Ampthill, The Woods c.1955
Photo ref:
A158002
More about this scene
This cluster of sparse conifers in Ampthill Park borders an entrance to the Cheshire Home for the Disabled that occupies a house built in 1686-88 for the Dowager Countess of Ailesbury and Elgin. Ampthill Park was for many years the venue for large bi-annual camps organised by the Scout Movement in Bedfordshire. The first settlement in this central valley was 'Aemethyll' in Old English, which translates to 'ant-heap' or 'ant-infested hill'. As one who has camped in Ampthill Park, the writer can vouch for the accuracy of the name. King Henry VIII and his court paid many visits to Ampthill Castle, including a final journey when he brought his first wife, Katherine of Aragon, to Ampthill for the last years of their married life. The marriage was annulled in 1533 and Katherine was proclaimed Princess Dowager. The Castle no longer exists, but Katherine's Cross stands in Ampthill Park as a memorial to the tragic event.
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A Selection of Memories from Ampthill
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 Ampthill
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