***Hertfordshire Book Reviews***

[onceginger]

The following 3 books contain great information about my ancestors and are very useful for anyone studying Little Gaddesden, Hudnall, Ringshall, Ashridge area.

Little Gaddesden and Ashridge by Howard Senar.  Phillimore & Co. Ltd.  ISBN 0 85033 460 8.  1983.  (One or two inaccuracies found).

Little Gaddesden by Vicars Bell.  Faber & Faber Ltd.  1949.

A Century Remembered, edited by John Leonhardt.  The Rural Heritage Society of Little Gaddesden, Ringshall, Hudnall and Ashridge.  ISBN 0 9542174 0 3.  2002.

Also useful for those with interests in the relevant areas:-

The Book of Hitchin by Anthony M Foster.  Barracuda Books Ltd.  ISBN 0 86023 138 0.  1981

The book of Letchworth by Kenneth Johnson.  Barracuda Books Ltd.  ISBN 0 86023 016 3.  1976

Weston A Village Album 1900 - 2000 by Judith Evans.  Weston Village Hall Committee.  ISBN 0 9536944 0 2.  1999

[Rick]

Where there's a Will there's a Story - Kings Langley Wills and Inventories 1660 - 1800 by Jill Penwarden & Maureen Mussett. Published by Kings Langley History & Museum Society 2004. ISBN 0-950 7647-3-6

A must for those with Kings Langley & Chipperfield ancestors.  Jill Penwarden and Maureen Mussett have transcribed and edited 129 wills & 63 inventories from the villages of Kings Langley and Chipperfield.  This is the second volume for the pair, the first covering the years 1498 - 1659 entitled "Life & Death in Kings Langley." 

The inventories in particular give a fascinating insight into the social history of the period, giving as they do detailed lists of household belongings. 

Most of the legal jargon has been omitted making the wills easy to read and understand, though original spelling is still used.  There is a glossary at the back of the book giving definitions of archaic words  Religious preamble has also been omitted but lack of religious belief and non-conformity has been noted.

A wonderful book!

Rick [/font]

[Rick]

A History of the shops in Kings Langley High Street - Written & Published (2003) by Kings Langley Local History & Museum Society.

A fascinating little booklet giving the histories, including ownerships of the older shops in Kings Langley High Street.  It contains many previously unpublished photographs.

I have a borrowed copy that does not give the price or ISBN and I am not sure if the booklet is still in print.  However, I am sure that if anyone is interested in obtaining it the society would be able to help.

KLLHMS
c/o The Library
The Nap
Kings Langley
Herts
WD4 8ET

www.kingslangley.org.uk

Rick

[ElvisMole]

Re: Handbook of Old Hertfordshire Inns (& Beerhouses)
Author W. Branch Johnson

There seems to be 2 versions of this, one published as a 2 volume edition and another as a single volume version.

Mr Johnson is (was?) obviously a prolific "local history" author.
In this case the content of the books are disappointing.

Treat the volumes as a good starting point (only) as the content is missing depth.

A website DeadPubs.co.uk has more (and developing) information.

Failing that, contact me for Rickmansworth/Croxley.

 

[johnidolls]

A short book of reminiscences by Ellen May PIPKIN daughter of Edward George GRAVESTOCK & Millicent VAUGHAN.  Born in 1913 Ellen grew up in Piccotts End and Adeyfield near Hemel Hempstead.  The book evokes the pleasures and hardships of life at the period.  A must for anyone connected to the GRAVESTOCK family.  Illustrated with black and white photographs of the family and of Hemel Hempstead.

Written by Ellen Pipkin and published by Dacorum Heritage Trust price £3.00 + p&p.  ISBN 0 9510944 1 6

May be ordered direct from Dacorum Heritage Trust at www.dacorumheritage.org.uk

[johnidolls]

Paper Pioneers is about the history of paper making in Apsley and Nash Mills.  For anyone whose ancestors worked at Dickinson's, The British Paper Company or its fire brigade, this book will be of interest.  The lives of the early pioneers, amongst them Henry Fourdrinier, Bryan Donkin, John Dickinson and John Evans, are told in some detail.  The book is well illustrated and includes photographs of the workers, the mills and the surrounding area. Many of the photographs are from private collections.

Paper Pioneers written by Joan and Roger Hands and published by Dacorum Heritage Trust.  ISBN 978-0-9539414-5-2.

The book can be obtained direct from Dacorum Heritage Trust.  Price £8.00 plus p+p.  www.dacorumheritage.org.uk

[johnidolls]

A short pamphlet telling the story of the murders of William Puddephatt and Joseph Crawley at Aldbury Nowers in 1891.  Of interest to anyone with ancestors in Aldbury as it mentions many local people and draws a vivid picture of life in the village at the time of the murders.

Written in 1963, the author has drawn on the memories of local inhabitants for background information and for fragments of the story.   Some of the persons mentioned are:  Edith and Herbert Dell, Ethel Collier, Will Collier, James Craufurd, Elsie Eden, Eva Halsey, Alfred Pike, Emily Hart, William Turney, Will Moorcraft, Tom Moorcraft, Alice Welsh, Kate Welling and Elizabeth West.

Author: Ruth Lady Craufurd.  No publisher details or ISBN so may have been printed privately. 

Can be obtained from Dacorum Heritage Trust Tel. 01442 879525 or email curator@dacorumheritage.org.uk   I believe the price is a modest £1.00 + p&p

[johnidolls]

This book is beautifully illustrated throughout.  Of particular interest to family historians are three chapters about the following families and their descendants:

• James DAVIS (1813-1895).  Originally from Reading, he married Matilda TAPLIN.  This Chapter written by Helen Belcher
• James LANE (1849-1930) and  Matilda DAVIS.  Chapter written by Helen Belcher
• Joseph BAILEY and Sarah EDMONDS who married at St Albans in 1770.  Chapter written by Michael Bailey.

Each of these chapters contains many family photographs. There is also an interesting chapter about the workforce which names many of them and which also has photographs.

Men of Iron The History of the Boxmoor Ironworks written by Roger and Joan Hands and published by Dacorum Heritage Trust. ISBN 978-0-9539414-7-6

The book can be obtained direct from Dacorum Heritage Trust.  Price £10.00 plus p+p.  www.dacorumheritage.org.uk