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Welwyn Garden City
Welwyn Garden City photos
Displaying the first of 22 old photos of Welwyn Garden City. View all Welwyn Garden City photos
Welwyn Garden City maps
Historic maps of Welwyn Garden City and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Welwyn Garden City maps
Welwyn Garden City area books
Displaying 1 of 8 books about Welwyn Garden City and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Welwyn Garden City
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memories of Welwyn Garden City.
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Millie Millington
Wonderful teachers, Mr Croydon French Latin some sports. Mr Chester Woodwork Gym and cricket. Millicent Millington Mathematics. Mr Webb History and Geography. Mr Davy Sciences. The grounds were very woody and the air raid shelters great for running about on. The canteen served delicious cocoa in blue squashy mugs. My dear friends Keith Starkey and Geoffrey Scott were in my form. I remember the school milk bottles outside our form room where the cold had squeezed the tops off and the Blue Tits had pecked away at them to get at the cream. I started learning the Clarinet with teacher Cyril Haskins. Music became my life's work. I too taught at Temple Grove, Stoke Brunswick and for a short time Ashdown House Schools in Sussex. No pupil ever failed his or her Royal Schools of Music Graded woodwind examinations, mostly because of the parting statement from Mr Godsmark the Head at Sherrards. "Nigel", he said, "you will never be any good at maths!". Well, I became a management grade Bank... Read more
Happy Days
I attended this school with my friends Alan Foster and John Diamond. Mr Thomas was the English language master, my worst subject. I loved the playing field at the back of the school and beyond was the Dragon Tree which we all loved to climb, our imaginations ablaze with scary adventures after being told of St George and the slaying of his dragon centuries before. We wore coloured bands to indicate our forms and our sports days were wonderful. I became a banker and later a classical musician and composer, writing 15 symphonies and many other works.
Cherry Blossom Time
In the early spring, arriving early for school at Sherrards Wood, I took a look at the most incredible sight you could imagine, Cherry Blossoms filled my sight all along Pentley Park. It made my heart jump with joy to see the richness and beauty.
Fountain
We moved to Welwyn Garden City when I was four.
I have some lovely memories of my mum sitting me on the wall surrounding the fountain so I could just watch it.
Fifty one years later I still love to watch it when I go into the town centre.
I now like to take my granddaughters there.
Some things you just never grow tired of.
Beautiful memories. I hope the fountain remains for many years to come
Keep Off The Grass
I remember sitting under these trees in the summer of 1976, with my mates and smoking some grass. Funny thing was, the only thing we got told off for was being on the grass, not smoking it. Obviously the New Towns Commission had their ideals in the right places...
Welwyn Garden City, Sweet Briar
This view is from the west side of Sweet Briar looking south down the hill towards Cole Green Lane (out of view). To the left is the entrance to Heronswood School (since closed, now a modern housing area).
I understood that the area was once very wooded, borne out by the many well established trees still lining the road and verge areas. I think my parents occupied our house from new in about 1954 until leaving the area in the early 1970s.
I lived further along Sweet Briar on the west side of the road near a layby (out of view). It was a very pleasant location to grow up in with many friendly folk.
There were lots of grassed spaces to play in too. This scene has not changed greatly to date, other than the inevitable intrusion of the motor car.
Stonehills WGC
This view is looking north from the west side of Stonehills towards the Cherry Tree Public House. Just out of view on the left was the old Police Station (the site of which has still not been developed) whilst across the road on the right is National Provincial Bank (now Nat West Bank) . Further along from the bank is Williams Bros, then Sketchley Cleaners. Continuing towards 'The Cherry' is the Broadwater Press Ltd, founded by the late Mr Harry Cheetham who died in 1938.
Harry Cheetham was my Grandfather. I understand that Harry and his wife Emily Anne Cheetham (my late Grandmother) were both keen members of the WGC Golf Club during the late 1920s - early 1930s altho confirmation and photographs are sought.
Beyond 'The Press' was Munts Cycle Store which sold a variety of bicyles, scooters, mopeds and small motorcyles aswell as prams. Beyond Munts on the corner opposite The Cherry Tree was Dickinson & Adams Motor Garage with 752 Taxis. What remains of The Cherry Tree... Read more
Stonehills 1958.
I lived next door to the police station which is just to the left of this photo from 1952 until 1959 when my father (the local police station sergeant) retired. This photo is very evocative of memories I had as a young child living in the town centre. I well remember the buildings opposite my home including Munts cycle shop (they sold good fireworks!), Broadwater Press (kept my mother awake at night when the presses were working) and Williams Bros discount store. I well remember in the dead of night hearing the expresses racing through the railway station to and from Kings Cross (steam hauled of course) - this began my lifelong interest in railways. The Cherry Tree public house was well known in the area (not frequented by me I might add!). The fire station always sounded its siren on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. - very loud if you were close to it.
My primary school was Templewood which I see still gets good reports from Ofsted. Other... Read more
