If one had a good character also a licence to sell beer could be obtained for two guineas, the result of this being the large number of beer houses that came into being in Tring and in the country in general.
In the Almanacs of 1860 the owner of the Half Moon is given as being Bengaman Lyon, and it was during 1860 that a serious disturbance was reported in the inn. This led to the calling out of the parish constable who, after making the arrest, transported those reponsible to the lock-up in Tring. He was Mr George Newman, the local wheelwright whose premises were situated at Pear Tree Cottage at "the top of the green". This evidently was a very cold wet night and Mr Newman was taken ill and died after a short illness, leaving his wife and son aged seventeen to continue the business. But the young J T Newman was more interested in photography and all his spare time was spent touring the countryside with a large camera strapped to his cane bicycle. In fact his name is recorded in history as one of Hertfordshire's pioneer photographers and many of the old photographs on exhibition today are the work of Mr Newman. Upon the death of his mother in 1885 he moved to Berkhamsted and there carried on a successful photographer's business until his death in 1937.
An interesting book entitled "English Liberties" written in 1719 outlines the duties of these parish constables who would be important members of a village community elected annually by the Justices of the Peace and the Vestry. Apart from keeping law and order, they were responsible for the checking of weights and measures. To quote one paragraph dealing with persons quarrelling and fighting "He may command them to depart, and if they resist him in such case, he may justifie the beating them. He may command other persons to assist him, and if any of them happen to be killed "tis" murder." and as regards riots "a riot is where three or four do meet to do an unlawful act, and do put their intent in execution."
From 1860 the landlords' names can be found in the local directories. Widow Lyon seems to have taken over later in 1860 and held the licence for a number of years but at the turn of the century it was a Mr James Reeves whose name is mentioned. To augment their meagre earnings some publicans became coal merchants and, with the large amounts of hay and straw needed in London, this was also stored where space allowed and transported by horse and waggon to various depots, or loaded into barges at the wharf on the Aylesbury Arm.
Early this century a Mr Walter Cartwright became landlord and his descendants, some of whom are still in the district, have spoken many times of this carting of hay and straw and of the return journeys with manure and soot for use in the fields.
Very little is known of the years 1914-1918. One imagines most of the young men were called up and Wilstone became host to several companies of soldiers who were billeted throughout the village. This will be dealt with more fully later in this chapter. But throughout all those years up until the 1970s no structural changes were made to the inn.
A number of landlords followed and some left their marks on village life but, remembered most of all among the older villagers, was the coming of the Cooper family in 1935 and their stay which covered the second world war years and up until the eventual renovations during 1976.
After the death of Mr Cooper during the war years, Mrs Cooper with her daughter carried on, and one can imagine with the coming of Marsworth Airfield and the eventual influx of American servicemen that followed this was indeed (when beer was available) a very busy house. Also, as mentioned in my previous chapter, many well known celebrities came out into the country to escape the bombing in London and this, with the large number of evacuees, must have filled the village to overflowing.
With the marriage of her daughter after the war, Mrs Cooper left the Half Moon and the licence was taken over by her son and family, but not many years were to pass before Mr Fred Cooper died leaving Mrs Cooper to carry on alone, with weekend help from her family. During their long stay they made many friends, but times were changing and during 1976 the house was burgled on two occasions. The first time only £5 was taken, but the second was more serious. Two people came to the door after closing time and threatening her with a gun, tied her to a chair and made off with her takings. Throughout her ordeal however she never panicked. She was not on the phone and, even after untying herself, she looked out of the window but seeing no lights she went to bed not wishing to disturb her neighbours. Not many weeks went by however before she decided that enough was enough. Her last day was July 15th 1976, and a large gathering was present to wish her well. Within a week of the break-in both culprits were arrested at Long Marston through the watchful eyes of a local butcher's delivery man, and a lengthy prison term followed.
