more details.

In addition I will use the page to add other soldier - regiment - billet - date information I can find for Berkhamsted - including any information you can add.

A Sermon by the Rector of Therfield on sale on ebay

I have just spotted this sermon, published in 1708, by the rector of Therfield, on sale on ebay (end of auction just before midday on 30th October). If you are interested in Thomas Sherlock or the village you might consider bidding. I have added details of Thomas Sherlock, and his father William Sherlock, both of whom were Rectors of Therfield, on the page for St Mary's Church, Therfield. 

An unknown Football Cup won by a Watford? club circa 1910

An Unknown Football Club

I have been collecting information on two Watford photographers Jesse Landon (photographer circa 1895-1906) and his brother Percy Landon (photographer circa 1908-1929). So far I have only traced a few examples of their work but one of them is a photograph of an unknown football club showing off the football cup that hey have obviously won. The first stage in identifying the club is probably to identify the cup - so have any of you any good ideas. Can you help?

For more information (and another Watford area football club waiting to be identified) see The Landon Family of Watford Photographers.

An unknown Watford Football Club

Bedwell Park House, Essendon, Home of C. G. Arbuthnot, Director, Bank of England

I have posted two post card images of Bedwell Park House (with higher resolution images available). It was the home of Charles George Arbuthnot, director of the Bank of England, and later became home for the Royal Victoria Patriotic School for girls.   It is said that the potting shed of Bedwell House is the one illustrated by Beatrix Potter in The Tale of Peter Rabbit.

Have your ancestors been resurrected?

Early in the 19th century many bodies were dug out of the fresh grave by Resurrection Men, who then sold the corpse to surgeons for dissection.

In 1823 James Finder noticed the bad smell coming from a cart passing through Harpenden. This proved to be the body of William Gilman, who had been resurrected from Dunstable churchyard.

In Hertfordshire William Gootheridge was buried in Codicote Churchyard in October 1824, only to be resurrected and reburied when the body was recovered.

Do you know of any other cases in Hertfordshire - I am sure there must have been many more.

The exhibition Doctors, Dissection and Resurrection Men has just opened at the Museum of London. [Review]

Redbourn Memories - The Football Club and much more

I have just added a copy of Redbourn Memories by Geoff Web to my reference library. Like his other book The Character of Redbourn it contains a large number of photographs including people - with names. For instance the Redbourn Football Team is pictured in 1899, 1906/7, c 1909, c 1910, 1912/13, c 1920, 1923/24, c 1925, 1930/31, 1935, 1937, c 1948, c 1950 and 1955. There are many other group pbotographs - of the schools and the boys football team, and also of Redbourn Cricket Club (earliest picture c 1890).

Redbourn Football Club - 1899

Back Row: ? Carke, ? Belshaw, J. Holtham, --, Walter Hyde, Sam Skillman, Perce Jarman, ? Arnold, John Sansom, ? Rose

Middle row: ? Halsey, T. Squires, Tom Jarman, F. Pratt

Front row: C. Purdey, Dick Quick

While this is (and its companion books) are excellent sources for pictures showing named inhabitants of Redbourn in the first half ot the 20th century there is, unfortunately no index!

Kimpton - a mine of historical information

When this post card of Kimpton High Street came along - I decided it was a good opportunity to reorganise the Kimpton pages, and at the same time add some new information. Why not explore the village!

Sale of a 1864 Horse picture, possibly by Downer of Watford.

A large photograph of a horse, recorded as taken in Watford in 1864, recently sold on ebay at quite a high price considering the very degraded condition of the image. While it appears that the photographer is not recorded it is very probably by Frederick Downer, who around 1862 made changes to the back yard of the family shop so it could be used for equestrian photographs. I have placed an enhanced thumbnail picture  on the Frederick Downer Biography page for record purposes only, until I can get a better example of his equestrian photographs.

Please note that I am still looking for more examples of this prolific and versatile photographer's work.

Another carte de visite circa 1890 from St Albans

I have added a new carte de visite taken by John Barnard, Silvio House Studio, St Albans - of an unknown father and son(?) - probably taken about 1890. It has a different back to the earlier examples. Unfortunately I still haven't seen any examples of this photographer's cards which can be definitely dated.