Ayot St Lawrence, The Village c.1955

Photo ref: A99010

Many of my family lived in Ayot St Lawrence, pre and post war. Both sets of grandparents lived there. Arthur and Elsie Smith, lived at Forge Cottage and worked at Ayot Cottage & later worked at Abbotshay Farm and lived then at Church Cottage. Lou and Fen Harding ran The Brocket Arms, later my uncle Peter Harding took over the tenancy. Other family; my aunts lived at Ruins Cottages, first Mildred ...see more

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 ...see more

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.