1994 marked the centenary of the local parish council, one hundred years having elapsed since the jurisdiction of the parish affairs, which for centuries had been invested in the churchwardens, Justices of the Peace and overseers of the poor, were handed to an elected body of local village residents. They must have been very interested in village life to have their names put forward for this office for each month they were continually receiving complaints regarding stiles, gates and blocked footpaths and even the nuisance caused by fowls and animals on the village side roads.
Their early records were very brief and contained no more words than was absolutely necessary, in fact blunt and to the point, but it is most interesting when reading the names of the first councillors to find names that are still with us in our local communities. One pauses and thinks back over those early days, their monthly journeys between villages to sort out local affairs, and the troubles they must have encountered along the rutted roads during the wet winter evenings. None of the "mod cons" we so readily take for granted, running water, heating, light, clean roads, etc. We read of the deplorable state of our byways and how two councillors from each village were appointed as road wardens whose duty it was to make sure the ditches were kept clean and to arrange for the necessary repairs. "Finger Posts" for directing travellers on their way also came under their jurisdiction, those being unknown in our back roads until the first one was erected at Gubblecote in 1896 and two years was to elapse before a second was placed at the Rose & Crown corner in Long Marston pointing the way to Wingrave, perhaps roads had improved by 1898.
The first meeting of the Parish Council was held at Long Marston on 2 January 1895 and the elected members from Long Marston were Mr George Gregory, Mr John Proctor, Mr Chas Stevens and Chairman, the Rev R H Rowdon Vicar of Long Marston with Puttenham. From Wilstone were, Mr William Cartwright (Landlord of the Buckingham Arms), Mr Walter Edwards and Mr Thomas French who lived at Tring Ford, the Parish Clerk being Mr Vaisey from Tring.
Mr Vaisey who was the Vestry Clerk of the whole of Tring Parish explained his position under the Local Government Act 1894 and that he became Clerk of the Parish Council for the Parish of Tring Rural at an apportioned salary of eight pounds per annum.
Most of the early meetings were taken up with questions regarding the sewage problems of both villages, the providing of allotment ground and a burial ground for the inhabitants of Wilstone. An allotment in those days was not restricted to 10 or 20 poles but could be anything from a half to 4 acres, and it was stated that 56 acres were required for Wilstone, and 31 for Long Marston. From these meetings letters would be sent to Lord Rothschild and Mr J E Williams regarding Wilstone, and the Dean and Chapter of Christchurch Oxford for Long Marston.
Both Mr Williams and Mr Carr, Lord Rothschild's agent, answered and agreed to rent land in Wilstone, but the Long Marston members were asked to attend a meeting in Oxford, Christchurch being unwilling to rent any of their many holdings. The result of the visit to Oxford is not mentioned again in the minutes, but records at Hertford state that there was an "Agreement for Letting dated October 13th 1896, the lease of Graingers Field, Long Marston by the Dean and Chapter of Christchurch, Oxford to the Tring Rural Parish Council for the purpose of allotments".
It must be mentioned here that during the 19th century agriculture had suffered a considerable decline in all the country districts, this area being no exception, and from the accounts of Great Farm Wilstone we read of farm labourers' wages being cut from thirteen shillings and sixpence to twelve shillings per week. Many accounts have been written describing the poverty which was widespread in the rural areas, the main cause being, according to many writers, the opening up of the American Prairies as wheat lands. Mechanisation had moved far in advance of this country where agriculture remained labour intensive. Steam ships brought more and more grain to our shores, not only from America but from the Continent, India and Russia. Between 1871 and 1881 agricultural employment fell by 92,000 and this was not helped by the disastrous wet summers of 1871 and 1879 when outbreaks of foot and mouth disease and liver rot resulted in widespread distress. This led to the moving on of many villagers not only from our shores but to the larger towns where growing factories offered housing and employment.
However in 1881, as a contribution to relive the rural poverty, an Allotment Act was passed which bound the trustees of any publicly owned land held for charitable purposes to let it on demand to labourers for use as allotments.
The Tring Charities Committee in an exchange with Lord Rothschild had recently acquired 5 acres of land in Rose Lane Wilstone but, although this was applied for by "sundry members of house holders of the village on the 2nd of September 1885" it was not until 1891 that the land was vacated by a local farmer and the cottage allotments were laid down.
