Royston, The Stone c.1955
Photo ref: R63011
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Photo ref: R63011
Photo of Royston, The Stone c.1955

More about this scene

It is said that the town took its name from Lady Roysia's Stone, and that the stone itself was the base for the Market Cross. Royston is a relatively modern town - it is not mentioned in the Domesday Book - which grew up at the crossing of Ermine Street and the Icknield Way; it was not officially recognised until the late 1800s. The town was 'carved' out of four parishes - Bassingbourn and Melbourn in Cambridgeshire and Therfield and Barkway in Hertfordshire. Lady Roysia's manor of Newsells lay in the parish of Barkway. The stone has been moved several times, and is now located on the opposite side of the Icknield Way.

A Selection of Memories from Royston

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 Royston

Sparked a Memory for you?

If this has sparked a memory, why not share it here?

I do not have any memories of Royston, I have been doing my family tree and find I have a few relatives from there, In 1871 my Great Great Great grandfather Whitaker lived there his son my great Great Grandfather married into another family named Proctor. I have been trying to find out things about them , burials, whereabouts they lived , what they did and a history of what Royston was like back then . I do have that ...see more
Was posted to camp in 1954 and demobbed in 1957.Was called up for National service but the CO persuaded you to sign on as a regular and you got 28 days leave.Probably nowadays they would be Court Marshalled for suggesting that. Vividly remember the daily trips to Cambridge to work at the A vehicle depot which was to supply the Army with all types of vehicles and it was freezing cold laying on the floor of the trucks ...see more
My father was stationed at Bassingbourn 1942-1945. Mother was a nurse in England during WW2 and I was born in England in 1945. We lived in Royston at 14 Green Street. My mother and myself came to the US in 1947. I still have relatives in England (Stotfold, Henlow and Lincoln) and Scotland (Paisley and Dumfries). Mom and Dad were at Glenn Miller's last concert. They were on a first name basis and he called them everytime he was in Royston.
I lived on the camp site for 5 years - my father was the link trainer for pilots there. I can remember going to the cinema there - smoking up the back - then realising my mum and sister were in there that same night !!!! I must have been about 12 at the time. There was the Church Army canteen where my older sister went - the thrift shop where you could buy and sell things and my mum went to the Naafi once a week. ...see more