You are here: Home > Explore your past > England > Hertfordshire > Park Street > Photographs > Spooner's Corner C1955
Park Street, Spooner's Corner c1955
Park Street, Spooner's Corner c1955 Ref: P168003
Memories of Park Street, Spooner's Corner
|
Year: 1940s
Spooner's Corner
Living in Park Street Lane from 1940 to 1961 I passed this corner every day to go under the railway bridge to the recreation ground and school or on to the village. The branches of the Horse Chestnut tree in the foreground gave a copious supply of the very best 'conkers' to us local children. Many's the time it also sheltered us from the rain and the road would become slippery with the large wet leaves and crushed horse chestnuts. There was a building (a coach-house I think) with a clock on top on the opposite corner to the house, behind the tree. I can remember a yearly 'garden party' event held at the house. I believe members of the family were involved in springboard diving and during the afternoon diving displays were given from the high board over the swimming pool by members of a well known swimming club. Quite a big village event back then in the 1940's. In the field to the right another regular event was the Steam Engine Rally when as a young child I remember what seemed to be enormous machines trundling and hissing their way around. Who else remembers the old steam rollers used in roadmaking ? A path to the railway station also ran along the edge of this field and before they fenced it off you took your chances with the local bovine herd and it wasn't unusual to have to scramble through the railway embankment fence to avoid their not always kindly attentions. There were great mushrooms there though and a good feed could be gathered, if someone kept watch on the 4 legged companions. Posted: 25/09/2008 14:55 by Valerie Tomlinson |
|
 Add your Memory
 Add a comment  Add to your Album
|
Park Street & local memories
Read and share memories of Park Street and Hertfordshire inspired by Frith photos
 Park Street, Spooner's Corner c1955 (ref: P168003) |
Year: 1940s
Spooner's Corner
Living in Park Street Lane from 1940 to 1961 I passed this corner every day to go under the railway bridge to the recreation ground and school or on to the village. The branches of the Horse Chestnut tree in the foreground gave a copious supply of the very best 'conkers' to us local children. Many's the time it also sheltered us from the rain and the road would become slippery with the large wet leaves and crushed horse chestnuts. There was a building (a coach-house I think) with a clock on top on the opposite corner to the house, behind the tree. I can remember a yearly 'garden party' event held at the house. I believe members of the family were involved in springboard diving and during the afternoon diving displays were given from the high board over the swimming pool by members of a well known swimming club. Quite a big village event back then in the 1940's. In the field to the right another regular event was the Steam Engine Rally when as a young child I remember what seemed to be enormous machines trundling and hissing their way around. Who else remembers the old steam rollers used in roadmaking ? A path to the railway station also ran along the edge of this field and before they fenced it off you took your chances with the local bovine herd and it wasn't unusual to have to scramble through the railway embankment fence to avoid their not always kindly attentions. There were great mushrooms there though and a good feed could be gathered, if someone kept watch on the 4 legged companions. Posted: 25/09/2008 14:55 by Valerie Tomlinson |
|
Add your Memory
Add a comment Add to your Album
|
|
Frogmore; The Land Of Dreams A memory of Frogmore, Hertfordshire Upon passing frogmore recently the other day, I, Fred Whatmore, saw a small sign directing me to what I would later come to call Frogmore; home; the land of my dreams The luscious green fields spread before my eyes, and fromore mausoleum doors wide open welcomed me in. . . ? I sat for a while with Willy the keeper of the Mausoleum grounds, we ate Frogmore stew and discussed the village politics, apparently Mrs Weatherby's Daughter has had a baby out of marriage and everyone is rather concerned. This love and common knowledge of all residents of Frogmore warmed the cockels of my heart (possibly helped by the tasty stew, prepared by handsome old Willy, the generous source of all my Frogmore knowledge). There was an understanding; a loving atmosphere; a kindness seconded by no village I had ever had the fortune to run across. On the journey home, my mind wandered back to the Frogmorian way of life. Decided, I rang my future wife with the news 'We shall raise our children in the land of Frogmore' I exclaimed joyously. 