The Potash Allotment in Hoblings Furlong (on the left of the road towards Wingrave) has a much older history and here is a quotation from the writings of the late Rev E J Anthony in 1938:
| "The year of the Tring Enclosures Act was 1799 when the Church Warden's ground at Potash was given to them in lieu of freehold land belonging to the Chapel at Long Marston, the rent of which has always been applied towards the repair of the Chapel". |
(Quoted from the printed reports of the former Commissioners for inquiring concerning charities dated 1833)
Previously to 1799 the whereabouts of the original church land appears to be unknown. Likewise also the original which probably goes back many centuries like the church itself, for whose repair the land was held. That is not the case with the Potash land belonging to Tring Charities. The origin of this dates from 1767 when Michael Nash gave to the Chapel Wardens of Long Marston, for the benefit of the poor of the hamlet:
| "1 acre of arable land in Brook Furlong next to the head land value annually 10/6" |
(quoted from the Board Benefactions for the Poor hanging in Long Marston Church and brought there from the old church in 1883).
The clerk was authorised to approach Lord Rothschild with a view to the purchase of the land. On 13 August the clerk reported that Lord Rothschild was willing to give the land applied for, and he was thanked for his very kind offer.
To return to everyday troubles, Councillor Proctor of Long Marston again drew the attention of the meeting to the deterioration of the roads and footpaths and of a dangerous stile on Mr Ives' farm belonging to the Rev Rowdon. Complaints had also been received from the inhabitants living in Marston Gate Station regarding the Langdale Brook which was causing much inconvenience through flooding.
Mr J Greening who lived at Chapel End Farm Wilstone, having ignored the Council's first letter, was told in no uncertain terms to move an obstruction on the path between Wilstone and Buckland, and Mr Mead would be reminded of the footpath at Betlow Willows and another through Hawkridges which led from Wilstone to Cheddington. Sewage and drainage were always causing concern and, during the early days of the Council, it was reported that certain cottages at Long Marston had diverted their drainage water into local brooks.
This was considered a problem for the Rural District Council, drawing its attention to the Government Acts of 1894 concerning these matters. It must be stated that the disposal of sewage and rubbish in the countryside areas was never considered of great importance to the villagers themselves but, with the forming of the Rural District Council and the vast improvement that came in the towns, this soon spread to the outlying districts and not many months went by without some question being raised regarding these problems, and the very primitive existing methods with various schemes for improvement, put forward by the Conservancy Board and the Rural District Council.
The condition of the road at Marston Gate is mentioned at many of the Parish Council and Rural Council meetings and the Railway Company was continually being informed of these conditions which would necessitate, in the opinion of the Council, the erection of a footbridge. But in 1897 the last letter was received from the Company which gave the blunt reply that, as the road was so little used, it did not think it necessary to erect a footbridge.
During 1895 the Rev Broad applied for a piece of land to be used as a recreation ground for the villagers, but this was not discussed further, although the minutes of the meeting held on 12 July stated that Wilstone's Cricket Club appears to have got possession of the piece of land which the Rev Broad made application for at the last meeting of the Council.
The first mention of a recreation ground for Long Marston came at the Annual Parish Meeting held on 16 April 1895 when a petition signed by 77 inhabitants was received asking the Council to provide a recreation ground. Mr Carr, Lord Rothschild's agent, was approached but asked if the question could stand over for a month. The matter was finally settled on 9 July and rules were drawn up by committee members. Although Lord Rothschild agreed to this scheme, he did not consider the footpath at Wilstone Green was in need of attention. He would however give a small area of land for road widening. He also agreed to donate towards the cost of repairs in Rose Lane, the bridleway to the Charities allotments, this being in very poor condition. A Mr Scott who farmed land in this area was willing to pay his share, as was the Tring Charities Committee. Five pounds was the sum received from each party.
Previous to Mr Scott, the land mentioned in Rose Lane was farmed by the Grange family, whose home was Collyns Farm, a cluster of half-timbered thatched buildings opposite the Baptist Chapel in New Road. These were demolished at the turn of the century. Although this family owned property in Little Tring and Wigginton during the 17th century, the earliest record of them being in Wilstone is 1717 when they jointly owned Collyns and Manor Farms.
The Grange family, originally from Manor Farm, evidently adopted the established church as their form of worship but later they broke away and became non-conformists. Herbert Grange writing the family history in 1932 gives the date as 1777 when they all became dissenters: in fact they were baptists. A barn was licensed for non-conformists, probably at Collyns Farm, in 1793 and the family gave the land and were responsible for building the baptist chapel which was opened in 1837. James Grange, the last member of the family to reside in the village, was born in 1827 and died in 1893. During his lifetime he added the school rooms where the children of the village were taught to read and write before the National School was opened and long before the Education Acts came into being during the 1870s.
Grange Road was named in memory of this old family who did so much for the village nearly 200 years ago. On James' death the property was inherited by his surviving daughter, Marion, who was married to Mr Scott. Collyns Farm was sold to Lord Rothschild and eventually Mr and Mrs Scott moved to Dover.
