RAF Sawbridgeworth
This is a collection of articles about the Mathams Wood site that look at its history from the fourteenth century manor to twentieth century airfield. Please contribute if you know more! Copyright remains with the writer.
Category Archives: Buildings
The Millennium Trail QR Codes
QR codes launch
1949 Town Guide
It is now possible to see pages from the 1949 Town Guide in our Archive section. One thing that is included, which would not be allowed today, is a list of Residents’ Addresses. You can adverts for several local businesses that are still open.
The origins of Nostalgia Day
Dave Mead has written an article about the origins of Nostalgia Day.
The Banner of Faith
Theo van de Bilt has written a new article on The Banner of Faith which contained the parish magazine of Great St Mary’s church.
The Tangled Tale of the Provision of Sawbridgeworth Memorial Hall
On March 17th Peter Reed gave an interesting talk via Zoom on the history of the Memorial Hall. Here is a transcript of the talk for those who were unable to “attend”.
Sawbridgeworth Memorial Hall
This is an article by Hazel Mead which was published in the January 2021 edition of The Sawbridgeworth Flyer.
The Cambridge Road bomb – 10th October 1940
By Theo van de Bilt
October 10th marks the 80th anniversary of the bomb that caused damage and death on Cambridge Road
The London Road Fire – 1st February 1905
Our latest article is about the fire on the corner of London Road and Hoestock Road in 1905. It was reported nationally in the Daily Mirror.
Beale Blackwell Colvin – Resident and short time owner of Pishiobury House
Although Colvin did not live in Sawbridgeworth very long he had an interesting life and worth reading about.
Pishiobury School – the school for “naughty boys”
Later to become offices and flats.
Sawbridgeworth cinema – now the Roman Catholic church
Many people will remember this building before it closed in 1953.
Francis Buxton – former owner of Pishiobury House and President of Sawbridgeworth Cricket Club
Former owner of Pishiobury House and President of Sawbridgeworth Cricket Club.
Sawbridgeworth and its Church
An article by this name was written by Herbert C Andrews in 1929. It was found a few years ago in a cabinet at Sawbridgeworth library. It gives some extremely interesting information about the early history of Great St. Mary’s Church Sawbridgeworth. Apparently unpublished until now ( so we are told ) we are happy… Read More »
The Cosy Cafe and other places for eating and drinking
The above picture shows London Road in 1951 with on the right a sign advertising the Cosy Cafe, also known as the Cosy Rosy. To read the full article go to our articles as PDF page and find your way to the Pubs and restaurants subsection or click on the following link COSY ROSY … Read More »
Who lived where in Sawbridgeworth in 1911
The 1911 census was undertaken in April of that year. It is often referred to as the fertility census, the reason for that being that at the time eugenics had become very popular.
Number 1 Fair Green
The new owner of 1 Fair Green is interested in finding out about the history of their house. If anyone has any information for them, please would you pass it on. Thank you.
Our next talk
Robert Jocelyn, 1st Viscount Jocelyn
We have another article connected to Great Hyde Hall. There is no evidence that Robert Jocelyn lived at the Hall but he is buried at Great St Mary’s church and there is a bust of him above the pulpit.
1st Earl of Roden
We have added a new article to the site about the 1st Earl of Roden, a member of the Jocelyn family who owned Great Hyde Hall. Read the full article here.
2nd Earl of Roden
This is another article in the series about the owners of Great Hyde Hall by Douglas Coe. Robert Jocelyn died at Great Hyde Hall and was buried at Great St Mary’s church. Read the full article here.
Hyde Hall/Great Hyde Hall
We have a new article on our website about Great Hyde – its history and inhabitants including ghosts and (in the 1980s) rock star Suzi Quatro. Read the full article here.
Ken Griffin’s talk on “Crime and Punishment in Hertfordshire” and Sawbridgeworth almshouses.
Our talk on 31st May by Ken Griffin on “Crime and Punishment in Hertfordshire” was attended by only 21 people but it caused a very lively discussion. Ken mainly give details of his vast archive of convicts sent abroad, not only to Australia but also to the USA and Gibraltar. The next general meeting will… Read More »
History not houses – Save POW Camp 116
Friends, If you live locally you are perhaps already aware of this story. In short our friends from Hatfield Heath are fighting to save the local old POW Camp from demolition. A planning application has been submitted which would see this historic site demolished to make place for 25 luxury homes. As we are a… Read More »