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| History Society |
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For those who consider that History isn't 'cool' - they might be missing something! Apart from the valid saying "that if we do not learn from the mistakes of history we are doomed to repeat them!" it could be said that an appreciation of our background is necessary for many reasons, as indicated by a TV series like "Who do you think you are?" or the discoveries of The Time Team.
In the case of local history, evidence of the past is all around us. The key is in the river crossing on our lovely village green where the old ford was
complemented by a seven arched brick bridge in 1777, where a horse-drawn carriage or cart would struggle before retreating to a hostelry for a drink or meal and often a change of horses by ostlers or basic repairs by blacksmiths and saddlers. Travellers needs ensured a livelihood for villagers, as farm labourers were on low wages and good jobs were hard to find except in distant towns. This "trading post" had good prospects then.
Can you imagine the world as it was during the building of that early bridge? In France, the violent revolution was underway. In North America, British rule was coming to an end. Kings and Queens held court, and visited outlying hamlets round London for hunting and field sports, using the grand houses of nobility as a base for their retinues of servants and soldiers. Closer to home, the family names of several present residents were established and began to appear on tombstones in the cemetery, which was created in 1825, next to St Peter's Church near the riverside.
The straggling main road led on to St Albans city, where religious folk
headed for the Abbey while the military columns pressed on to Holyhead on Anglesey before crossing to rebellious Ireland.
Later conflicts are well documented elsewhere and our war memorial bears witness to those who died in two world wars defending the realm: but we only pay tribute to the fallen once a year despite our promises to remember Them... However we do not intend to forget their names, and still research their valiant efforts to protect our nation and its culture. Indeed, those injured in WWI often recovered in Napsbury Hospital - a welcome respite from the awful front line.
How do we know all this and more? Several years ago, David Ansell and others set up a society to unravel the secrets of the centuries, and to record the details for posterity. There is now an extensive archive of facts and photos, carefully gleaned and organised by a dedicated group of villagers, sections of which were on display at a "free" exhibition at the Caledon Community Centre. We need to bring in more people with similar interests if we are to keep up this useful activity. To enquire about our Local History Society please contact the Secretary, Mavis Tuffnell on 01727 769302 or ask at the HCC Library in the Community Centre.
You will be surprised how much we know about where you live.
Ken Peak, Vice-chairman, London Colney History Society
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