We now turn our attention to Wilstone's Recreation Ground, for many centuries named Wilston Close, and was until the 1939-1945 war years farmed by a local farmer who lived in one of the cottages at the entrance to Sandbrook Lane. This close was sold during those years to a local builder who, during 1946, started erecting the bungalows which now line that area of the village road. Half the land was eventually acquired by the Rural District and Parish Councils, and from then on became the official playground for the village children.
From the formation of the Parish Council in 1894 the people of Wilstone had expressed their need of a plot of land near the village for use of the local football and cricket teams. Long Marston, who applied about the same time, were more fortunate than Wilstone. They were offered a field, still being used, from Lord Rothschild in 1895 and by July of that year, with the deed concluded, a set of rules were drawn up. The Rev Broad, curate-in-charge of Wilstone, made various enquiries but, although he gained permission from the local farmers to use their fields, no one piece was allotted for general use, and this position remained unaltered until the end of the Second War years.
During 1919, as a memorial to the men who lost their lives during the 1914-1918 conflict, it was suggested that Lord Rothschild might be willing to sell a plot for this purpose. However, Wilstone could not find the £60 per acre asked and, as one will read in the following chapter, the £130 raised by the Workmen's Club was only just enough to erect our present War Memorial. And so, in the later '40s when the present field was sold, there was an opporunity not to be missed. Money was begged or borrowed from the Local Authorities, the Parish Council became Trustees, and a Village Committee was formed comprising of associations throughout the village.
From then on great efforts were made to improve the field and repay some of the cost to the authorities. Concerts, whist drives and many meetings were held in the old tea room situated at the rear of the Half Moon, which in years gone by had been stabling for five horses. With the money raised, this helped to purchase one of the now disused US Army huts from Marsworth Airfield and this for many years became a great asset to the village. The main meeting place for all the societies, Parish Council, Women's Institute, Horticultural Society and all important happenings within the village.
The Horticultural Society, founded in 1946, held all their monthly meetings and the Annual Show, with marquee, brass band, etc, was the main event for many years.
During the war years many radio personalities lived in and around the village, and here one must mention the international baritone, Mr Denis Noble, who for some years lived in "Ashcroft" and who, with his wife, Miriam Ferris, and their well-known visitors which included Tommy Handley, left their mark upon the village. Mr Noble was a founder member of the Horticultural Society and performed the opening ceremony at a number of our first shows. Unfortunately, owing to lack of support and rising costs, this society was disbanded in 1984 and the money held by the society was transferred to the new village hall funds, which helped to finance the new heating system which was being installed.
There were a few upsets however, starting with the severe winter of 1947 which caused much flooding throughout the whole village. The ditches around the recreation ground had received no attention for years and most of the lower part was flooded, so much so that the committee appealed to the Parish and Rural Councils for some assistance. We were however reminded that a small sum of money was still outstanding, so the task was undertaken by many in the village and this again made a renewed effort to get things done.
By in 1951 complaints were received by the Parish Council of damage caused by cricket balls landing on the bungalow roofs. This led to a parish meeting held in Wilstone School Room on 15 September 1950, chaired by Mr H Stansfield our Rural District Councillor, with members of the Parish Council.
The proposal put forward by six complaining villagers was "The Frontage of the Recreation Ground be considered for building purposes, ie for Council houses". (In their opinion it was a nuisance, not large enough for a football or cricket ground and too wet for a children's playground). After a lengthy meeting the mood however changed.
A number of older villagers stated their opinions, many of them could remember the troubles of the past but, realising the need for houses, asked the Council members to again look round the district for land suitable for building. They did not agree with the proposal. If this was carried they could well see Wilstone never having a recreation ground within the area of the village. A vote was however taken and no votes recorded for the proposal. A move was made regarding the purchase of the land now covered by the Grange Road Estate but it was not until 1969 that a start was made.
