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Ayot St Lawrence
Ayot St Lawrence photos
Displaying the first of 8 old photos of Ayot St Lawrence. View all Ayot St Lawrence photos
Ayot St Lawrence maps
Historic maps of Ayot St Lawrence and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Ayot St Lawrence maps
Ayot St Lawrence area books
Displaying 1 of 8 books about Ayot St Lawrence and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Ayot St Lawrence
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Ayot St Lawrence.
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The Silk Farm
A delightful place to work if only for six months. We would lunch at the Brocket Arms or take a picnic into the grounds by the swimming pool. We did work as well; caring for the silk worms in the mornings and showing visitors around in the afternoons. My favourite task would be to walk the grounds collecting flowers and foliage for the arrangement in the hall. The downside was the 5 mile bike ride each way in all weathers.
Ayot St Lawrence
I was born in Hitchin Hospital in 1948 & we lived in Abbotshay Cottage , before moving to The Home Farm Delaport in Wheathampstead , when I was 11.
The post office was run by an elderly lady whose name I feel was Miss Lythe. The milk was delivered daily by Mrs Tucker . The Brocket Arms was very popular , Sunday School was held in one of the bars. The vicar at the time was Rev. Davies, he always sucked polo mints!!
Prior to the silk farm the property was owned by the ex king & queen Michael of Romania.
My sister & I went to The Grange School in Welwyn & my brother was a boarder at Aldwickbury near Harpenden. My father worked for De Havillands.
Went back some years ago & stayed at the Brocket Arms , so good to relive all those happy childhood memories.
Hertfordshire memories
The Place I Was Born
I was born in Ayot St Peter - March 22nd 1932. My father was farm bailiff at the Frith estate. My mother told me she would take me for walks in my pram and would ofter meet George Bernard Shaw out for his walk, and they would chat for a minute or two. I am proud to have the name of Ayot St Peter on my birth certificate and my passport, it has created many interesting conversations.
I now live in Florida and have done so for the last 28 years.
Richard G Gaunt.
How Things Don't Change!
Oh my goodness. I was bought up in Wheathampstead and I can still see it now, the newsagents on the High Street and the then "Old fashioned" chemist called Busbys at the end!
Wheathampstead
We moved to Delaport Farm , on the edge of the golf course, in or around 1958 til 1965 to move to a larger farm in Somerset. At that time my mother would fill her car up with 4 gallons of petrol for £1.00. Simons was the butcher, Auld was the baker & Titmuus had a grain depot in the village, Mr. Amos had the shoe shop. The Maltings was a diners club run by Betty & Mac. Such good memories.
The Sun
The building on the left is the Sun pub, which we used to visit when in the sixth form at Stanborough school in the 1970s . Our teachers used it too as it wasn't far from our school so we used to go there more on weekend evenings... We drank Courage Best and Directors at 34p a pint and got accepted provided we acted responsibly.
In those days 'responsible' behaviour included sitting on the bridge, paddling in the river and having fights in it. On at least one occasion we pushed each other off the bridge into the water. Afterwards we all went home peacefully. Fortunately there weren't ASBOs in my day.... but then we didn't wear hoods, just flares and long hair
The Pond on The Common
This pond used to be known as The Silver Cup Pond but I do not know where the name originated. Here was where children would sail toy boats or paddle. I have not yet come across a current photo or reference to this pond so I am wondering if it has survived health and safety strangulation. Would love to hear more about it.
