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  4. Abbots Langley, The Ovaltine Dairies c.1960

Abbots Langley, The Ovaltine Dairies c.1960
Photo ref: A150030
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Photo ref: A150030
Photo of Abbots Langley, The Ovaltine Dairies c.1960
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In 1865, George Wander, a Swiss chemist, devised a new malted barley nutritional drink called Ovaltine. The company bought Parsonage Farm at Abbots Langley and Numbers Farm at Kings Langley in the 1900s, and the Ovaltine model farm was established at Langley in 1929. It was modelled on the farm created by Louis XIV for Marie Antoinette. By the 1950s, Ovaltine employed 1,400 staff at Langley - the lives of few local people were not influenced by the company or its suppliers. The poultry farm kept one of the largest flocks of laying poultry - over 50,000 White Leghorns - whilst the dairy farm at Bedmond Road boasted a herd of prize-winning pedigree Jersey cattle. By the late 1960s, demand for the product had dropped and parts of the farm had fallen into disrepair; in 1975, the 185ft Ovaltine chimney, which had been built using a quarter of million bricks for £7000, was demolished at a cost of £8000.

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A Selection of Memories from Abbots Langley

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our website to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was, prompted by the photographs in our archive. Here are some from Abbots Langley

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St Salvadoris Convent
In the 1950s at 4yrs old, I attended St Salvadoris Convent in Kitters Green, Abbots Langley. I was so happy there. My teacher was Sister Bernosa and the Head teacher Sister Jemma. I understand the Convent burnt down and the flats built. In later years when married, I lived on the corner of Garden Rd and Breakpeare Road and also in a cottage opposite the now gone Apex Garage. Does anyone have any ...see more
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Added 31 March 2016

Visits
I remember visiting the Ovaltine Dairy Farm as a child & into my teenage years, my uncle worked on the farm. My uncle & aunt Charlie & Mary Jones & their family lived in the right hand cottage in the photo, until he retired as far as I remember.
Abbots Langley, Ovaltine Farm c1960
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Added 27 October 2012

Marlin Square
I lived next door to your last writer, Denise.  Her father was my cousin. I was married in 1964 at St Lawrence Church where my parents were also married. I had my wedding reception at my home in Marlin Square. Denise's parents had all the wedding gifts on show at their house as there was no more room in ours. I had another cousin, Mary, who lived next door to them and we put everyone's coats at her house. It ...see more
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Added 17 February 2009

The Ovaltine And Marlin Square
I'm not too sure of what years to mention apart from some happy memorys of the Ovaltine as a young lad with my mum and dad. David my dad was the village postman for many years and mum Annie was a local florist in the village. Ernie and Edna Edwards lived on the Ovaltine for many years in the main farmhouse, many years of fun and good times with me being found in the paddock with one of the ...see more
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Added 14 February 2009

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Despite over 20 years’ work on the archive, these scans have still not been individually checked and may prove to be damaged, faded, or not of sufficient quality to ever be offered in our full product range. However, if you would particularly like to buy one of these please get in touch quoting the Frith negative number,(s) the town name and size of print you would like to buy. On receipt of your enquiry our archivist will check the scan and advise you if the quality is good enough.

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