Goffs Oak, Hertfordshire

Morning service at St Mary's in the 1960s

Like many young folks of the 1960s who grew up in Cheshunt churchgate area, when the time came to marry you almost always chose St Mary's as the place to have your wedding. It is a lovely old church. I also have happy memories of going to church on Wednesday mornings as I was a student, or pupil as we were... [more]

Mill Lane Cottages, Mill Lane, Turnford, Herts

Hi, I am trying to research my family tree, family name is Sipthorp. I have obtained various birth certificates for my father and uncle. They were born in these pretty little cottages, the family consisted of mum, dad and 5 children, my, what a squash! My grandfather worked at the powder mills which I can only assume to be The Royal... [more]

Childhood in Waltham Cross

I was born in Waltham Cross in 1941, right in the middle of an air raid.  My dad was yelling up at the planes saying "Not tonight Adolf, not tonight!"
Waltham Cross back then was a wonderful village to grow up in. Sunday mornings only the sweet shop would be open at the top of Trinity Lane, named Foyles. You could... [more]

Turnford - a peaceful place

I was born and grew up in a happy, peaceful village where everyone knew everyone else. My memories are of long walks in a beautiful countryside which could have been a million miles from London instead of an hour on a greenline bus. Of thick fogs in November when traffic crawled at walking pace; indeed, one night my grandfather... [more]

The Potters Bar

Before 'The Potters Bar' was built, the site was occupied by 'The Railway Hotel', a red brick building. This was demolished in the 1930s and replaced by the present building and called 'The Potters Bar Hotel'. This pub was very popular during the days of the Second World War, with sing-songs and amateur entertainers mostly on a Saturday night. It was... [more]

The Ritz Cinama

At the end of Darkes Lane, on the corner of Byng Drive, the Ritz Cinema was built and opened in 1934. My father was the cinema foreman from then until 1939. It had an elevated organ and songs were played on it with the words displayed on the cinema screen. In spite of numerous air raid warnings, as far... [more]

Oakmere House

As a young boy, together with some of my friends we went fishing in the lower lake and one winter, 1938 or 1939, we went ice skating on the lower lake. In those days I lived in Park Avenue. Also, during the Second World War, Oakmere House held dances. I went to one or two when on leave. I think that... [more]

Mount Grace Hospital.

I apparently spent sometime during WW2 in a Mount Grace Hospital in Potters Bar. Has anyone any details or photographs of this building please? Thank you.