With Mrs Cooper moving away, the brewers decided on an extensive restoration. The whole place was stripped, exposing many of the old beams and the small meeting room (mentioned previously) was found to have been originally stabling for five horses, the mangers having been boarded over during the years. Many lengthy discussions were held regarding the age and previous use of this old building, especially when rebuilding the inglenook fireplace moulded stones were uncovered. The architect was sure that these may have come from a monastic building, and the possibility was that the fireplace and chimney were added to a much earlier dwelling. It is known through old records that around 1657-8 Wilstone's old church was demolished, and the fabric from this old building given to the inhabitants to improve their property. Could these stones have come from the church?
Soot and charred thatch uncovered in the roof also pointed to a previous method of heating, probably an open fire with the smoke finding its way through a small corner which had later been bricked up.
According to our earliest maps, following the Half Moon to Rose Lane, stood a complete row of cottages broken by an occasional alley, but here again great alterations have taken place and only a few clues are left of these properties. No. 50 Tring Road was until the latter 1950s three cottages, an alley connecting all three. The centre one of these cottages was the oldest and must have dated back three or four hundred years. The walls on either side had been infilled with brick but the interior remained as always, old massive beams, inglenook fireplace and an air of great antiquity.
Above the door was fixed an old fire plaque dated around 1830 which probably was the date when the alterations had taken place.
These alleys were a common feature in villages similar to Wilstone where the houses were built close to the village green. Historians inform us that, with the cattle being turned out on the green, a hurdle or gate could be placed across the entrance to prevent the animals from being a nuisance.
The other cottage in this row worth a mention is No. 44 which has also some fine old beams, the pitch of the roof points to the building being thatched in days gone by, and the wall facing the Buckingham Arms (before the decorations) gave the appearance of having been joined to some former dwelling.
The first mention of the Buckingham Arms comes from "Hertfordshire Inns" written by Brangh Johnson some years ago, who gives the name of the landlord in 1838 as Thomas Clark, the inn then named the Bricklayers Arms. The first census returns however of 1841 make no mention of this family or of an inn and, with very few properties being named, one has some problem when tracing a particular area of the village, but there was recorded a victualler, a William Greening, and it is therefore probable that this is the same property, Mr Greening continuing to sell beer and wine and maybe a small general store.
In 1861 this family had moved on, and little is known of the history until Mr William Cartwright became landlord during the 1880s. It must have been then that the property was acquired by Benskins, Brewers of Watford, and the name changed to the Buckingham Arms.
William Cartwright will go down in history as one of the first members of the newly formed Parish Council in 1894. This, replacing the old system of rule by Vestry, was an elected body from the villages consisting of six members, three from Wilstone and three from Long Marston, with the Vicar of Long Marston, the Rev Rowdon being Chairman, and Mr Vaisey, a solicitor from Tring, the Parish Clerk. They must have taken great interest in the villages to put their names forward for this office. Imagine their journeys to the monthly meetings, along our rutted side roads on winter evenings, coupled also with meetings to the Rural District Council in Berkhamsted to discuss some of the larger problems. The first ten years of the Council will be included following this chapter.
Returning to the Buckingham Arms, apart from Mr Cartwright's other duties, he and his family throughout the years always took a keen interest in sport, especially the village football team who until well after the 1939-1945 war used these premises as their headquarters and a changing room. Many trophies were won by them over the years and much more could be written of their achievements. An asset to the village also, especially among the labouring classes, was the "Slate Club" which, as far as I can gather, had always been associated with this inn. These clubs were a great help in sickness and bereavements. A small amount was deposited weekly, and the few shillings paid out on these occasions, with a share out at Christmas, helped many a family with low incomes. These clubs disappeared owing to the change in the National Insurance Act, but the Buckingham Arms carried on well into the 1950s.