One hundred years later, Rose Lane (or as it is named now Rosebarn Lane) is again very overgrown and, apart from being an entrance into the Grange Road Estate, named in the middle ages as Back Side Piece or the Village Waste is not classed as of importance to the modern villagers of today and, apart from occasional walkers, is very little used. It is therefore hard to realise that, until the Enclosure Acts came into being in 1798-9, this same track or bridleway, was a very busy thoroughfare which led from the village centre to the large mediaeval fields. (The will of Thomas Hinton in 1717 refers to the old bridleway as Rose Lane). The Near East Field and the Further East Field, large areas of unfenced or hedged open land, which stretched from our village boundary to the borders of Marsworth, Upper Head Way and Nether Head Way were ancient tracks which crossed these open fields but, with the coming of the modern road system in 1798, they also were lost. Fortunately in 1719 William Gore, the Lord of the Manor and a former Lord Mayor of London, commissioned J Colbeck to draw up a map of the district which is now of great interest for, not only does it give the names of these old fields, but shows the property that existed within the village.
Times were changing. The first "Finger Post" was erected at Gubblecote Cross and, at a special meeting held on 10 August 1896, the Chairman stressed the desirability of obtaining telegraph communication in the villages by means of a new wire which had recently been taken to Wingrave. A month passed and the clerk informed the meeting that this wire had now reached Marston Gate Station and he would make further enquiries regarding Long Marston and Wilstone but no date is mentioned of this being completed. The local directory of 1902 stated that the nearest telegraph and money order office was in Tring so one concludes the wire did not come beyond the station. The councillors seemed more concerned with Marsworth residents rabbiting on the allotment land, and Mr J Plumridge and Mr George Ellis were warned of the serious consequences if this continued. In any case boards would be erected to warn future offenders.
A request from Mr Job Edwards, who wrote asking for permission to erect a cow shed in Berrywhicks, Sandbrook Holding, now stands on this field which was, with the Lower Wick Mead Field, the field at the end of Sandbrook Lane, the dairy fields of the old mediaeval village, and mentioned in the Domesday Book under the entry for Tring as follows:
| "In this vill (Tring) is another outlier, Berewic, where 8 villagers reside, who have two ploughs and a third possible". |
So much more could be written about these old fields and of the tracks that crossed this area, as can be seen from the 1719 map. The Lower Wick Mead field, before the coming of the canal in the early 1800s, stretched as far as the bridleway that joins Astrope Lane at the ford opposite Dinah's Pond. Returning to Sandbrook Lane, this could not have been too well defined for Mr Edwards also asked as to the position of the road to Lower Wicks and it was left to the Wilstone members to stake out a road. But five years later complaints were still being received of its condition caused by fowls and cattle. The small three-cornered piece just beyond the gate was named Pond Close and, when in use as dairy fields, this must have been very important as a cattle drinking area. An old path carried on round this pond and through Long Close to Chapel End Lane, joining Deans Lane and thence to Tring. Gravel pit fields existed in all our villages. The gravel being used on the general repairs to the roads, but records do exist of flints being carted from Wigginton and even Berkhamsted. Mr Joe Edwards, who was born in 1874, could remember a Mr Badrick, who lived in the old thatched cottages opposite Sandbrook Lane, with his long handled hammer breaking flints for this purpose. Those fields were allotted to the Parish Council in 1894 but they had existed since the Enclosure Acts of 1798. Although in those far off days work was only carried out on the highways after harvest time and other slack periods. In 1894 these fields were however let to selected applicants and Mr Ephraim Oakley rented the Wilstone pit for £2 per annum. But in 1900 maybe not so much gravel was being used for he was informed that in future the letting would only be on a six monthly basis. Many entries appear in the minutes regarding the carting of gravel, the last mentioned being:
| "Mr Cartwright carting gravel for making up paths at Wilstone Cemetery, 12 loads at one shilling and three pence per load". |
He also carried out major repairs to the road from the school to Mr Woodman's gate (Great Farm) in New Road:
| "12.1/2 days at two shillings and six pence per day". |
Graingers Field was the area mentioned for Long Marston, and the field in Wilstone was on the right of Chapel End Lane, where Chapel Fields now stands. Extensive workings were also carried out at Dixons Gap, the Wilstone family concerned with the trade being Mr Bone and his son. These workings were abandoned according to Mr Albert Bone in about 1910. They were then employed by Mr Newman of College Farm (10 acre field), the field between Gubblecote Farm and Gubblecote. The digging continued after the First World War and it was not until 1939 that the workings were eventually abandoned. During these years no modern methods or equipment were used, the gravel being dug, washed and sifted by hand. The repairing of the roads with flints and gravel is also recorded during these years, the flints being carted from Marston Gate Station by Mr Harry Cartwright.
