Bishop's Stortford
Bishop's Stortford photos (109 available)
Bishop's Stortford 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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Bishop's Stortford books (12 available)
Bishop's Stortford Town Walk Guide
Paperback
St Albans Town Walk Guide
Paperback
- 34 photos on Bishop's Stortford appear in 3 Frith books - View photos of Bishop's Stortford
- Read extracts and see photos from these books on Bishop's Stortford and Hertfordshire
Bishop's Stortford memories
Read and share memories of Bishop's Stortford and Hertfordshire inspired by Frith photos
Coopers
I remember this building being Handscombes Ironmongers. And one end of it being a pram shop in the early 80's I think . I bought my parents their 25th wedding anniversary present in Handscombes... a dinner service in a Poppy design. Full service with tureens etc only cost £24.99! This was in 1978. They held their party at the Bell in Stanstead.
Contributed by Sue Spooner
Hertfordshire memories
Coopers
I remember this building being Handscombes Ironmongers. And one end of it being a pram shop in the early 80's I think . I bought my parents their 25th wedding anniversary present in Handscombes... a dinner service in a Poppy design. Full service with tureens etc only cost £24.99! This was in 1978. They held their party at the Bell in Stanstead.
A memory of Bishop's Stortford contributed by Sue Spooner
Where we used to go some Saturday nights
In the 50s my mum used to take us to see our Great Uncle Herb and Aunt Nell at Sawbridgeworth. He used to take my sister and I to his allotment, buy us both a toy then listen to the sports report and take us down the Old Bull Pub for a lemonade and crisps. Great Aunt Nell was bedridden and died soon after. Great Uncle Herb was a very nice old man.
A memory of Sawbridgeworth contributed by eddie tait
The Picketts of Standon
The majority of my father's family lived in and around Standon from 1600 onwards and one of them was the Sexton of St. Mary's and another was the innkeeper of The Three Horseshoes at Farnham in 1881. My Grandfather was born in the Three Horsehoes. Does anyone have any connections with the Pickett family?
A memory of Standon contributed by Angela Kenny
Extracts From Bishop's Stortford & Hertfordshire books
The spire of St Michael's church dominates the skyline. When the tower was found to be unstable, it was strengthened and the spire raised to 182 feet. The roofs of four maltings mark the towpath of the River Stort. Some of these maltings have now been converted into dwellings.
An extract from from"North and East Hertfordshire Photographic Memories".
The 16th-century Chantry in Hadham Road was built on the site of the original priest's house on lands granted under the will of Baldwyn Victor. Just out of sight, under the gate, are the so-called 'ruins'. These, along with the arch, were moved from either St Michael's or one of the London churches and rebuilt at the Chantry by Sir Walter Gilbey.
An extract from from"North and East Hertfordshire Photographic Memories".
By 1940, only 6 out of the 17 maltings in the town were in operation. Barley and fuel for the furnaces were brought to Stortford by water, and latterly by rail. Processing of the barley into malt took place from September to June; during this time the furnaces were never extinguished, and a sweet-smelling pall covered the town. The sacks of malt and barley husks, for cattle feed, were loaded onto barges and transported to London.
An extract from from"North and East Hertfordshire Photographic Memories".
This view looks southwards towards the Corn Exchange, with the Chantry behind the photographer. On the left are the offices of the Herts and Essex Observer, where Harry Murdon printed the newspaper for 73 years until 1961. On the right are the arches of the council offices. In 1905, the fire brigade erected an arch across North Street to welcome King Edward VII on his visit to the town. The ornate water pump supplies a trough for weary horses.
An extract from from"North and East Hertfordshire Photographic Memories".
A ballad of 1843 refers to the building on the left as 'the Ugly Black Lion'. In the late 1890s, the Black Lion public house was extensively altered and restored by Mr Glasscock; by removing the plaster and exposing the windows, he attempted to return the building to its original 1600s style. On the opposite side of Bridge Street stands the Star Tavern, which was first recorded in 1616. A nice 1920 Ford Model T stands outside the tobacconist (left), and the lady in the foreground prepares to rest her bicycle against a cast iron gas lamp standard.
An extract from from"North and East Hertfordshire Photographic Memories".