In fact, looking back one realises that this was a working man's house, only beer was sold, no spirit licence being granted until Mrs Bunker, the last landlady, moved out in 1966. Mr Figg, the new landlord, only stayed about six years and, when closed in 1972, the property was purchased by the local Rural Council. The idea was to develop the property and many ideas were discussed, but they never materialised and eventually, after vandals had started damaging the rear of the building, the whole of the property was sold to a local builder, and the present three dwellings were the outcome.
I imagine the only claim to fame which concerned the Buckingham Arms was during Mr Attlee's term as Prime Minister just after the war. His car, returning from Chequers, ran into trouble along the Lower Icknield Way and he was brought into the village to await other transport. Quite a talking point for some time.
The following plot to the boundary wall of the Village Stores was developed during the early 1970s. According to old residents, this contained a number of thatched cottages which stood at right angles to the road next to the shop. Some of these were destroyed by fire one Sunday morning around 1870 and the land which was the property of Mr J G Williams of Pendley was cleared. Not only did he present it to the village, but he built the Parish Room for the use of the "Village Working Men" with a cottage attached for a resident caretaker. Unfortunately the early minute books cannot be located, but one has been passed down dating from 1914 which, with a set of rules dating 1906, gives a very clear picture of the "Working Men's Temperance Room" as it was originally named, until 1938 when the last entry appears. But by 1906 the name had been changed to the "Working Men's Club" open each evening from 5.30 until 9 where one could enjoy a game of billiards, or read the newspapers for as little as 1 shilling and threepence per year subscription. The committee consisted mostly of local farmers, Mr H W Woodman of Great Farm being the secretary. It is interesting to read that Mr Woodman was still the secretary until the closure of the club around 1938.
To quote from an article which was written in a local newspaper about 1930 on the occasion of a portrait of Mr J G Williams being presented to the club by the then President, Mr W B Southernwood, Mr Woodman recalled the past history of this very welcome addition to our village as follows:
| "Some years ago the late Mr J G Williams of Pendley Manor was consulted about building a room to be used for the benefit and welfare of the inhabitants of Wilstone. The room was called at this time 'The British Workman's Temperance Room'. It was built during the time when the Rev A F Pope was Vicar of Tring, and had been a very useful asset to the village of Wilstone.
When the late owner passed away, it was vested in the Vicar and Churchwardens of Long Marston. It had been used now for several years as a small club and reading room. Various changes had taken place. Last year a committee was formed and Mr Southernwood was appointed Chairman of the club. It was a pleasant and happy thought on his part, and in order to commemorate the memory of the donor of the hall, he said he would like to present the club with a portrait of the late Mr Williams, to be taken care of for all time and that it would be a reminder of someone who had been of very great help in the past. Some might remember the time when there was no church in the place. They owed that to the kindness of Mr and Mrs Williams who subscribed most liberally towards the expenses of building it. As they looked upon that portrait they would see the picture of a gentleman - one of England's sportsmen. In the past it had been sportsmanship of such gentlemen which had been of great importance to country life. When they had wanted assistance, to whom had they applied? Not to the state or government, but to men who had their welfare at heart and who responded to their needs." |
Mrs Williams who was present at this ceremony expressed the hope "that the people of Wilstone would enjoy the benefit of the room for many years to come".
So much for this article which was written in 1930. The Rev Pope, a very well-known and respected Vicar of Tring, came to Tring in 1872 and remained in the parish until 1881. With no date known of the opening of the hall, one comes to the conclusion that the erection took place during the mid-1870s.
During the war years 1914-1918 troops were billeted not only in the hall but in many houses in the village. The first to arrive were the Lincolns followed by several battalions of the Northumberlands. Officers were billeted at Great Farm and the troops paraded in the fields belonging to the farm. The hall became their headquarters. A small cottage next to the PO Stores was used as a guard room, sentries patrolling from the hall to Rose Lane. No mention is made of where the Workman's Club met during these difficult years, 62 young men having left the village to join the armed forces. But by 1919 the club was again very active and many entries appear of ladies' clubs, of interest in the local football and cricket teams.
