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Willian

Willian maps

Historic maps of Willian and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis.   View all Willian maps

Willian photos

We have no photos of Willian, although we do have photos of these nearby places:

Letchworth Garden City| Norton| Hitchin| Baldock| Ickleford| Charlton| Stotfold| Stevenage| Arlesey| Lower Stondon| Walkern| Henlow| St Pauls Walden| Roe Green| Ashwell| Whitwell| Benington| Breachwood Green| Shefford

Willian area books

Displaying 1 of 8 books about Willian and the local area.   View all books for this area

Memories of Willian

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Hertfordshire memories

Recollections of Letchworth Swimming Pool, From Mid 60's

The Swimming Pool c1950
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As I look at this picture of the Letchworth swimming pool and notice the date is c1950… it would be only a few years later (mid 60’s) that my friends and I would cycle there with our towels and trunks fastened to the backs of our bikes (no expensive designer sports bags for us!). We’d padlock/chain our bikes outside the pool and hope that the worst that could happen to them is someone let our tyres down and nothing more. This picture captures the pool very much as it would have been when we were there. Usually we’d spend most of the summer holidays there. Getting out of the pool and then lying on the very hot floor to dry off on sunny hot days…Or if it was raining just staying in the water believing that the rain was actually causing the water temperature to rise. Of course if there was a lightning storm we were told to get out of the water. In the deep end there was a... Read more

Letchworth Childhood

The Paddling Pool, Howard Park c1950
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Seeing the fountain in this picture brings back childhood memories from the 1950/60s of sailing boats up and down the paddling pool at weekends or when your parents took you down on a sunny afternoon. Summer fetes and funfair on the grass area between the paddling pool and Norton Way South, last but not least playing in the small wood behind the paddling pool before the Council cut it down and spoilt it!

Winter at The Pool

The Paddling Pool, Howard Park c1950
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I lived in Birds Hill (the start of Works Road) just opposite Howard Park. The paddling pool was always emptied at the end of summer but just enough water remained in to make for great slides during winter when the water froze.

Summer Memories of The Pool

The Swimming Pool c1950
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The swimming pool was a very special place for those of us growing up in the late 40's and early 50's. Summers were spent there, swimming & baking in the sun & drinking hot Oxo.
The pool was our main source of activity & many friendships were made whilst keeping us active & healthy. Many, many fond memories.
I live in Canada now, but visit often & if it is Summer I visit the Pool!

The Paddling Pool Early 1960s

The Paddling Pool, Howard Park c1950
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I too can recall summer days at the paddling pool, and a fair on the grass. Also I can recall the men of the Letchworth Rotary pulling the Kon-Tiki around the pool. I can also remember the fountain. It was always slippery and greasy. It has now been removed...but I hope to a museum as it was a true piece of Letchworth heritage. At the bottom of Leys Avenue there was a shop across the road from the pool where you could by ice creams/sweets I especially remember the Lyons Maid King Range...King Cone, King Sundae etc...or a strawberry mivvi?

This is Not A Memory But A Plea!

My late wife was born in March, Cambridgeshire but her mother was born in Great Wymondley in 1911, the date being 2nd July, 1911. This was just after the Census of that year. However, I would like to find the rest of the family on the 1911 Census which should give me names and ages of the rest of the family. They all eventually moved into Cambridgeshire but to find entries on the Gt. Wymondley Census would be a start.
What details I have are -
     Father - William Henry Rose.
     Mother - Florence
     A known address - Nine Springs, Gt. Wymondley. Baldock(or Hitchin) Herts
     Father's occupation given as Cowman, could have lived on a far

If this a first posting on the message board I'm sorry it is not a memory but this is a brick wall I cannot get through. But if someone could come up with some ideas it would be very much appreciated.

Locating my Grandparents Grave in Hitchin/Letchworth.

The Church c1955
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I do not have a memory of Hitchin or the church, as I live in Canada, but I have a photo of my grandfather and grandmother's grave with a granite cross as a marker. They lived in Letchworth and my grandfather's name was William Tye, and my grandmother's name was Rosina. They are buried together and I am wondering if they were buried here. They died in 1920-1922 about, I wonder if their grave marker is still standing.

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