Changes in half a century
by Mrs Rosie Simmonds written in 1953
Changes in half a century
by Mrs Rosie Simmonds written in 1953
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The Village Institute, North Mymms 1900s Image taken by G Knott, from the Peter Miller collection |
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The Sibthorpe Arms 1900s Image R Papworth/ G Knott, from the Images of North Mymms collection |
One of my earliest recollections is of going to Sunday school and on the way meeting an old man bent nearly double. He wore a very clean smock, a red handkerchief round his neck, and on his head was what was known as a 'Billy-Cock' hat. He would be going to the Sibthorpe Arms, where, with porter at three ha'pence a pint, (and good stuff at that I've been told), he would be able to get fairly well sozzled for a shilling - that is if he had a shilling to spend, which is doubtful.
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The Water Splash looking towards The Sibthorpe Arms 1900s Image by G Knott from the Peter Miller collection |
There are no fish in the stream now, and the pond is absolutely choked with weeds. A fallen tree lies in it. A few forget-me-nots still strive for life in one spot.
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Postcard of Potterells Park 1900s Image from the Peter Miller collection |
Now the stepping stones are invisible and the whole valley is a bed of reeds, which is to the advantage of the wildfowl. Many have taken up their abode in safety there, and although not often visible, they can be very plainly heard. The crab-apple trees, which used to delight us when we were children, are till there and still bear fruit and the stream still forces its way through to the swallow holes as Waterend. The contour of the land here alters after every flood and there has been quite a change in the last four years.
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Photograph of Water End Girls' School 1900s Image by G Knott from the Peter Miller collection |
The discipline in school was very strict and the cane treated with great respect. It was seldom used and was referred to as the 'doctor'. Swearing was a terrible crime, and should a child be guilty of such an offence, our Governess would, with a bowl of very soapy water, thoroughly wash out that dirty mouth.
There were trees opposite the school and we would watch the red squirrels running up and down, and jumping from one tree to another. Now children are taken to school by bus, the footpaths have naturally disappeared through disuse and there are no red squirrels.
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Photograph of The Old Maypole, Water End 1900 Image by G Knott from the Peter Miller collection |
Waterend was altered a good deal owing to the Barnet by-pass having been cut through it, but the old cottages in Warrengate Road still remain with the Maypole, a 1512 public house, and the Woodman, also pretty ancient.
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Hockey Lane estate in the 1950s Image from K. King, from the Images of North Mymms collection |
We used to walk from Sunday school to Church up the Church field. The footpath is still there and to the left, the Hockey Lane estate has sprung up. Hockey Lane was formerly called Occupation Lane.
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St Mary's church with the spire being removed Image from the NMLHS, from the Images of North Mymms collection |
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North Mymms Church walk 1960s Image from G Mills, from the Images of North Mymms collection |
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Postcard of The North Mymms War Memorial 1960s Image from the NMLHS, from the Images of North Mymms collection |
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Dixons Hill crossroads July 1966 Image from Ron Kingdon, from the Images of North Mymms collection |
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Photograph of Pancake Hall Cottage, Dixons Hill Road, Welham Green, demolished in 1905 Image by G Knott from the Peter Miller collection |
The old cottages at the top of the hill are well remembered, but the pond has been filled in, as have all the other wayside ponds in the neighbourhood. I suppose there was a good reason for doing this, but I miss the ponds more than anything. They were picturesque and great fun to slide on in the winter.
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Welham Manor in the 1950s Image from K. King, from the Images of North Mymms collection |
The old thatched cottages near the pond have disappeared and trees have been planted in their place. 'The Laurels' has been enlarged and become Welham Manor.
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Photograph of the crossroads at White's/Town's Corner, Welham Green 1900s Image from P. Grant / G Knott, from the Images of North Mymms collection |
St Paul's cottages looked just the same as ever, but are now generally called 'ten house row'. There was no shop at White's Corner 50 years ago - in fact it was known as Betty Peilard's Corner. The cottage she lived in has also gone and the first council house built in North Mymms just after the First World War started there.