The main concern however, which resulted in a public meeting being held in the School Room on May 13th, was to consider "what could be done in the way of a lasting memorial to those nine members of the community who laid down their lives in the service of their country."
The general opinion was for the purchase of a piece of land to serve the village youth as a recreation ground, and a committee was formed under Mr Percy Mead of Gubblecote Farm, who was then Chairman. From this meeting it was agreed that Mr Carr, Lord Rothschild's agent, should be approached for a suitable plot. But by October it was learned that the land in question could only be sold for £60 per acre, and it was felt that the sum required could never be raised. However £100 was offered, but this was not accepted.
It was not until February 1920 that another meeting was called but, although a number of ideas were discussed, no further action was taken until September 20th when a new proposition, probably influenced by the actions of villages around, that a memorial cross be placed on the village green and that the cross should be protected by iron railings with a suitable path leading to the site.
Within days permission was granted by the Herts County Council and estimates were obtained, the whole project costing £133, a large sum when fund raising efforts had only succeeded in raising £60. However, with £60 in hand Mr Hobbs, Stone Mason of Tring, was asked to commence the work, to be of Cornish granite.
A large Derbyshire stone, to be used as a base stone, which had originally supported the swing bridge across the Wendover Arm, was begged from the Canal Company. The company was pleased to present the stone, on the understanding that they were put to no expense in moving this from the Arm. Being in a very awkward position, this caused some problems but, not to be outdone, Mr Mead collected a large number of volunteers who manhandled the stone from its present site above the reservoir into the village. They also prepared the site. Mr Mead also paid for the dressing of the stone and half towards the outside labour employed, a sum of £41 which included the iron railings, these made by J W Wood and Son in the iron foundry at Berkhamsted.
And so on October 2nd 1921 Capt G M Brown of Tring performed the unveiling ceremony before a large congregation of ex-servicemen and villagers. The Rev H M Rowdon (Vicar of Long Marston) assisted by the Rev Riecart (Curate in Charge of Wilstone) conducted the service. Also present was the Rev F G Kemp, Baptist Minister from New Mill (who wore a Chaplain's uniform with the rank of a major) and the prayers were said by Mr Arthur Bagnall from Tring representing Wilstone Baptist Chapel. Much more could be written of this gentleman who for so many years had taken such an interest in our village youth and had taught many whose names appear on the memorial.
The Long Marston Brass Band under their conductor, Mr J Prothero, supplied suitable music for the occasion and, with members of Halton RAF Band, sounded the Last Post and Reveille.
In all 62 parishioners served with the armed forces, nine members of the village failing to return.
Unfortunately the iron shortage during the last war saw the removal of the iron railings, but fortunately this small plot of hallowed land has been treated with respect over the years, having been placed under the care of the parish council during 1922.
From the existing minute book, the Workman's Club continued to play its part in village life until 1938-9 when the book ends. Throughout the last years from these entries mention is made of the Girls' Friendly Society, who were allowed to use the rooms for nine pence per night, and this small society is still mentioned in 1938, together with the Women's Institute who met fortnightly since their formation in 1930. A mothers' meeting was also regularly held and, among other whist drive evenings which were held to raise money for the club, and in 1938 a political meeting, the charge being 2 shillings, but no other details.
With the outbreak of the 1939-1945 war, not long was to elapse before room had to be found in the village for the large number of evacuees, the hall being taken over by the Herts County Council and used as a canteen. This canteen carried on after 1945 and was used for the children of Wilstone School, eventually closing in 1956.
We now turn to the Blacksmith's Shop, referred to throughout its existence as being "The Old Blacksmith's Shop" and which, according to information handed down by old residents was erected in 1720. This seems to be so for Colbeck's map completed in 1719 for the Lord of the Manor, William Gore MP, shows no property on this site.