So now the pages turn to a very important part in the history of our district. Mr French of Tring Ford drew the attention of the Council to the deplorable state of many village properties, the scarcity of accommodation which resulted in overcrowding of many families. Lord Rothschild would be asked to receive a deputation in reference "to the housing of the working classes" in the parish. During the early days of the parish and rural councils no cottage properties were owned by the local authorities and it was Lord Rothschild, as Lord of the Manor, who controlled large areas of our countryside and many of the cottages to which Mr French referred were in his possession.
This deputation must have been well received for much progress was made from 1900 onwards. This started with the demolition of the old half-timbered Great Farm House which stood to the left of the pond and adjoining the grain storage sheds, and the building of the modern farmhouse and dairy buildings. This was followed by the sweeping away of all the old properties that lined New Road and the erection of the present Rothschild houses in 1907. The history of the once busy thoroughfare and the various properties it contained, with many of the inhabitants is given in an earlier chapter.
These changes were not confined to the village itself for the half-timbered buildings in Deans Lane, which although looking attractive in the photographs, were not exactly to the Lord's pleasure when driving that way to the reservoirs with his many influential guests.
Deans Lane, Wells Lane, Newmans Lane (this lane has changed its name according to the better-known inhabitants) was previous to 1798 one of Wilstone's main roads through to Tring, crossing ground now occupied by the large canal reservoir following Green Lane and crossing Miswell Hill through to Miswell Farm, joining the Upper Icknield Way opposite Miswell Lane. This lane in 1900 still contained a number of cottages and small holdings, a Dame's School and even a fish shop kept by a Mr Charles Collings.
The wheelwright's business owned by Mr Joseph Hare was situated at Pear Tree Cottage, Mr Hare having taken over from the Newman family in 1885. This family was in residence since the early 19th century and the cottage dates from around 1813. The last member of the family however had records of this business having existed in Wilstone for 200 years. If so, the house and workshop must have been further up the lane probably moving down to its present position when the reservoirs were enlarged in the early 1800s. Their name is well recorded in Hertfordshire's history, J T Newman being one of Hertfordshire's pioneer photographers. Wilstone Little Farm which stood next to the Black Barn and farmyard and which now houses the farm shop was occupied throughout the 19th century by a Mr Southernwood whose name is still very well known in the district. This we know disappeared about 1903, the last tenants being Mr George Chappin's family who moved into the village, first into the small cottages next to the village stores (these were originally a plait school) and eventually to the Old Forge, taking over from the Goodsons, well-known blacksmiths both in the village and in Tring.
It is worth recording that Mr Goodson fashioned the ironwork for the last stocks and whipping post erected on the village green by Honours of Tring early in the 19th century. The blacksmith's business was bought by Mr Bethel combining Wilstone with his other forge at Long Marston.
It was in lieu of this acre in Brook Furlong that the Commissioners allotted the Tring Charities portion in 1799. The two roods in Potash Way sound a poor exchange for 1 acre but not all land is equally valuable, and probably the new ground at Potash, being next to a public road was of equal value though only about half the size and the exchange was a fair one. Being Poor Land it was given now in 1799 to the churchwardens and oversees of Tring. The argument would be that, with the church here being only a Chapel of Ease, its warden had no responsibility for the poor, this lying with the Tring churchwardens, who also levied a poor rate for the whole of Tring Parish of which Long Marston was then a part.
The name Potash mentioned in the previous paragraph needs some explanation for it refers to the burning of bean straw, the ashes used as a general fertilizer. The kiln for this purpose was situated in Potash Lane, the beans being grown in the Bennil Fields (now referred to as Big and Little Bennil), large areas of land on the eastern borders of Puttenham. Although the earliest village map of 1719 names these fields as Bennil Field and Bennil Furlong, they were many years previously "Bean Hill Fields" and have quite an ancient history. The potash kiln at Long Marston is mentioned by Peter Kalm, a Swedish traveller, during 1748 while on a visit to a Mr Ellis, one of the first inventors of farming machinery, who lived at Little Gaddesden.
He writes:
| "At a neighbouring Village of Long Marston, there was a Pot Ash Kiln where they made ashes from Bean Straw, for the most part, and sell a vat of them, which contains thirty two five-bushel sacks, which dresses one acre, for fourteen shillings". |
As regards Wilstone's larger allotments, no name is mentioned of the field rented but old villagers have spoken many times of the plot of land below the Marsworth Cross Roads on the Long Marston Road known as The Acres, which consisted of Lock House Field, Parsonage Close and Startops End Field and of the villagers who took advantage of these smallholdings.
