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Bishop's Stortford

Bishop's Stortford photos (109 available)

Old photo of Bishop's Stortford

Bishop's Stortford maps (2 available)

Old map of Bishop's Stortford

Bishop's Stortford books (9 available)

Bishop's Stortford memories

Coopers

Bishop's Stortford, Coopers, formerly Maslens 2004

I remember this building being Handscombes Ironmongers. And one end of it being a pram shop in the early 80's I think . I bought my parents their 25th wedding anniversary present in Handscombes... a dinner service in a Poppy design. Full service with tureens etc only cost £24.99! This was in 1978. They held their party at the Bell in Stanstead.
Contributed by Sue Spooner

Hertfordshire memories

Coopers

Bishop's Stortford, Coopers, formerly Maslens 2004

I remember this building being Handscombes Ironmongers. And one end of it being a pram shop in the early 80's I think . I bought my parents their 25th wedding anniversary present in Handscombes... a dinner service in a Poppy design. Full service with tureens etc only cost £24.99! This was in 1978. They held their party at the Bell in Stanstead.
A memory of Bishop's Stortford contributed by Sue Spooner

A good time in Much Hadham

I spent about one year in Much Hadham as German prisoner of war, 1946 till July 1947, working for the Hertfordshire War Agricultural Executice Committee; I specially was engaged in our camp labour office as clerk, under Mr. Wooley and later Mr. Smolenski, two wonderful men. We enjoyed already a lot of liberty, and I really loved this little village, which I visited once again in the late sixties, when I still discovered some remainders of one of our old Nissen huts! These months in Hertfordshire had an immense positive influence on all my further life, especially when I then worked in out of school civic education. Thank you, Much Hadham!
Walter Scharnagl, Dechant-Heimbach-Str. 43, D-53177 Bonn, Germany.
A memory of Much Hadham contributed by Walter Scharnagl

Where we used to go some Saturday nights

Sawbridgeworth, Bell Street c1960

In the 50s my mum used to take us to see our Great Uncle Herb and Aunt Nell at Sawbridgeworth. He used to take my sister and I to his allotment, buy us both a toy then listen to the sports report and take us down the Old Bull Pub for a lemonade and crisps. Great Aunt Nell was bedridden and died soon after. Great Uncle Herb was a very nice old man.   
A memory of Sawbridgeworth contributed by eddie tait

Extracts From Bishop's Stortford & Hertfordshire books

Bishop's Stortford, The Meads 1899

The spire of St Michael's church dominates the skyline. When the tower was found to be unstable, it was strengthened and the spire raised to 182 feet. The roofs of four maltings mark the towpath of the River Stort. Some of these maltings have now been converted into dwellings.
An extract from from"North and East Hertfordshire Photographic Memories".

Bishop's Stortford, Chantry Gate 1899

The 16th-century Chantry in Hadham Road was built on the site of the original priest's house on lands granted under the will of Baldwyn Victor. Just out of sight, under the gate, are the so-called 'ruins'. These, along with the arch, were moved from either St Michael's or one of the London churches and rebuilt at the Chantry by Sir Walter Gilbey.
An extract from from"North and East Hertfordshire Photographic Memories".

Bishop's Stortford, the Maltings on the River Stort 1903

By 1940, only 6 out of the 17 maltings in the town were in operation. Barley and fuel for the furnaces were brought to Stortford by water, and latterly by rail. Processing of the barley into malt took place from September to June; during this time the furnaces were never extinguished, and a sweet-smelling pall covered the town. The sacks of malt and barley husks, for cattle feed, were loaded onto barges and transported to London.
An extract from from"North and East Hertfordshire Photographic Memories".

Bishop's Stortford, North Street 1909

This view looks southwards towards the Corn Exchange, with the Chantry behind the photographer. On the left are the offices of the Herts and Essex Observer, where Harry Murdon printed the newspaper for 73 years until 1961. On the right are the arches of the council offices. In 1905, the fire brigade erected an arch across North Street to welcome King Edward VII on his visit to the town. The ornate water pump supplies a trough for weary horses.
An extract from from"North and East Hertfordshire Photographic Memories".

Bishop's Stortford, Bridge Street 1922

A ballad of 1843 refers to the building on the left as 'the Ugly Black Lion'. In the late 1890s, the Black Lion public house was extensively altered and restored by Mr Glasscock; by removing the plaster and exposing the windows, he attempted to return the building to its original 1600s style. On the opposite side of Bridge Street stands the Star Tavern, which was first recorded in 1616. A nice 1920 Ford Model T stands outside the tobacconist (left), and the lady in the foreground prepares to rest her bicycle against a cast iron gas lamp standard.
An extract from from"North and East Hertfordshire Photographic Memories".