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Wadesmill
Wadesmill maps
Historic maps of Wadesmill and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Wadesmill maps
Wadesmill photos
We have no photos of Wadesmill, although we do have photos of these nearby places:
Westmill| Ware| Wareside| Bengeo| Amwell Hill| Great Amwell| Waterford| Standon| Hertford| Stanstead St Margarets| Puckeridge| Watton At Stone| Stanstead Abbotts| Hunsdon| Much Hadham| Benington| Hoddesdon| Braughing| Rye House| Datchworth| Roydon| Walkern| Great Parndon| Harlow
Wadesmill area books
Displaying 1 of 8 books about Wadesmill and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Wadesmill
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Hertfordshire memories
Evacuation During WW2
I was a student at the Norwood Technical Institute which was evacuated to Coles Hill House, Westmill. The house itself belonged to a military officer, and I guess it was taken over for evacuees. At the time I was there, there were 48 girls, a Head mistress, and I think about 4 teachers, a Matron and an Assistant Matron. Being during the war, we were all allocated our rations and the schooling consisted of our lessons, which were - cookery, our meals, housework, general upkeep of the house, gardening, growing vegetables, etc. We also kept chickens, rabbits and a goat (for milk) This experience was invaluable in later life as the staff were quite strict that everything should be done "properly". I understand that the N.T.A. is no longer in existence, now called South London College. I often think of those days and the companionship of the other students. Each year we used to host a Garden Party for the... Read more
Leaving Ware Grammar School
My elder sister and I both went to Ware Grammar School. My sister Christine Beattie from 1953 to 1956 and me, Catherine (Rena) Beattie from 1955 to 1956. We travelled from Hertford by bus to school and back. We left the school in July 1956 to travel with the rest of the family as migrants to Australia.
I'll never forget the last day at Ware Grammar. My sister and I were called up by the Headmistress in front of the student body to be wished 'Good Luck in Australia.'
My sister Christine joined the Australian Army and trained as a cook, but obtained an honourable discharge to become a Salvation Army Officer. I became a Medical Laboratory Technician but in my late forties became an Industrial officer with a Union. We both look back with fondness on our time at Ware Grammar.
History Mischief
It was a Friday and it was period seven. I decided I would wind up my history teacher by leaning back on my chair pretending to be in a race car ,well it didn't go to plan. I fell backward on my chair, it went straight under the table, I banged my head but I still laughed, then I was sent outside. After class finished he brought me back in and said "Detention with me 1:00 Monday". I replied "Allright then", with the biggest grin on my face. Monday detention with Mr Moore; I got to the detention room and I just walked in and he said "In that corner now, I don't want to hear a word from you". So I went to sit in the coner and I started to tap on the table, Mr Moore got angry and said "I told you not a sound", I replied "You told me not to speak Sir, I wasn't speaking". I totally owned the teacher, it was great. ... Read more
Ware Swimming Pool
I spent great times as a boy in the swimming pool which always showed the water temperature on a board outside the entrance ( sometimes 50F ). Our favourite activity was doing bombs off the top board and soaking anyone who was near to the edge. We would always go to the little cafe on the premises after swimming and buy a hot cup of Oxo drink. On the way home we would raid the pea lorries as they entered the factory which was a short distance from the pool. Those peas tasted so sweet! Next to the pool were tennis courts and the Priory Park where we also spent much time playing on the swings. We often played in an area called 'The Brickfields' which was at the end of the road just after Alan & Hanbury's factory.I believe it has subsequently been built on. In the brickfields were swampy cuts from the river Lea where there were old rotting barges.
It's nice to see a picture... Read more
1954 And 1955
I was stationed here for the year above. Last time I visited was maybe 1972 or so. The headquarters company there had been torn down and nothing left but the foundation. The English folks were VERY gracious to the American servicemen although sometimes we did not deserve it. I recall Albert Tayler (of Puckeridge) just up the road. He had his VW bus and took us various places of neet as a taxi service. I did see Albert on that trip back in the early 70's.
HAPPY DAYS NEAR COLLIERS END
My family bought property between Colliers End & High Cross - about 5 acres. My dad used to stop there for tea after having biked from London to Cambridge and stopped on his way back to London. The acreage comprised a lovely two-storey house, a poultry farm, barn and woodland, restaurant with gazebos & other buildings for teas and dinners. The house stood on its own down in a dell. You could just see the chimney from the road. This was in 1938 when I was a young girl. We did a very good trade, mostly on Sundays. As soon as WW2 began, petrol was rationed and that was the end of that. We moved back to London. Now I live in Sacramento, California - a far cry from the charm of the English countryside, Colliers End and its environs. They were very special days! My best friend was Gwen; she lived in High Cross. I attended elementary school in... Read more
Morley Cottage
I remember Wareside so well. I lived at Morley Cottage just outside the village. I went there in 1937 with my parents - my father Jim McGowan and Mother Elizabeth.They both worked at Fanhams Hall for Lady Brocket. My mother then worked for Mrs. Baird at Reeves Green in the 1940's and then went as a dinner lady at Wareside C of E school - where I went until 1947 then onto Ware Grammar School. I have many memories of Whist Drives in the Village and dances and happy memories of VE Day in the village.I see that some else mentions the Temperance Hall and my parents knew the family well who lived there - their name was Godley. We too used to go to Hogham Wood to pick primroses and bluebells (not allowed now!) and then of course the railway line was still in action. In fact I used to catch the train from Mardock Station to London in the 50's to go to work in the... Read more