Having sorted out this problem, the next important item brought up at a meeting held on 12 March 1895 was Wilstone's burial ground and a subject, one imagines, that must have been mentioned at many church and village meetings, especially after 1848 with the opening of the village school (a National School grant aided by the Church of England) where the main school room was used for religious services each Sunday until the opening of St Cross in 1877.
No records exist of any previous burial grounds in or near the village, and the site of the old church or chapel which was demolished in 1657 has so far never been located. It is known that during the 18-19th century very many internments took place in Tring, Wilstone and Long Marston being attached to that parish. Mr Woodman, whose family had occupied Great Farm since 1793, mentioned a wagonette which was kept on the farm and used on these sad occasions to convey the mourners to Tring but it was not until May 1895 when the Parish Council had become fairly established that the matter was officially raised and considered. The three Wilstone members, Mr W Cartwright, Mr Walter Edwards and Mr Thomas French would be appointed to select a site but at the next meeting Mr French reported that no decision had been reached and, in their opinion, the people of the village should be consulted. From the village meeting that followed it was agreed that the most suitable site was one acre on Wilstone Hill, belonging to Lord Rothschild in the occupation of Mr Henry Woodman, at the corner of the road leading to Marsworth.
To return to the minutes, dangerous stiles were reported at Long Marston, Betlow Willows and Lower Braid being high on the list (but where were Lower Braid and Betlow Willows). Also tucked away among the many items of business was mention of a collection for the "Indian Famine Fund" and a collection was taken in the local churches and chapels. One wonders how much was raised!
In February 1889 it was agreed that a letter be sent to Mr Gordon Thomas of the Canal Company regarding the erection of a bridge which had been blown down. An old photograph still exists which shows this bridge over the canal, named the Rainbow Bridge, taken in about 1880. Mr Thomas would erect one at a convenient date. The most important item for that year however were plans submitted by the Rural Council for a sewage system at both Long Marston and Wilstone.
To continue however with the everyday troubles: the Councillors were not happy over the rundown state of a number of plots on the Wilstone allotments. After a survey carried out on 9 October 1901 nine plots were in very good order although two had been sublet. The remainder were coarse, poor and very dirty. These holders must have received a stern warning for there is no mention made of this affair at future meetings although one member did vacate his plot and several months later was reminded of two shillings still owing for rent.
A strange entry appears in the minutes of a meeting held in January 1901 when the Chairman (Rev J A Broad) who at this time was curate in charge of Wilstone, explained his action in reference to the digging of Mr Wilkins' grave. The members thanked the Chairman for the action he had taken. One wonders what sad story lies behind those few words.
1902, the year of the Coronation of King Edward VII, and the clerk in a letter to Tring police station informed them that no extra police would be needed but it was hoped some appearance would be made during the day. In any case the members thought this an appropriate time to arrange for the cleaning up of the mess in Sandbrook Lane made by cattle and fowls "who were doing much damage to the road". With complaints received from the Rural District Council regarding the purity of the local drinking water, a sample was analysed which proved satisfactory. Still the Rural Council was not satisfied with the result and the next letter from them stated that from their enquiries nearly all the water in our villages was unfit for drinking purposes. The blunt answer from this end informed the Rural District that there was an adequate supply and further they did not require the services of any interfering Water Company!
This was the last one reads in this first Minute Book regarding our wells and pumps and one imagines that over the following years most properties were connected to the main supply. It is worth mentioning that as late as 1932 there were a number of properties still using pumps and wells and in July the Rural District Council decided to send warrants to "certain owners of property in Wilstone" to install a proper supply of water and discontinue the supply from wells. This time it was the Rev E J Anthony who came to the villagers' aid. In an article to the local press he stated that:
| "The competent judges in this matter are not the Rural District or the Medical Officer of Health at Berkhamsted, but the people of Wilstone. Experts may have their theories, but the people who drink the water, they know when the wells run dry or epidemics can be traced to them, it will be time enough to forsake them. Don't be driven from your wells". |
One doubts if the outburst from the Rev Anthony (Vicar of our three villages) had much effect for from then on the use of pumps and wells gradually disappeared, the pumps becoming relics of past days.
