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Ashwell
Ashwell maps
Historic maps of Ashwell and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Ashwell maps
Ashwell area books
Displaying 1 of 8 books about Ashwell and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Ashwell
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Ashwell.
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or of a photo of Ashwell.
Cycle Rides to Ashwell
A group of us lads from Muswell Hill in North London used to cycle to Ashwell on a weekend to visit one of our mates who moved there with his mum, his name was Peter and his mum was housekeeper at the Manor House where we used to camp and meet the local girls. We also used the local pub knowing we were under age at the time, but in those days we were a responsible lot and were never any trouble to anyone. I doubt if anyone is still around from the local crowd but if there is maybe they can add their own memories.
Hertfordshire memories
The Chequers Pub
I remember when my nan had the Chequers. My Dad grew up there. We used to go there every Sunday and Nanna Bet would let us have crisps and a coke, in the old style glass bottles. Phil would give us a load of 10ps to go on the machines in the front bar and I thought it was brilliant. Does anyone remember or did you know my uncle who lived there, Billy Wilson? I also remember a lovely Scottish man called Mac who was always in the pub, he had a huge moustach - happy happy days x
Baldock Hostel
I lived in the hostel in the 1960s and liked the area very much. I was a member of the working man's club, the cinema always had up to date films. The town boasted good pubs, there was plenty of work in nearby Letchworth. I had spells in Borg Warner, Emme's Plastic Moulding, Brand's Coatings and more. I heard most of what I mention is now gone.
Locating my Grandparents Grave in Hitchin/Letchworth.
I do not have a memory of Hitchin or the church, as I live in Canada, but I have a photo of my grandfather and grandmother's grave with a granite cross as a marker. They lived in Letchworth and my grandfather's name was William Tye, and my grandmother's name was Rosina. They are buried together and I am wondering if they were buried here. They died in 1920-1922 about, I wonder if their grave marker is still standing.
Airwork Service RAF Bassingbourn
I worked for three years at RAF Bassingbourn for Airwork Services and enjoyed my time in the village, plenty of pubs in those days, one was just outside. Does any one remember which pub featured in a film about the war called either 'The Battle of Britain', 'The Dambusters' or 'Reach for the Sky'?
Recollections of Letchworth Swimming Pool, From Mid 60's
As I look at this picture of the Letchworth swimming pool and notice the date is c1950… it would be only a few years later (mid 60’s) that my friends and I would cycle there with our towels and trunks fastened to the backs of our bikes (no expensive designer sports bags for us!). We’d padlock/chain our bikes outside the pool and hope that the worst that could happen to them is someone let our tyres down and nothing more. This picture captures the pool very much as it would have been when we were there. Usually we’d spend most of the summer holidays there. Getting out of the pool and then lying on the very hot floor to dry off on sunny hot days…Or if it was raining just staying in the water believing that the rain was actually causing the water temperature to rise. Of course if there was a lightning storm we were told to get out of the water. In the deep end there was a... Read more
Letchworth Childhood
Seeing the fountain in this picture brings back childhood memories from the 1950/60s of sailing boats up and down the paddling pool at weekends or when your parents took you down on a sunny afternoon. Summer fetes and funfair on the grass area between the paddling pool and Norton Way South, last but not least playing in the small wood behind the paddling pool before the Council cut it down and spoilt it!