The first we read of the Gore family was in 1705 when Sir William Gore, a former Lord Mayor of London, was conveyed the Manor of Tring from Henry Guy. Sir William however only spent three years in his mansion. He died in 1708, the Manor passing to his eldest son, William Gore MP, and it was during his lifetime that a complete survey was drawn up of the properties and large areas of land owned by this family both in Tring and the surrounding villages. He was responsible for making many changes in Tring, which included the enclosure of the eight hundred acres of Tring Park and the diverting of the road running in front of the mansion which, according to history, was "A Fine New Mansion House" with gardens of "Pomp and Beauty".
Mention is also made of assistance given to the poor and in 1718 institutional care for the needy was begun. His interest in the must have led to many changes also in the countryside which would have included our village. The Blacksmith's Shop, being the first encroachment on our village green, must have required assistance and permission of this Lord of the Manor.
Nothing however is recorded of any previous forge but, being a necessity, one must have existed in or near the village. Walls were still standing until recent years in the forge garden and some of our older inhabitants were certain old cottages occupied this small plot of land.
The Rev Masters, when drawing his pencil sketch of the area before St Cross was built in 1877, also mentions cottages at the church path entrance and also a large pond, of which more will be written.
The photographs that do exist only show low buildings, these taken at the turn of the century, and no record exists of anyone occupying them. So one assumes that, if they had housed a former journeyman blacksmith, which is mentioned in 1861, by the end of the century they were no doubt used as storage places for any implements or waggons belonging to the business.
It is known that a family named Goodson was blacksmith in 1841. His age is given as thirty years and both he and his wife, who was also thirty, were born in the village. So it seems that the family were well established here, and were without doubt related to the Goodsons who kept the main forge in Tring. There are records of a Mr Goodson being responsible for "fashioning the ironwork" for the last stocks and whipping post erected on the village green during the early years of the 19th century.
Their name follows on throughout the 19th century, eventually leaving Wilstone during the early years of the first World War.
An old resident whose family were caretakers of the Working Men's Club since 1875 could remember Mr and Mrs Goodson and their family, and how busy the forge was at the turn of the century with always many horses waiting to be shod. More trees lined the roadside then where horses could be tethered. She remembered her mother being asked to take her washing off the lines when young unbroken horses were brought to be attended to.
Mrs Goodson kept a small sweet shop, sold sausage rolls, and carried on a dressmaking business in one of the upper rooms. There is a photograph taken about 1910 showing Mrs Goodson and her daughter standing outside the forge but by 1916 Mr Bethel and Son had taken over the business combining this with the forge at Long Marston. From his bill heads of this date we find that, apart from shoeing smiths, they were also cycle makers and agents for all the well known makers of the day including motor cycles. Their stay must have ended soon after 1919 for by 1920 the house became the home of a Mr Chappin who for some time had resided at Little Farm, an old farm house which was situated next to the large black barn on the Lower Icknield Way, now the shop and garden centre.
As with so many old village names, this family could be traced back in the history of Wilstone for at least two centuries, always shoe and bootmakers. With the property in Deans Lane being demolished at the turn of the century, including this farm house, the family moved into the village occupying some of the cottages next to the Village Stores but, by about 1920, they had moved into the Old Forge which became a cycle repair business. As the years passed, and with the coming of electricity in 1931, he became an agent for Cossor Radios, and accumulators could be charged. He also stocked electric bulbs and fittings. The business however declined from 1950 onwards and in 1979, upon his death, the property was sold and much restoration was undertaken, the house being completed by 1981.
It is well to mention here that the funeral service of Mr Chappin was the last occasion when the Baptist Chapel in New Road was used for public worship, being opened especially on this occasion.
One cannot leave the history of this old building however without some details of the land opposite, which are now gardens belonging to the house.