Evidently the use of gravel for road surfaces during these years was being faded out and Mr Ephraim Oakley, who had worked Wilstone Gravel Pit Field since 1894, was given notice to quit in 1903. However this land must have been sold shortly after and before the First World War for an invoice of 1915 gives the name of Mr George Bail, who supplied 6 yards of fine gravel for 15 shillings to Mr Chandler builder of Long Marston. Mr Bail at this time was the owner of Paddock Cottage which in those years was advertised as the village stores. Previous to this it was an inn, The Old Black Horse, and until late in the 19th century it consisted of three storeys but, although photographs exist of this building, none of the older inhabitants mentioned this or remarked on its unusual appearance. With so few photographs being taken in those days, it is possible that these were the early work of J T Newman and taken just before the third storey was removed around 1870. In 1930 following the death of Mr Bail the whole of this property was sold. It also included The Old Blacksmiths Shop and Bowers End Field, the plot of land under the reservoir banks onto the Aston Clinton Road which came under the jurisdiction of the Parish Council in 1894 and was let in 1903 to Mr William Cartwright, Mr Job and Sidney Edwards, and Mr James Stilton. The details in this catalogue for the auction still gave the name of this property as The Old Black Horse probably the last time this name was used.
New names were now appearing on the Parish Council. The Rev J A Broad who had held the position of Chairman since May 1898 resigned on 9 December 1902 upon his promotion to the Rectory of Pitstone, and Mr Vaisey who had been Parish Clerk since its inauguration in 1894 also handed in his resignation in 1902, and Mr Pughe of Aston Clinton became Clerk, his salary remaining at £8 per annum. Mr French was elected Chairman and new names on the Council were Mr W Newman of College Farm, Mr J W Greening of Chapel End Farm and Mr G Chapman. Mr Hanwell, the village baker and mealman, was elected to represent the Parish Council on the Tring Consolidated Charities Committee.
The question of local charities also was discussed and the Council had no objection to the appointment of Francis George Griffin (farmer) and the Rev Claude Hubert Parez (Vicar of Mentmore) to be trustees of Thomas Pratt's charity. Mr Griffin will be remembered as the donor of the statue of John Hampden erected at the top of Aylesbury's Market Square in 1911.
From the Buckinghamshire records we learn that:
| "By an indenture of the 18th November 1615. Thomas Pratt of Wingrave, Shepherd and Grazier left, apart from certain bequests to Wingrave, and the poor of Cheddington, 10/- yearly to the poor of Betlow and Alnwick (then named Naldwick) in the parish of Tring". |
Enquiries regarding this charity have so far failed to find if any money was ever distributed or when. This charity was incorporated in the Tring Consolidated Charities according to the Charities records by a scheme of the Charity Commissioners of 4 April 1884.
1903 draws to a close with an alleged encroachment on the Wilstone waste, which will no doubt be of interest to future inhabitants of our village for it concerns a large pond which covered an area now used as the Old Forge garden. The Rev R M Rowdon introduced the subject of this encroachment on the roadside waste and vindicated his action for the trouble caused. He made it quite clear he had no personal interest in the matter, and no animosity towards Lord Rothschild or his agent. Evidently it had been reported from the school governors' meeting, of which the Rev Rowdon was a member, 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 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 local 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 of Great Farm gave a history of this piece of ground which had been enclosed. As long as he and many older residents could remember the water in the pond was clean 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 also been an important asset to his business. It was only after the sewer came down the village that it became a stagnant pool. Lord Rothschild, after filling the pond, gave his agent an order for the area to be fenced but, before this was done, the agent died so it was not done until quite recently. After Mr Woodman's explanation, a vote was taken from the eighteen village residents who attended this public meeting and it was decided by a majority of fourteen that "There is no doubt it was private property", and the Chairman asked for this to be recorded in the minutes as such.
It was in 1885 that Mr French drew the attention of the Council members to the question of drainage at Long Marston and Wilstone. Evidently some work had been carried out by Berkhamsted Rural District Council in both villages without the Parish Council being notified and he asked the clerk to bring to the notice of the Rural District the Government Act of 1884 which stated that notice should be given to local councils before any contracts were entered into.
After various correspondence a meeting was called on 14 July 1895 regarding Long Marston's drainage attended by Mr Lines, the sanitary inspector, who brought along a proposed scheme for a system, the cost of which would be £266.15.0. He again visited Long Marston during January 1896 with his alternative idea for a Duplex tank to connect to the existing sewer, the effluent being treated by a process of filtration through coke, breeze, gravel, etc. The annual cost of this would be nominal amounting, in his opinion, including construction, to about £65-£70. The proposed scheme met with the approval of the Council and Mr Lines was asked to put same before the Rural District Council at their next meeting.
