The Great Northern Railway (GNR) line from St Albans to Hatfield was opened on 16th October 1865 but there had been plans to construct this branch line much earlier than that. Local landowners were encouraged to form an independent company… More about ‘Hatfield – St Albans Railway (Alban Way)’»
Category: Post World War 2
Cottonmill swimming baths
The open-air swimming baths in Cottonmill Lane were opened on 29 July 1905 on the site of the old cotton mill. However, bathing in the river took place long before the baths were built. There was a bathing facility established… More about ‘Cottonmill swimming baths’»
Childhood memories – John Church
John recalls how he loved to go swimming in the Cottonmill Swimming Baths. He has fond memories of playing games, especially knock down ginger, in Pageant Road where he lived. He also talks about the slaughter house in Dolphin Yard. He… More about ‘Childhood memories – John Church’»
Living in Holyrood Crescent – Val Goodyear-Burrow
After the war, Val’s family moved from Tavistock Avenue into a new house in Holyrood Crescent, number 7. She has clear memories of the Cottonmill and St Julian’s estates being built and that there was class distinction between them. She remembers,… More about ‘Living in Holyrood Crescent – Val Goodyear-Burrow’»
Wartime memories of living in Tavistock Avenue
Val Goodyear-Burrow was born in 1938. She lived at 79 Tavistock Avenue during the war years and can recall specific memories of wartime: shelters, blackouts, gas masks and air-raid sirens. She also remembers watching the gliders coming from the Handley… More about ‘Wartime memories of living in Tavistock Avenue’»
Doing a paper round – Val Goodyear-Burrow
In the years after the war, many children were made to do jobs to earn pocket money. Many of the jobs were for their parents e.g. collecting coke from the gasworks on a Saturday morning. Children had to be at… More about ‘Doing a paper round – Val Goodyear-Burrow’»
Home shopping after the war – Lil Day
In this extract, Lil Day recalls the shops and the tradesmen who used to come to peoples’ homes to sell their wares: the milkman, greengrocer and butcher. Even shoes and wool were delivered. It was a matter of making ends… More about ‘Home shopping after the war – Lil Day’»
Playing in the river – John Buckingham
John talks of playing and fishing in the river near New Barnes Mill and describes the area as it was in the 1940s and 1950s. He also recalls fishing out an ammunition belt while fishing for crayfish in the river… More about ‘Playing in the river – John Buckingham’»
From Durham via Changi Jail to Sopwell – Rob Edwards
Rob Edwards’ father, Bill, came from Durham. Rather than going down the coal mines, he joined the army. His troop ship was diverted to Singapore and he was captured by the Japanese and taken to Changi jail where he remained… More about ‘From Durham via Changi Jail to Sopwell – Rob Edwards’»
Sopwell Mill Farm – Brenda Gilson
Brenda Gilson’s mum used to clean for the two sisters, Gig and Dawn Blowers at Sopwell Mill farm and sometimes her mum took her down there. She remembers the smell of Nescafe coffee and that there was a famous showjumper… More about ‘Sopwell Mill Farm – Brenda Gilson’»
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