Wheathampstead memories
Here are memories of Wheathampstead and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Wheathampstead or a Wheathampstead photo.
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!
Wheathampstead
We moved to Delaport Farm , on the edge of the golf course, in or around 1958 til 1965 to move to a larger farm in Somerset. At that time my mother would fill her car up with 4 gallons of petrol for £1.00. Simons was the butcher, Auld was the baker & Titmuus had a grain depot in the village, Mr. Amos had the shoe shop. The Maltings was a diners club run by Betty & Mac. Such good memories.
Memories of Hertfordshire
The Silk Farm
A delightful place to work if only for six months. We would lunch at the Brocket Arms or take a picnic into the grounds by the swimming pool. We did work as well; caring for the silk worms in the mornings and showing visitors around in the afternoons. My favourite task would be to walk the grounds collecting flowers and foliage for the arrangement in the hall. The downside was the 5 mile bike ride each way in all weathers.
Ayot St Lawrence
I was born in Hitchin Hospital in 1948 & we lived in Abbotshay Cottage , before moving to The Home Farm Delaport in Wheathampstead , when I was 11.
The post office was run by an elderly lady whose name I feel was Miss Lythe. The milk was delivered daily by Mrs Tucker . The Brocket Arms was very popular , Sunday School was held in one of the bars. The vicar at the time was Rev. Davies, he always sucked polo mints!!
Prior to the silk farm the property was owned by the ex king & queen Michael of Romania.
My sister & I went to The Grange School in Welwyn & my brother was a boarder at Aldwickbury near Harpenden. My father worked for De Havillands.
Went back some years ago & stayed at the Brocket Arms , so good to relive all those happy childhood memories.
The Pond on The Common
This pond used to be known as The Silver Cup Pond but I do not know where the name originated. Here was where children would sail toy boats or paddle. I have not yet come across a current photo or reference to this pond so I am wondering if it has survived health and safety strangulation. Would love to hear more about it.
Silver Cup Pond, Harpenden, Herts.
Having grown up in Harpenden I remember The Silver Cup Pond very well. Firstly, to answer the question posed, I'm sure that the pond was named after the pub that stands on the main road not far away, which in my time was the A6, in it's day the fore-runner of the M1. It is possible that the silver cup itself could have been a horse racing prize from the days when this sport could be seen taking place on the common. As well as the pond, there was also a sandpit nearby where we used to play. It was hexagonal, made of concrete, and had a short pillar in the middle, great for banging your head on! Having done the shopping, and after leaving Mary Ellen's tea rooms, where the ladies would sit drinking tea or coffee in their hats, our way home to Southdown took us not only past that pond, and the sandpit, but also the water regulating lagoons. These, our mothers assured, us were most dangerous,... Read more
Silver Cup Pond
This was filled in due to a scare of polio in the early 1960s. It was called the Silver Cup pond because it was opposite the pub of the same name.
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