For some reason not stated this problem must have been held over, and it was not until 13 September 1898 that the question of drainage was again raised, together with an enquiry regarding the supply of water, and the Long Marston members attended several meetings at Berkhamsted. The outcome of this was that on 11 November 1898 the clerk was instructed to state that, in the opinion of the Council, it was no longer necessary to continue the supply from Tring Urban. Was water carried from Tring? and for what reason?
However during December Mr Thomas, the sanitary inspector, again visited the two villages and, although Wilstone's scheme was not ready, he outlined his proposed plan for Long Marston again, a filter to be fitted at the outlet for which he now expected the cost to be no more than £45. This proposition was carried unanimously but it was thought before the final decision was made this should go before the Long Marston ratepayers and Mr Thomas would attend.
In the meantime a sample of effluent would be taken for the County Analyst. Before any further meeting could be called it was found that the Thames Conservancy Board was not happy with the scheme and had forwarded their ideas and estimated price. The Chairman reported this alteration to an "Influential Meeting of the Ratepayers of Long Marston" and from this meeting it was resolved "That the demands of the Thames Conservancy were unreasonable" and Messrs John Chapman, Jesse Rodwell, John Gregory and George Chadman, together with Mr Thomas Southernwood would wait upon the Rural District Council and express their views of this meeting. The deputation attended the Rural District Council meeting and the outcome was held over for one month but they made it clear that "contrary to newspaper reports" they had not undertaken to pay the costs incurred in defending any proceedings taken by the Thames Conservancy Board.
Mixed in with the sewage problems the question once more arose regarding the water supply at Long Marston, and the Council members directed the clerk to contact Lord Rothschild's agent, Mr Carr, requesting him to discontinue taking water from the pump at the village for farm purposes. In any case he would be asked to curtail the amount of water taken from the pump. No mention of this is made in the following meetings. However on 12 September 1899 a minute stated that
| "in reference to the well which had been sunk by the Rural District Council it was proposed by Mr Cartwright, seconded by Mr Stevens, that the clerk be instructed to write to the Rural Council and point out that the Parish Council considered the well as useless and that the Parish Council should have received notice under the Local Government Act of 1894 before any contract had been entered into or the work commenced". |
One month however elapsed before an answer was received quoting section 16, sub-section 3 of the Government Act 1894 stating that this did not apply to wells but it was agreed a deputation from Long Marston attend before the auditors and object to the payment of the account "in reference to the new well at Long Marston".
The Long Marston councillors met at the sewer outfall at 7 pm the following evening to satisfy themselves of this complaint, present was the Rev Broad, Mr Thomas, Surveyor, Mr E Gregory and Mr John Chadman. After a thorough examination it was proposed and carried unanimously that the Council members believe it to be outside the jurisdiction of the Thames Conservancy Board altogether. They strongly objected to the time the sample had been taken and were sure that any
| "measure, if it exists, was in the province of the landlord. They looked to the Rural Council to give advice and abate the same". |
Mr Thomas then put forward and explained his new scheme and after hearing this it was decided once again to consult the ratepayers and a public meeting was called for 18 November 1902. These drainage schemes at Long Marston and Wilstone are only mentioned occasionally from here onwards and it seems possible they came under the jurisdiction of the Berkhamsted Rural Council from around this date which arranged for the filters and ditches to be cleaned. But during the 1950s with more and more buildings being erected and many villagers being connected, this so overloaded the existing systems that complaints were continually being received from the Canal Company and Thames Conservancy. One report even stated that the offending effluent had been traced as far as the Thames.
This eventually led to a new sewerage system which was commenced in 1969 and completed in December 1970. Electric pumps were installed at Wilstone which pumped the sewage through to the new filter beds at New Mill. This marked the end of the remaining "bucket toilets" and of the many cesspits that existed in our villages.
In recent years with the increase in the population of Tring more alterations have taken place and, although pumps are still used in Sandbrook Lane, the sewage no longer goes to Tring but is piped across the fields into Buckinghamshire.
Previous to 1898 nothing is recorded of any system for the disposal of sewage in Wilstone but some method must have been used owing to the Chairman's remarks at the Council meeting held on 8 November 1898. Evidently plans had been discussed to improve conditions and he informed the Council members of a meeting he had attended with the Thames Conservancy Council's inspector. The sample of effluent taken by him on 16 October was "not bad" and he would advise the conservators to delay taking steps for 2 months: he did however consider the proposed scheme very expensive.
It was therefore proposed by Mr Cartwright
| "that a meeting be held on 16 November to consider an alternative scheme and to submit this at the next meeting after a visit of the members to Berkhamsted's Rural District Council for their ideas". |
On 3 December the Chairman reported that the alternative scheme was still being prepared and plans were not ready.
