The commercial watercress industry ceased in the Riverside Road site in the 1970s. A lot of the springs had dried up. Some of the productive land was used for allotment but there was a lot of fly tipping so it needed some attention. St… More about ‘Watercress wildlife area’»
Category: Watercress industry
A portrait of Prospect Road in 1911
Prospect Road first appears in the 1871 census so some of the houses in the road must have been built in the late 1860s and early 1870s. It was originally a cul de sac and ended before St Julians Road.… More about ‘A portrait of Prospect Road in 1911’»
River Ver from Holywell Hill to Park Street
A large stretch of the river Ver, from Holywell Hill up to New Barnes and on to Park Street, runs through Sopwell. It is an important recreation area for local residents and in the past an area for growing watercress.… More about ‘River Ver from Holywell Hill to Park Street’»
Pinnock family memories – Roy Pinnock
Roy Pinnock whose family had watercress beds in Riverside Road and Park Street, tells some stories about his father, Doug Pinnock. Doug was one of twelve children: six sons and six daughters and they lived in a two bedroom house… More about ‘Pinnock family memories – Roy Pinnock’»
Sinking a borehole – Roy Pinnock
Watercress is grown in running water from springs. At Riverside Road, the Pinnock family had to sink boreholes in the lake to get spring water for the cress to grow in. Roy Pinnock describes the process. Interview date: 4 April… More about ‘Sinking a borehole – Roy Pinnock’»
Watercress industry in Park Street – Roy Pinnock
The Pinnock family had a smallholding and also grew watercress in Burydell Lane Park Street. Unlike the beds in Riverside Road, these were purpose built using concrete walkways. Roy Pinnock talks more about the business which wasstarted by his grandfather.… More about ‘Watercress industry in Park Street – Roy Pinnock’»
Watercress industry in Sopwell – Roy Pinnock
Roy Pinnock born in 1933, belongs to one of the two families who grew watercress in Sopwell: the Pinnocks and the Lees.. Roy describes the watercress industry: how the watercress was grown in Riverside Road, where the Watercress Wildlife Association… More about ‘Watercress industry in Sopwell – Roy Pinnock’»
Memories of the 1930s – Dorothy Grummitt
Dorothy Grummitt lives in Albeny Gate but was born in Gateshead. In the 1930s, she often used to visit her aunt and uncle in Park Street, St Albans. Her uncle worked as a carpenter at Handley Page in Radlett. He… More about ‘Memories of the 1930s – Dorothy Grummitt’»
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