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Frogmore memories

Here are memories of Frogmore and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Frogmore or a Frogmore photo.

St Albans Summer Holidays in The 1950s

A child from Thanet taking annual last week of August holidays with an adored great aunt at Chiswell Green, travelling by train to Victoria Station, London, taking the Greenline to Watford Junction, bus no 321 to the Three Hammers, Chiswell Green south of St Albans. Regular trips each year were to Cottonmill Swimming Pool, Whipsnade Zoo, Dunstable Downs, St Albans town, Abbey and grounds. Now entirely built up, 'the bungalow' belonging to my great aunt had fields and woods surrounding it, a snake allegedly living under a huge log always dared to climb onto, foxes allegedly in the woods. My great aunt just retiring from running House and Williams Secretarial College in the town since 1920, one large room was turned into a classroom for private students. The joy of being allowed to sit at huge oak desks, use Victorian writing sets with ink and pens - and to use, very gently, the 1920s manual typewriters!

A memory of Frogmore, shared by Sandra Dudley.

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Brogan Dedicating my Life to Frogmore.

It has now been little more than three moons since glorious Frederick Francis, arrived home; eyes shining; hair wild (per usual), to tell me of a small village he had encountered.

The spirit of the place had completely encaptured him, I too felt a rush of desire as tales of green fields as far as the eye could see, & wild men.

I LOVE FROGMORE TO BE CONTINUED

A memory of Frogmore, shared by Brogan And Fred.

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Frogmore; The Land of Dreams

Upon passing frogmore recently the other day, I, Fred Whatmore, saw a small sign directing me to what I would later come to call Frogmore; home; the land of my dreams

The luscious green fields spread before my eyes, and fromore mausoleum doors wide open welcomed me in. . . ? I sat for a while with Willy the keeper of the Mausoleum grounds, we ate Frogmore stew and discussed the village politics, apparently Mrs Weatherby's Daughter has had a baby out of marriage and everyone is rather concerned.

This love and common knowledge of all residents of Frogmore warmed the cockels of my heart (possibly helped by the tasty stew, prepared by handsome old Willy, the generous source of all my Frogmore knowledge). There was an understanding; a loving atmosphere; a kindness seconded by no village I had ever had the fortune to run across.

On the journey home, my mind wandered back to the Frogmorian way of life. Decided,... Read more

A memory of Frogmore, shared by Brogan And Fred.

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Memories of Hertfordshire

Spooner's Corner

Spooner's Corner c1955
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Living in Park Street Lane from 1940 to 1961 I passed this corner every day to go under the railway bridge to the recreation ground and school or on to the village. The branches of the Horse Chestnut tree in the foreground gave a copious supply of the very best 'conkers' to us local children. Many's the time it also sheltered us from the rain and the road would become slippery with the large wet leaves and crushed horse chestnuts.
There was a building (a coach-house I think) with a clock on top on the opposite corner to the house, behind the tree. I can remember a yearly 'garden party' event held at the house. I believe members of the family were involved in springboard diving and during the afternoon diving displays were given from the high board over the swimming pool by members of a well known swimming club. Quite a big village event back then in the 1940's.
In the field to... Read more

A memory of Park Street, shared by Valerie Tomlinson.

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Swimming on A Hot Summer Evening

My family lived in Stanmore, Middlesex and on a hot summer evening (yes there were some!) my dad would pile mum and I into his little 1932 Austin 7 and off we would go to the 'swimming bath' at London Colney. I loved it, occasionally dad would swim with me but most of the time he and mum would sit and watch me having the most glorious time. I remember there were horses in the field behind the pool and I enjoyed watching them too, but that pool was the prize, I never wanted to come out and would still be swimming in the dusk... I used to BEG to go there whenever it was warm and was always so thrilled when it paid off! I was born in 1944, so all this would have taken place in the late 1940s and early 1950s...

A memory of London Colney, shared by Susan Rundles.

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Radlett Prep

I attended Radlett Prep between 1958 and 1965. It was located in a converted three storey Edwardian house on the corner of Hillside Avenue and Aldenham Grove, and has since been converted back to a private residence. Aldenham Grove was close to the nearby Aldenham Lodge mansion which was located at the top end of The Drive near what is now Lodge End. Aldenham Lodge had become a hotel which advertised all post-war mod cons including "...television, billiards, riding from our own stables, Swimming (club membership) and fully licensed Saturday Dinner Dances". Radlett Prep held exciting summer swimming galas in their substantial outdoor pool. The whole edifice was sadly demolished in 1964, putting an end to those sun-drenched grand galas with its reward of small bags of plain crisps with tiny blue bags of salt. Radlett Prep's Edwardian House was built on land sold off by the owners of Aldenham Lodge in 1910 for development. Radlett Prep was owned and run by a Mr and Mrs Bishop who lived in... Read more

A memory of Radlett, shared by Hamish Adam.

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Nostalgic Memories of Radlett

I was born in London in 1954 and loved visiting my grandparents who lived in Rose Walk. My first memory during the late 50's was the sight of Radlett Station, it was always well tended, with large painted tyres filled with flowers. The lady station mistress knew my sister and I, and would help us down from the train where we'd meet our lovely grandma. It was a long walk to the other end of Radlett, but how we loved staying there. I remember going shopping with grandma, the cobblers, fishmongers, the greengrocers (who had a rough collie, Sheba?) They'd deliver all her fruit & veg. Visits to the Co-op I think it was, a mini supermarket, where in the meat section you'd buy the meat and get a ticket, which was handed to a woman through a little window of her office where you'd pay. The pub near their house was the cat and fiddle, and just past that was a lovely bluebell wood, which led to the park.... Read more

A memory of Radlett, shared by Carole Hulse.

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School Days

I am not quite sure of the year, but I attended Radlett Girls School which was at the bottom of Loom and the A5. I used to walk to and from school, sometimes through the village and up Aldenham Road. I passed shops and old Mr Allen who was a cobbler would be sitting in the window mending shoes and would wave to me. My birth family have lived in Radlett for over a hundred years the surname is Picton and all but one have moved away. I love visiting Radlett as it brings back many memories, like balancing on the tiny wall outside the Post Office and on a Saturday buying a pennies worth of stale cakes from Freestones. They made my wedding cake, after I had been to the library, generally getting a big book about Marmalade the cat. I worked in Olney's the shoe shop on The Terrace from 1966 to 1969 and my boss taught me all I needed to know about shoe fitting. I enjoyed... Read more

A memory of Radlett, shared by Jean Powell.

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