The meeting however did a lot to raise interest in the village surroundings and, during the next ten years, many improvements were made to the ground and the make shift hut. Money was rather scarce but enough was raised to provide the bungalows with a high chained link fence, some poles can still be seen, but there were no more troubles and the Sunday morning cricket died a natural death. It did leave the accounts in a very poor way, the first and only time we were down to shillings.
However arrangements were put in hand to have the grass cut regularly and a fence was erected along the open space facing the road. A children's play area was started in a small way, and this has now become a village feature.
In January 1962, which again was a very severe winter, a depleted committee met and, not only did they discuss the state of the hall, but were informed by the Horticultural Society and Women's Institute members that no longer was this a suitable place to hold their annual functions when visitors were invited from outside the village.
Also, with the primitive conditions in the kitchen area, annual suppers had become a problem. It must be said that when the two "slow but sure" stoves were in operation this was as cosy as was any hall anywhere in the district. Very little however could be done to improve the amenities and, with no sanitary arrangements coupled with the fact that the whole building was ready to collapse, this was the time when an effort for something better must be made.
A resolution was passed and from then on all our efforts would be made to raise money for a new hall. The Horticultural Society and the Women's Institute pledged their support, and from then on this was all that one could talk about although how such a large sum could be obtained was, I think, the least of our thoughts.
A new committee was formed and all who were asked to assist from the village gave their unstinted support. From then on bingos, sales of work and whist drives were held at every opportunity. In fact the whole village backed the efforts made, not only in fund raising but many helped to carry out the necessary repairs to keep the old hut going for a few more years.
A lucky break occurred during 1965. The deeds of the old Parish Room (which stood between the Buckingham Arms Public House and the Post Office Stores) came to the notice of the Hall Committee.
Evidently the hall and adjoining caretaker's cottage was erected and presented to the village in 1875 by Mr Joseph Grout Williams, a well-known landowner in this district whose home was Pendley Manor, Tring. His purpose in presenting this was that it should be used as a Working Men's Club, the first name being the British Workman's Temperance Room.
When the late owners passed away in 1923, the running of the Hall was vested in the Vicar and Churchwardens of Long Marston, leading all in the village with the impression that it was attached to St Cross and was known as the Parish Room. More of this Hall's history and the various clubs who used it will be found in the following chapter. It must be mentioned that the Rev E J Anthony during his thirty years as Vicar of Long Marston did little to encourage its use, and during many of those years put obstacles in the way of the small societies who applied for permission.
However during the 1939-45 conflict, with the influx of many evacuees, the room was taken over by the Hertfordshire County Council and used as a lunch time canteen, which carried on for some years following, eventually closing in 1956.
It was no surprise therefore, on receiving these Deeds, to read that Mr Williams had left the Hall and caretaker's cottage on condition that, if at any time it ceased to be used for its original purpose, it could be sold and the proceeds raised put to some other project for the benefit of the people of Wilstone.
The Rev Warwick and his Churchwardens were consulted and straightway agreed to the necessary negotiations. Two years however were to pass before the cottage became vacant, but all went according to plan and during 1965 the property was sold and the Hall funds benefited by £6,000. A very welcome boost and one which made a renewed effort with our fund raising activities. During 1966 an architect was appointed and a number of meetings were held with Mr Perryman and the Rural District Council. In fact every effort was made to raise the money needed, Christmas carolling around the villages and in all three 25 mile walks, which were well supported, with regular bingos, whist drives, etc.
During 1968 the grant came through from the Hertfordshire Council, but in 1970 it became known that the price of the project had risen to £17,000. It was decided however that, whatever happened, building should be started during the year. More consultations were held with the Parish Council regarding a sum of money being held in trust for the three villages, and from this we were granted £1,000, all the cash needed and it was decided to commence work in April.
The old army hut was cleared away in March 1971 and on Saturday 30 July the opening ceremony was performed by our local Member of Parliament, Mr James Allison. A crowded hall and indeed a great day for Wilstone. To have raised so much money in so short a period of time was indeed a credit to all concerned.