For this we must go back to 1903 and of an alleged encroachment on the Village Green which was discussed by the Parish Council at a public meeting held in the School Room concerning the large pond mentioned in a previous paragraph. Evidently it had been reported from a school governors' meeting to the Rural District Council of the serious flooding outside the school rooms and the dirty state of the pond which constituted a health hazard. Lord Rothschild, having been informed, acted at once. He ordered the pond to be filled in and a fence placed around the site, but this was all discussed without informing the Parish Council who were rather put out, especially as this area was always recognised as being the property of the owners of the blacksmith's shop.
Mr H Woodman, whose family had occupied Great Farm since 1789, gave a history of this piece of ground which had been enclosed. "As long as he, and many old residents, could remember the water from the pond was clear and no complaints had ever been received before. It had been there probably for centuries and used as a watering place for the village cattle which, in the days before the enclosures, were turned out on the village green. Since 1720 with the building of the blacksmith's shop, this had been an important asset to his business. It was only when the sewer came through the village that it became a stagnant pond. Lord Rothschild, after filling the pond, gave his agent instructions for the area to be fenced but this was before the agent died, so it was not done until quite recently".
Again we must consult the Parish Council's records and from these we read of complaints before the Council around 1900 on the dilapidated state of many of the local cottages, the majority of which belonged to Lord Rothschild.
Many alterations were being undertaken in Tring at the turn of the century and Lord Rothschild had already turned his attention to the properties in the local villages. In Wilstone during 1900 the present Great Farm House was being built, replacing an old dwelling that must have been some centuries old. This probably led to the enquiries by the Parish Council regarding the many cottages under his care. In any case, not long was to elapse before Deans Lane had lost the last of its cottages, and by 1907 the Rothschild Villas in New Road had replaced the farm, shops and cottages which existed opposite the Chapel up to the old farm buildings.
It was during 1898 in preparing for this change that a pipe for sewage was laid from the farm buildings, ending in an irrigation system of trenches in the Wick Mead Field beside the canal. One can imagine however the upheaval and mess through the village, hence the complaints. An account of this system and those that followed will be written about later.
To return to the public meeting, the Chairman called for a vote to be taken regarding the land in question and from this a vote taken of the eighteen villages present. Fourteen voted that this was private property and the Chairman stated that notice of this should be recorded in the minutes. Although flooding occurred at regular intervals afterwards no mention has been recorded of the recurrence of the stench that caused so much trouble in 1903.
Paddock Cottage has a much older history, classed in the Dacorum Listed Buildings as being "Grade II seventeenth century or earlier". It was therefore of no surprise to read from the "History of Hertfordshire" written and published in 1908, mention made of this building being over the centuries a farm, inn and brewery, which at one time went under the name of "The Old Black Horse". During the early years of this century when the property changed hands mention is made of "The Old Black Horse" but, apart from an occasional remark from a few old residents, the date when this house was originally an inn or ale house is hard to establish.
The first recorded entry regarding property which stood on this site comes from the Will of Thomas Hinton in 1727, which was researched by Mr I Gregory while tracing his own family history. Thomas, a yeoman in the days long before the enclosures of the open fields, farmed many plots in the surrounding acres. Upon his death however from the contents of his Will it seems that many of these acres were returned to the Lord of the Manor. To quote one small item in this Will: "Whereas I have already surrendered or are about to surrender into the hands of the Lord of the Manor of Tring Magna and Membris in the said county of Hertford all singular my copyhold Messuages, Lands, Tenements and inhereditaments whatsoever situate, lying and being within the said manor".
He also left a large amount of property and his goods to his wife and family, including Paddock Cottage. The Hinton family continued to own Paddock Cottage throughout the 18th century, their names being recorded on the enclosure awards map of 1798. This enclosure map gives the property as being in the possession of a Daniel Hinton, and shows all the fields and closes which had been allotted around to the cottage, in all with the cottage and garden being thirteen lots in number. One comes to the conclusion that this family had some influence in our village life. However no trace of their name appears again in Wilstone's history. Perhaps with so many changes taking place, not only with the enclosures of the open fields but with the Canal Company buying more and more land, this was a time when a profitable move could be made.
