Royston, Therfield Heath 1929
Photo ref: 81899
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Photo ref: 81899
Photo of Royston, Therfield Heath 1929

More about this scene

Skirted by the Icknield Way on the right, the expanse of Therfield Heath originally stretched from the boundary of Baldock to Royston. Traditionally an area of recreation (King James I exercised his Royston-kennelled hunting hounds here), this peaceful view of the Heath was photographed before the installation of football and cricket pitches. In the 1800s, the Royston Militia camped and performed manoeuvres on the Heath, whilst archaeologists, fascinated by the tumuli, carried out extensive excavations. The memorial was erected in 1900 (says Alfred Kingston in his 1906 'History of Royston') in remembrance of Queen Victoria. Later, during the Second World War, a camp for Italian prisoners of war was built on the Heath.

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