'This beautiful land, shall be claimed as our own'. I knew from that day forward that our Froglets would be raised on the green grass that only dreams can imagine. My fiance, a woman I'm marrying out of covenience and desperation, not love, is staring passionately into my eyes as i write this, she may not say it, but I know she could never have imagined a world so beautiful, exsquisite, perfect in every way. We have together planned a small holiday to Frogmore in the summer, so that we can lie in the hay bails and maybe I can learn to love a small village again. . . Untill then my fellow Frogmorians. . . Posted: 16/01/2008 12:33 by Brogan And Fred |
|
|
Add your Memory
Add a comment Add to your Album
|
|
Brogan Dedicating My Life To Frogmore. A memory of Frogmore, Hertfordshire It has now been little more than three moons since glorious Frederick Francis, arrived home; eyes shining; hair wild (per usual), to tell me of a small village he had encountered. The spirit of the place had completely encaptured him, I too felt a rush of desire as tales of green fields as far as the eye could see, & wild men. I LOVE FROGMORE TO BE CONTINUED Last edited: 16/01/2008 12:31 by Brogan And Fred |
|
|
Add your Memory
Add a comment Add to your Album
|
 St Albans, Ye Old Fighting Cocks 1921 (ref: 70484) |
Year: 2008
Whitethorn Morris Dance In Front Of Ye Olde Fighting Cocks A memory of St Albans, Hertfordshire Although this ancient inn is protected and little changed over the years, the surrounding landscape is now attractive with paving, seats and trees by the edge of the millstream which flows into the lake at the bottom of Fishpool Street. The new landscaping provides a good area for displays of morris dancing so it always features in the programme for St Albans annual Festival parade and Day of Dance each June. The 2008 procession was led through the City Centre by the Abbey puppets and traditional local morris dancers, plus Trachtengruppe Kussnacht from Rigi, Switzerland. The climax of the parade was a massed display of dancing in the High Street watched by thousands and thousands of city centre spectators and market stallholders. The dancing continued all day in front of the Alban Arena, in the Maltings and Christopher Place shopping centres, by the Clock Tower and Market Cross, and later in the afternoon on the lovely paving in front of Ye Olde Fighting Cocks. One of the teams of dancers was locally based Whitethorn Morris from Harrow who looked splendid in their scarlet and blue kit and shiny black clogs. The music was supplied by their large band of squeeze boxes and drums including me with my piano accordian. Last edited: 16/09/2008 18:20 by John Howard Norfolk |
|
Add your Memory
Comments[1 so far] Add to your Album
|
 St Albans, Clock Tower and Market Cross 1921 (ref: 70477) |
Year: 2008
Whitethorn Morris Dance At St Albans "folk At The Festival" A memory of St Albans, Hertfordshire One of the highlights of the Festival is the Festival parade and Day of Dance which traditionally takes place on the Saturday of each year's Festival. The procession was led through the City Centre by the Abbey puppets and traditional local morris dancers, plus Trachtengruppe Kussnacht from Rigi, Switzerland. The climax of the parade was a massed display of dancing in the High Street watched by thousands and thousands of city centre spectators and market stallholders. The dancing continued all day in front of the Alban Arena, in the Maltings and Christopher Place shopping centres, outside the Abbey and - as shpwn in this view -by the Clock Tower and Market Cross. The local police had thoughtfully closed off the streets so that the crowds of festival goers could walk safely in the roads! One of the teams of dancers was locally based Whitethorn Morris from Harrow who looked splendid in their scarlet and blue kit, shiny black clogs and energetic dancing to their large band of accordians and drums. Leter in the day all the dancers performed at one of St Albans oldest inns -Ye Olde Fighting Cocks. Posted: 30/06/2008 17:02 by John Howard Norfolk |
|
Add your Memory
Add a comment Add to your Album
|