Two old photographs are in existence showing a very unusual beamed three-storey building which without doubt was part of the original plans. These also show the lower extension, probably added in the early 19th century which, in the years to follow, was the recognised Village Stores. All this, with thatched barns reaching to the road, gave the property an air of some importance.
It would be interesting to find the date when this upper storey was removed, for none of our older inhabitants ever mentioned the event, not even Mr J Edwards, who was born in 1874. He passed on many scraps of information related to him by his grandmother who lived in one of the cottages in the Long Row but never once was this mentioned.
As regards following residents, it was known that a family named Rodwell who were brewers occupied the premises according to Kellys Directories in 1860. The name Paddock Cottage is not mentioned but, in studying the list of village inhabitants and their respective occupations, this may well have been the inn mentioned in the County History of 1908. In the 1861 census Job Rodwell is stated as being a farmer and beer retailer employing three men and a boy, but he was only one of six families of that name living in Wilstone. Their occupations ranged from agricultural workers to bakers, bricklayers and shoe makers.
This had not altered to any great extent over the previous twenty years, the Rodwells having been always shoe makers and bakers. However, with the changing times of the 19th century, by 1885 no Rodwells in business are mentioned, and the premises were taken over by Mr Thomas Proctor, well-known thatchers in this area, at some period during the 1880s. During 1891 Thomas was employed by the Tring Charities Committee to dig the well and tend the hedges and ditches around the Poors Land in Rose Lane, a five acre field recently acquired from Lord Rothschild. Mr Proctor's bill for "digging well on Wilstone allotments with lid, frame and spring for drawing complete" was three pounds.
His name appeared in the charity records each year until December 1904 never receiving more than ten shillings (50p) per year. Bill heads during these years give the information that he was also a hay, straw, coal and soot merchant. The large paddock attached to the cottage, bordering Chapel End Lane, now partly built over by Chapel Fields estate, was in 1719 named Cox Close. This name was mentioned until the late 1800s when part of the Close was taken over by the local Parish Council and used for the digging of gravel, much of it for repairs to the rough flint roads.
This seems to have been discontinued however with the more modern system of road mending around 1905, and Mr Ephaim Oakley, who worked in this Gravel Pit Field, had his hours cut. Gravel however was still being dug by the next Paddock Cottage owner up until the end of the first World War. A bill head dated 1915 gives the price of this commodity "6 yards of fine gravel" 15 shillings and another "one yard" two shillings and sixpence.
Mr Bail not only owned Paddock Cottage but also the Old Forge and part of Bower Field, the field next to the reservoirs along the Aston Clinton road. The name of this highway is worth a mention. Known as Rutters Way before the reservoirs were constructed, this old lane ran close to the village of Drayton Beauchamp to Buckland and on to Aston Clinton. The name has now gone, the last time used was during the resiting of the roads in 1798.
During the occupation of Mr and Mrs Bail, the village shop, the small extension attached to the cottage, was a going concern and an excellent photograph exists showing the goods displayed in the window with Mrs Bail standing outside. According to older inhabitants, Mr Bail worked for many years in South Africa, employed by the South African Railways, only coming home once a year. This was a heyday for the village school. Evidently Mr Bail took a keen interest in the school and would bring home many momentoes of his journeys which he took along at each visit. However in 1930 the property, with the other of Mr Bail's holdings in the district, was sold and until 1939 was occupied by a local village family.
From the purchase of Paddock Cottage and the closes around, in 1939 the whole of this important part of our village was destined to see many changes.
It was not long before the new owner, Mr Glasser, set to work on redeveloping the cottage, and over the following years bringing it to the attractive property and garden one sees today. His main interest however was the rearing of poultry which resulted in the old Cox Close, or Gravel Pit Field, being turned into a large battery poultry farm, which during the war years and indeed for many after was of great assistance to the meagre rations of those times. During 1963 to feed the thousands of birds and to assist the local farmers, a large mill for the production of animal feedstuffs was erected behind St Cross and for many years was a hive of industry with tractors and delivery vans always to be seen along our village roads.
