Nostalgic memories of Buntingford's local history
Share your own memories of Buntingford and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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Displaying all 8 Memories
My Grandparents Albert Elon and Florence Ida Baker were landlords of The Angel Inn during the second world war, I can remember how my sister and I had difficulty falling asleep because of the chiming of the town clock. We used to walk up a long path at the rear of the pub which ran along side my grandfather's allotment, when we reached the end we then continued to the playing fields to go on the ...see more
Around this time I was attending the senior school (and I do believe this newsagents was owned and run by the Burrell family) and often used to pass under the clock tower as I walked to and from the school via the lane behind the clock tower, which merged with Bowling Green Lane until later, when I was bought my first two wheeled bicycle after which I cycled part way to and from my home, leaving my cycle ...see more
I was born in Church Street in 1940, next to the Fox & Duck public house. I went to Layston School, Mrs Skipp was head teacher. I played for the Fords in the early 60s. Mrs Mayes kept the shop opposite. The butcher shops in those days were the co-op, Wally Joiners, Piggots and Howletts. Days ran the newsagents. I forgot Jacksons the butchers, Scrivner the cobblers, Moses the grocers, Miles the barbers, Mrs Ants ...see more
The far left of this photograph, just shows the Tudor house where I lived from 1950 to 1960. Two doors down is Mrs Castle's sweet shop/tobacconist, and beyond that (with the blind) is Borsberry's ironmongers. The High Street was packed with shops of every kind and Buntingford was a thriving community. Amazing to think, that our front door was just four feet from the main A10 London Road! I agree with Lindsay Doel ...see more
The house on the right was and still is (2009) a butchers shop. My dad Mark Doel bought it from the Ward Lewises who had bought from Sid Howlett in the 1970s. I can remember there used to be stalls and stables behind the shop where animals were kept, as it was also a slaughter house. On one of my first visits to the shop before the family moved there the land where the Health Centre stands ...see more
My mother - Peggy Barker - looked after Mungo Walker, the grandson of the Heaton-Ellises when he returned from Kenya as a 7 year old in the late 1930s. This was only for a few months until he went to boarding school. She was supposed to be teaching him Maths but I think from the sound of it, they just had a lovely time going on walks and generally acclimatising him to life in England. ...see more
My great-grand parents - Charles and Sarah Roblett - married at Layston. Their daughter Dorothy Roblett married Christopher McHugh, of Archers in Buntingford. The wedding here took place some time between 1920-1940, the church was open air and they married on Christmas Eve. Chris and Dorothy had three children, Christopher, Bernadette (my mother) and John. They passed away over 20 years ago now.
I have recently discovered that my Great Grandfather John Main originally from Devon (a shoe maker) and then in Brixton, London as a Dairy Manager owned the Bell Hotel in Hare Street around 1905. My Grandmother lived there as a little girl and would often tell us stories as children about how it was haunted and about secret panels etc and of an old huntsman who would sit on the garden wall! ...see more