The inspector again visited the village on 17 February 1899 to meet the councillors and discuss with them their plans for the use of filtering tanks with an approximate cost of £100-£140. From this meeting Mr Thomas, District Surveyor, submitted his plans for the proposed filter beds to the estimated cost which he was sure would not exceed £140, and an annual expense of £8. No chemicals would be required whereas the chemicals now used was about £24 pa. In the note which followed however Mr Gregory of Long Marston voted against this scheme so it was decided to discuss this again at their next meeting.
Nothing further was mentioned until 14 November 1899 when Mr Thomas attended the meeting and pointed out that the Local Government Board would not entertain the question of a loan until land for irrigation purposes had been acquired and arrangements for pumping the sewage provided for. He informed the Council that the Rural District Council at its last meeting had decided to carry out the work, taking the cost out of the parish rates. The Parish Council however decided to call a public meeting on Friday 24 November at 7 pm. The result of this meeting was discussed with the surveyor on 12 December and, in reference to the alterations to the proposed scheme, he estimated that this would now cost in the region of £300-£400 against the £150 with an annual cost of £5 for his scheme. The clerk was asked to inform the Rural Council that they were still considering various schemes submitted and were prepared if necessary to apply for a loan.
The Rural District Council was losing patience: its next letter contained a resolution of its Council on 27 October asking for the Council's final decision otherwise the work would be carried out. It was still thought advisable however for a deputation to visit Cheddington where a similar disposal method was in operation before proceeding further. Mr Asquith, the surveyor, accompanied them and it was arranged for a deputation to meet the Rural District Council the following Monday. The minutes could record at this meeting they were all happy with the proposed position and Lord Rothschild would be approached for his consent.
From this meeting Mr Stallon for the Rural District Council informed the members of the preliminary work carried out, and tenders had already been invited for carrying out the work connected with Mr Asquith's scheme. With Lord Rothschild's approval regarding the purchase of an area of Wick Mead Field, the matter was settled satisfactorily and the clerk was instructed to write to Berkhamsted expressing their satisfaction "felt by all" and the "keen appreciation" with which the matter had been so happily terminated. In fact the Chairman decided to attend a meeting at Berkhamsted and to convey the thanks of the local members. He would also make it clear that he would like the filter beds placed under the care of the local Council. From this meeting with the Rural District Council the Chairman can report that the filter beds would be under the jurisdiction of the Parish Council at least for 6 months.
Mr Carr, Lord Rothschild's agent, would arrange for the beds to be enclosed and Mr Goodson, the local blacksmith, would be asked to provide the necessary fittings for the beds. Mr Hare's bill for erecting the fence amounted to £2.3.6. During 1901 when all appeared to be progressing according to plan the Thames Conservancy inspector carried out an inspection and a letter to the Council stated they were not happy with the sample taken on 13 April and hoped steps would be taken to improve same. After a long discussion the clerk was "directed" to write to Mr Stallon and inform him that the sample mentioned was taken after a storm. In any case a sample had been taken on the 10th and on this occasion the water was so good he never took the sample away with him. It was however thought in order to inspect each tank in both villages to see if they were functioning properly, and that no unauthorised person had tampered with the filters.
The Chairman stated that the Thames Conservancy Council had asked that the filters be worked intermittently, and the Council had no option but to see that such requirements were complied with. He had accordingly instructed Mr Thomas, the surveyor, to make the necessary arrangements.
On 2 July 1902 the Wilstone Committee made a thorough investigation of the filter beds, tanks and drains, and from then it was agreed to approach Mr Thomas and instruct him to arrange to empty the tank in Sandbrook Lane and change the coke and breeze in one filter and the other to be treated the same on the completion of the first. The committee was sure this would solve the existing problems. They also again pointed out the trouble caused through the sample taken and hoped the Rural District Council would support them with any further enquiries from the Thames Conservancy Board.
Moving on to 9 September 1902 the clerk received a letter from the Rural District Council regarding Wilstone's problems. This matter was "discussed and considered at great length" and, listening to the opinion of the surveyor, it was proposed and carried unanimously "that the surveyor be authorised to take levels to see if the sewage could be brought above the present level in the tank". From this point it seems that the whole system was taken over by the Rural District Council and, apart from being informed of any changes, very little is recorded in the following minute book. Some months later a minute did appear recommending a pump which could be installed at the bottom of Sandbrook Lane and the provision of a piece of land where sludge could be spread. As regards this pump a structure was erected according to some old villagers, evidently operated by the wind, and one even goes on to say that a photograph does exist showing this contraption which was probably dismantled just after the 1914-1918 war.