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The shops in Dellsome Lane, Welham Green being built in 1936/7 Image from Mill Green Museum, from the Images of North Mymms collection |
There has been some development in Dellsome Lane, including six shops, three of which are used for the school canteen. There are also many council houses and the playing fields which consist of the children's playground, the bowling green and the football pitch. All this is adjoining Bush Wood, where we gathered primroses. The Boy's School was in Dellsome Lane. Formerly only boys of seven years and over attended here. All infants went to the Girl's School at Water End.
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Photograph of the Balloon plaque at Balloon Corner Image from G. Mills, from the Images of North Mymms collection |
Balloon Corner is at the junction of Dellsome Lane, Huggins Lane and Parsonage Lane. The two latter are almost built up now and there is a stone to signify that here the first balloon came down.
Following Huggins Lane to Marshmoor, which was certainly what its name indicated, we have several large factories which extend in both directions - to Travellers Lane and to the back of Holloways Lane. This was just a lane with no buildings at all 53 years ago, now it is built over on both sides.
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Nash's Corner, with wood drying for use by Nash Oak Cottage stands where the oak tree was 1900 Image from Ron Kingdon, from the Images of North Mymms collection |
Nash's Corner has altered very little. A bus shelter now stands on the green where once felled trees were kept for the use of John Nash, the village carpenter and undertaker. We very often played on the trees and when we heard of a death in the village, we would creep up Nash's yard to see if he was making a coffin. He would look up from the job and say: "Sling your hook".
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Skimpans farm house, Bulls Lane 1993 Image from the NMLHS, from the Images of North Mymms collection |
Bull's lane has altered very little, and is still a pleasant country walk. Skimpans Farm is here, a very old building, and looks just the same as always, but the pond, like the others, has been filled in. In this lane is an overhead railway bridge, where we used to "holler" and wait for the echo. Foxes Lane, where we went blackberrying, is now impassable, almost. It was never much more than a cart track. The stream, which ran across, is now piped.
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Lads in Bradmore Lane, tallest could be an Honour from Water End c1900 Image from A Nott / G Knott, from the Images of North Mymms collection |
The one place, which seems to have remained unaltered, is Bradmore Lane. This is owning to the fact of its being in the Green belt. There is a footpath from this lane leading to the fields behind Potterells. This was a house of great importance in the village, being the residence of Mr and Mrs Cotton Curtis, who had a very large family and retinue of servants. These gentry used to travel by carriage and pair with coachman and groom in front and two footmen sitting like statues at the rear. There is now a railway station at Brookmans Park. Formerly we had to walk to Hatfield or Potters Bar to get a train.
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Rookery Cafe October 1967 Image from Ron Kingdon, from the Images of North Mymms collection |
The "Double-4" was as far away from the house as possible. There was no water laid on, no gas or electricity, no newspapers delivered except those that came by post, no telephones or cinemas or whist drives and of course no wireless sets or televisions. But we had a musical evening at home, each one doing in turn. Occasionally there was a concert in the Boys School - severely censored by the vicar.
One could go on indefinitely recounting changes in North Mymms which is rapidly becoming a built-up area. One cannot stop the march of time. There has been some progress - but I still feel sad about the ponds. I'm glad the crab-apple trees are still there.
Mrs Rosie Simmonds was born in Welham Green, left at the age of ten, and returned 52 years later. These memories were written in 1953.
The piece above is one of eight articles written by North Mymms residents which appeared in a booklet called North Mymms Reminiscences, published by the former North Mymms Local History Society in the 1990s. All eight pieces are published on this site. They are:
- North Mymms on the eve of this century by Peter Kingsford
- During the Great War by Doris Ambrose
- Welham Green 1914 by Ruth Pinder
- Changes in half a century - 1900-1953 by Rosie Simmonds
- Brookmans Park Evacuees by Marjorie Tether
- 20th Century North Mymms by R. G. Colville
- White's Corner by Sue Mason and Sidney King
- Forty years ago in Brookmans Park by Peter Kingsford
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