Goffs Oak memories
Here are memories of Goffs Oak and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Goffs Oak or a Goffs Oak photo.
John Cull
I am trying to find details of my grandfather's nursery business in the Chesthunt area. He had long retired in the years I lived with him in Flamstead House in Flamstead End. I have managed to fit in many details but nothing has shown up about his Nursery. I think he sold out to one of the big local names. Any information would be marvellous.
Goffs Oak 1965 +
A 20 year old new mum and a brand new mobile home at Goffs Oak House in the heart of the village! Surrounded by huge trees, lawns and winding paths, the bassinette pram - what else after all? - was eased 2 feet down through a narrow door into the garden each morning for baby Sally's appreciation of trees, birds, squirrels and sunshine! Her baptism at the local country church drew family and friends, baby clinic in the village hall opposite, meeting another mum, older than me whose father had taught my father at Chatham House School, Ramsgate in the 1930s! A very sweet GP nearby, so necessary in such circumstances. Nursery Trades down the road - extensive greenhouses stretching across nearby fields, walks in country lanes. The Jones family with same age baby and a huge red setter called Dino! The LLoyd Jones family with another same age baby, both becoming my daughter's first friends! Always wondering what went on in the Baptist Church,... Read more
Fond Memories of 1950s Goffs Oak
I was born in 1945 at the end of the Second World War at was then 3 Park Villas, Goff's Lane, the home of my grandmother, Alice Emma James. House renumbering during the 1950s resulted in the house becoming 393 Goff's Lane. I was delivered by the district nurse, Nurse Gilbert from across the road. My mother had been evacuated there with my sister, Doreen, in order to escape the bombings of East London and we all returned to London when I was 6 weeks old. My sister went to St. Mary's Church and the local school. The house was also the home of my aunt, Lillian Hill and my uncle, David James. Lillian worked at Cuthbert's Seed Merchants further along the lane and David worked at Steven's Nursery in Burton Lane. My memories of the place start from about 1950 when undertaking visits during school holidays. Growing up in East London meant that Goff's Oak was my first introduction to the country. In those days the village was very quiet with... Read more
Memories of 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 called back in those days, at St Mary's School which was (and still is for a little longer before it is pulled down to make way for a bigger school further on up the road) - part of the school life for those of us at St Mary's, and it made a welcome break from practical maths and English lessons. If I cast my mind back to school days of the 1960s I can still taste that high church incense that would be used during the morning sevice and also hear dear old Mr Stan Mansfield snoring at the back of the church. Such happy days.
The Old Pond
On a visit back to the area after a long time away living in Australia. I was dismayed that what was the old triangle with the Old Pond pub in the middle and then changed to a roundabout with a fountain, the area was still known as the old pond because another pub opposite Ripleys was named The Old Pond. I now see that this has been changed to R J s or something and is up for lease. So now there seems to be nothing to indicate that the area is the old pond, other that a tiny sign at the top of Windmill lane that reads "20 Old Pond" how does anyone know that the area within 150 metres of the fountain is the Old Pond.
St Mary's Church
Re: St Mary's wednesday morning church service at Dewhurst Secondary as it was known in those days, I remember Stan Mathews falling asleep on his knees as in prayer. My mother now lives in the alms house next to the church, so every time i go back to visit it breaks my heart to see how much it's changing. I say for the worse, I mean you have only got to look at Broomer Cottage. It had a wonderfull garden, now it's houses, very sad, although Churchgate is supposed to be a historic area I have fond memories of Whithern Park with all the grass and pathways kept to great degree of tidyness. I remember being chased off the grass by the Parky as we called him, I think his name was Brian, then when I went to the park last September 2010, what avdifference, the grass trodden on the paths, not what they used to be, even the bowling green looks a bit 3rd rate.
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 Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock. If anyone out there could perhaps help me with this unusual surname, which by the way is a very old Cheshunt name, I would be very grateful for any further information.
Lotus Factory
I remember back in the early 1960s walking along Dalaware Road and looking into the open doors of the Lotus factory while they were assembling Lotus Cortinas. This meant nothing to me then, but now I am a petrol head and like cars.
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