During 1984-85 came another change, the buildings containing the birds were emptied and this area of the old Gravel Pit Field was sold for housing. Chapel Fields Estate now occupies this site.
Coming up to the present day, the mill was also closed during March 1999 and at the moment of writing (February 2000), the machinery is being dismantled and the site also will be cleared. So much has happened during the last sixty years.
It must be mentioned here however that, before the houses on Chapel Fields were built, the Hertfordshire Historical Section made quite a fuss concerning the coming excavations but, in a complete survey of the ground, although classed as an Area of Historic Interest, nothing was found to halt the building project.
On leaving Paddock Cottage however, mention must be made of the large yew tree which stands on the south-eastern wall. Its girth is quite 12 feet and must have been there for many centuries, long before the extension was added to the present building. Its age and position may point to more interesting facts being unearthed.
We now turn our steps across the remaining small pieces of the old village green, to the Post Office Stores and endeavour to trace the history of the present building and previous cottages, together with a family named Hanwell whom it is known were the residents of these premises from 1870 and probably from the beginning of the 19th century.
Very few records are available before the first census returns of 1841. John Hanwell, aged 41, is recorded as being a tailor by profession. He and his wife, aged 40, were born in the village with quite a large family, but no mention is made of their parents so it is possible that this family settled in Wilstone with the large influx of labour which came with the canal system in the latter 1700s.
We can follow John until 1860, still in business as a tailor, but by this time another Hanwell is mentioned. He was 36 and also born in the village, recorded as a baker and grocer, and from then on one can trace this branch of the family throughout the 19th century, in fact until they eventually moved from our district in the early 1930s.
In 1883 the first mention is made of a post office. It was well established by this time and it is possible for the large extension, the double framed window and house, now the present antiques business. Old residents have mentioned other cottages in the grounds attached to this property where the A-framed house exists today, but the Dacorum records only give two cottages of importance. These are not listed but thought by them of historical importance.
The Misses Ashley, who moved into the property before many of the rear alterations were made, described these old cottages. It was noticeable where the old place had been altered before the bake house. They also remarked about the upper rooms where wheat and flour must have been stored. There was also a raised area where bacon and hams were cured. Their kitchen was part of the older buildings separated from the main house by a yard which at one time contained a well (filled in before their time). From the scraps of information available, they were of the opinion, from marks and hollows in the flag stoned floors, that at some earlier date the cottages had been used for another purpose. A straw plaiting school had been mentioned but this is doubtful, for it is well recorded that the cottage attached to the store was used for this purpose, and more than one old inhabitant had mentioned their mothers attending these classes when very young.
It was the Misses Ashley who converted the cottages back into a self-contained flat, and this was the situation when Mr Scriven carried out the main alterations during 1976.
To return to the Hanwell family, they were non-conformist and, being friends of the Grange family, did much to help with the Chapel Sunday School and all their activities. Mrs Loveday, Mr Hanwell's daughter, often spoke of the summer treats and how they were held in the old Malt House opposite, sitting on the cool brick floors on the hot summer days.
Mr Hanwell also took a very keen interest in village affairs, being a member of the Tring Charities Committee. From the turn of the century, arranging the letting and upkeep of the Poors Land in Rose Lane. The history of these five acres and the importance of Rose Lane must be dealt with in a separate chapter.
We are now left with the cottages up to the lane. Dacorum records put them down as late 19th century and make no mention of the two which backed on to the post office. These two very old cottages must have stood here for centuries. They have been mentioned as a plait school and interesting also is that, during the 1914-1918 war, were used by the many regiments who came to the village as a guard room, with sentries patrolling from the hall to the lane. However, in the early '50s, they became vacant, the whole site cleared and the new house "Woodmans" now stands in their place. Such are the changes that a few years bring about.