Berkhamsted, School c.1960
Photo ref: B407055
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Photo ref: B407055
Photo of Berkhamsted, School c.1960

More about this scene

For a number of years it had been suggested that Berkhamsted School and Berkhamsted Girls' School should join together, to the benefit of the children from both schools. This had been resisted, especially by Girls' School parents. In 1996 the two schools came together with the name of Berkhamsted Collegiate School, and Dr Priscilla Chadwick was appointed as first principal. Older residents still refer to the Castle Street and Kings Road campuses as the Boys' and Girls' Schools. For the greater part of the century the affairs of Berkhamsted had been governed by the Berkhamsted Urban District Council and the Berkhamsted Rural District Council; the former was based in the Civic Centre, opened in 1938, and the latter in Boxwell House. With the local government reorganisation in 1974 these bodies were dissolved, and Berkhamsted became part of Dacorum Council, based in Hemel Hempstead. At first Berkhamsted was left with only a parish council, but in 1976 this became a town council with the right to elect a mayor. This government from Hemel Hempstead has been resented by many in Berkhamsted, which jealously guards its identity, and many of the ills of the latter years have been placed, rightly or wrongly, at the doors of Dacorum Borough Council. This independent spirit was further shown when a group of local citizens, feeling that the existing Town Council did not represent the wishes of the people of Berkhamsted, swept to victory in the 1995 elections under the banner of 'Berkhamsted First', taking the majority of the fifteen seats. Lack of experience meant that their control of the council was short- lived, but it was a rude awakening for several long-standing councillors.

A Selection of Memories from Berkhamsted

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our website to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was, prompted by the photographs in our archive. Here are some from Berkhamsted

Sparked a Memory for you?

If this has sparked a memory, why not share it here?

I was born at the Grange Nursing Home in Berkhamstead on May 16, 1950. Dr Waterman delivered me. Do you know where it was located ? Any pictures or insights to the Grange Nursing Home ? I live in Seattle Washington USA now and would love to find out more. We lived at 35 Shrublands Road in Berkhamstead while my father was stationed at RAF Bovington with the USAF.
We moved to Berkhamsted around 1968 when I was 5 years old. I went to Westfield school. After that I went to Thomas Bourne School, in the first year we had to do a couple of days a week at North Church school due to too many pupils. After that Ashlyns, which I hated but survived. My Dad, Bill was a monumental mason and we lived above the funeral directors, Malcolm Jones at 368 high street. My Mum Peggy ...see more
My parents ran the wine merchants Castle & Co ( became Victoria Wine) and I was married in August 1969 at St Peters Church. We lived just down from the Court House and I had my wedding reception there. Walked along the cobbled lantern to my wedding!!!! Was Valerie Whittle and now Val Spencer-Watkins and live in Australia now since 1981
I was born at the Grange Nursing Home in Berkhamsted on November 19th, 1950. My parents were John and Marjorie Stanborough, my father was a school teacher at Park View School which later reverted to Westfield. We lived on the Durrants Estate in Ashridge Rise and I have lovely memories of playing with my friends there, having picnics in Ross Way and playing rounders on the green. Sometimes we would ...see more