Wareside memories
Here are memories of Wareside and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Wareside or a Wareside photo.
Mardock(s) Station
I came to live in the Station House at Mardock in 1950 as my father, Alan Dinmore was the Station Master. I was 5 years old and went to Wareside School. The infants' teacher was Mrs Pottle, and later, I believe, Mrs Chalkley. The headteacher was Mrs Norah Kay. I remember a Christopher Bunce living just up the hill from the railway. The village Hall was the scene of such events as the School Play and various entertainments - folk could really sing, then. Whist drives were popular, and my Dad won many a prize which we treasured for ages, but I was sad when Margaret Godley's father won the knitting set, which I would have loved! Across the road from us was Mardock Mill where the Grazebrook's lived. Mr Grazebrook was one of the two commuters from the station, the other being Sheila McGowan. My mother Marjorie belonged to the Womens' Institute. I remember a parade from the village to the War Memorial for Remembrance Sunday. It was impressive.... 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
My Grandfather And,Two Aunties Lived in Wareside
We were the Wren family, my name was Pamela Wren. I am trying to trace my family tree. I remember Evone,, Jenette, Auntie Nell lived in Wareside, Auntie Joyce. My dad was Fred Wren.
Wareside
I remember many happy childhood days spent at my grandparents' cottage up the hill towards the railway station. There was a block of four cottages on the right hand side of the road. My grandfather's name was Silas Wren, and he was well into his eighties in 1952. We had moved to Southend on Sea because my father had risen through the ranks with the LNER and had become motive power superintendent at Southend Victoria, a position that he held until his death in April 1953. My mother Harriet Jane Wren continued to live in Westcliff until her death in October 1983. Owing to a family rift, I never discovered where my mother was buried, although I believe she may have been interred in the Wareside village cemetery with my father. This Mother's Day has got me thinking about these memories, and I intend to return to the village to make some enquiries.
My mother was born in Ware, and lived in the Blue Coat Cottages in Blue Coat Yard,... Read more
Memories of The Red Lion
I was born in 1966 and lived in the Red Lion. My dad and mum were married in 1961. My dad lived in the village all his life, moving to the Red Lion on his marriage. My dad was formerly of Temperance Hall, down the road from the village stores.
Mum and Dad lived in the Red Lion in one room for several months before Dad had renovated it to be liveable. The Red Lion has a circular stair case which runs from the celler to the lounge then on to the second floor then on to the attic which was renovated in 1978ish when Dad also rebuilt the chimney on the back of the property, adding a twist to it.
There was three of us, myself and a brother and a sister. We played in the ditch which ran through the Red Lion property and the surrounding fields. We used to go to Jacob's Ladder which is on the way to Bakers End if you follow the ditch north.... Read more
Visits to Wareside 1964 - Present
My dad was born at Hillside Cottages in Wareside in 1929 (I think). I remember visiting my Grandmother there up until she moved to Ware round about 1978/9. She lived in the house with the "Hillside Cottages" sign on the front. I remember going to visit every Saturday afternoon. The front garden was a typical cottage garden where I would collect seeds in summer from the flowers and there was a huge apple tree in the back garden that dad would prune and we 3 children would climb to collect apples. There was also a well on one side that we were always told to say away from. One of my favourite pastimes was making "mud pies" using the earth from the dug over vegetable patches at the back. We would also go for walks over to "Hogham". Not sure if this is it's real name but it's the coppice of trees you can see from the front of the house, straight ahead in the distance. This would involve crossing... Read more
Memories of Hertfordshire
Memories of Peggy Pinner.
My parents, Peggy and Stan Pinner, moved to Hunsdon from Leyton in 1957. Stan's family was from Wyddial and Aspenden, so Hunsdon was a good fit for them. A small estate was being erected on Wicklands Road and they bought number 3. Our next door neighbours were the Duddys, other neighbours were the Porters, the Joyces, the Fergusons, the Richardsons and the Normans. The local vicar was Mr Pumphrey. The local 'bobby' was P C Reece, he and his family lived in a house across the street from The Crazy Pub. The Bagnells had a hardware store on Main Street not far from the Post Office. The Littleboys owned The Crown, and Peg and Stan had hopes of becoming publicans at one time. Mrs Warner's daughter Judy was a great friend of my sister Ann. Edith Cavell lived on Acorn Street, and was related to Nurse Caville,famous from the First World War. Ivor Pugsley was a mover and shaker in the founding of a theatre group, The Hunsdon Players, a... 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
The Crown Inn
Not really a memory - rather a request for information. My grandfather, Alfred Pain, was licensee of the Crown Inn from possibly the late 1920s through to the middle 1930s. If anyone has any memories/information/photos of the public house and/or my grandfather's time there, I would be most grateful to hear them.
Incidentally, my mother, Doris Bird, used to live in Hoddesdon Road and it was through working at the Crown that she met my father. Any memories of her or her parents, Florence and Arthur Bird would also be gratefully received
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