Charlton
Charlton maps (2 available)
Map of Hertfordshire
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
See this old map of Hertfordshire
Personalised maps
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Charlton books (11 available)
- 1 photos on Charlton appear in 1 Frith books - View photos of Charlton
- Read extracts and see photos from these books on Charlton and Hertfordshire
Charlton memories
Read and share memories of Charlton and Hertfordshire inspired by Frith photos
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Hertfordshire memories
Man in Picture 1965
The white-haired man in the photograph, I believe, is my father John Neville. He was a police sergeant in Hitchin from 1941 until his retirement in the late '50s.
A memory of Hitchin contributed by John Neville
Visiting
The lady in the centre of the photograph walking towards the camera is Mrs Kate Silsby my grandmother who lived at 8 Tilehouse Street. When this was taken we think she would have been walking to St Ippollytts to visit her daughter Mrs Babs Brown.
A memory of Hitchin contributed by MAUREEN RAINE
Letchworth Childhood
Seeing the fountain in this picture brings back childhood memories from the 1950/60s of sailing boats up and down the paddling pool at weekends or when your parents took you down on a sunny afternoon. Summer fetes and funfair on the grass area between the paddling pool and Norton Way South, last but not least playing in the small wood behind the paddling pool before the Council cut it down and spoilt it!
A memory of Letchworth Garden City contributed by Ian Griffin
How things don't change!
Oh my goodness. I was bought up in Wheathampstead and I can still see it now, the newsagents on the High Street and the then "Old fashioned" chemist called Busbys at the end!
A memory of Wheathampstead contributed by Belinda Devine
Extracts From Charlton & Hertfordshire books
Charlton was the birthplace of Henry Bessemer, inventor of the Bessemer converter.
An extract from from"Hitchin Town and City Memories".
The village of Charlton lies about 3/4 mile to the south-west of Hitchin. At the time of Domesday it was held by King William himself - before 1066, it was included in Earl Harold's estates as part of Hitchin. The River Hiz has its source just south of the village, and a watermill is recorded in the village in Domesday. In the 1800s, the villagers' income came from the straw-plaiting industry, which served the hat-making trade at Luton. Sir Henry Bessemer, the inventor of the Bessemer conversion process for manufacturing steel, was born here. It is said that Dog Kennel Farm, at Charlton, was originally kennels for Henry VIII's hunting hounds.
An extract from from"North and East Hertfordshire Photographic Memories".
In 1901, Hermitage Road was a pleasant, open avenue. The building on the left in view
46642, left, is the Hermitage, home of Frederick Seebohm; very little of it still remains.
Windmill Hill is just visible in the background.
An extract from from"Hitchin Town and City Memories".
A view of St Marys church in 1931, with the War Memorial in the foreground. In 1752, the Rewd William Cole wrote that the tower was `one of the most clumsy and heavy ones I ever saw`. Perhaps `solid` is a kinder description.
An extract from from"Hitchin Town and City Memories".
In the 1960s, the Sun Hotel’s yard did not include
fire escapes from the upstairs rooms, as it does now.
Otherwise, there is little but the parked cars to give
a clue to the date of this photograph. The timber-
framed buildings, on the left, are believed to date
from the 16th century.
An extract from from"Hitchin Town and City Memories".