1926

1926 - A cottage belonging to the Leverstock Green Nursing Association was furnished for Nurse Hendry at a cost of £29. Later evidence shows this to have been at 2, Curtis Road. [Gazette 15/5/1932, 18/6/1926]

1926 - Several changes were noted in Kelley's Directory for this year, but perhaps the most innovative being the coming of the telephone, as some residents were listed as having telephone numbers. The census returns of 1921 put the population up slightly at 772.

The value of the living at Holy Trinity had risen slightly to £258 , and was still in the hands of the Rev. Durrant. Robert Wright was still parish clerk. The post office and grocers store was still run by William Long.

It would appear that the Jacksons had left and Bennetts End Farm could now legitimately be called Bennetts End House as it was a private residence occupied by Richard Morrison. Another apparent newcomer to the village was Arthur Webber who had taken over Leverstock Green Farm.

Other changes appear to have concerned members of families already associated with the village. Frederick Charles Boatwright had joined the ranks of farmers ( another Frederick Boatwright had long been a beer retailer.) Mrs. Ada Elizabeth Norris was now a shopkeeper in the village, I'm assuming a connection with the Norris Family who had owned brick workings last century. A George Parradine had become another beer retailer, Harry was a dairyman, and Thomas Timson had taken over the license of the Red Lion, presumably from his mother. Daniel Cox, as opposed to Thomas Daniel Cox, was now at Hill Farm. The full list was as follows:

Residents

Joseph Bailey, Chambersbury William Beecham, Wood Lane End

Charles Bessant, Tile Kiln Will. Charles Child, Hill Side

Daniel Cox, Hill Farm Charles Thomas Drake, Hill House

Rev.A. Durrant, Vicarage William Henry How, Cox Pond

John Arthur Marston, Orchard Lea Richard Morrison, Bennetts End House

Herbert Secretan, The Dells Percy Webster, Sibleys Orchard

Commercial

Jsph.Bailey, frmr, Chambersbury

Fred. Boatwright,beer retailer

Fred. Chas. Boatwright, farmer

Thos. Childs, frmr, North End Farm

Miss Beryl Dell, dressmaker

Albert Edwards, dairyman

George, Albert & Herbert Finch, farmers, Corner Farm

Percy Garratt, beer retailer

Will. Henry How, farmer

William Long, grocer & P.O.

Arthur George Mears R.S.S. smith

Mrs. Ada E. Norris .shopkeeper

George Parradine, beer retailer

Harry Parradine, dairymen L.Coxpnd.Fm.

Tom Perkins, beer retailer

Arthur Seabrook, Leather Bottle P.H.

Art. Geo. Seabrook boot & shoe maker

Reuben Seabrook, hay dlr. Tile K. La.

Walter Seabrook, beer ret. Ben.End

William Walter Sears, builder

Thomas Timson, Red Lion P.H.

Arthur Webber, farmer Lev.Grn. Fm.

Robt. Will. Wright, wheelwright & parish clerk

2nd January 1926 - There was the report in the Gazette of the death of a Mr George Wilson aged 64 - a member of " a well know Leverstock Green family". He had died at his son's in Kensington.. The funeral was at Holy Trinity, but from the write-up was a small private affair.

20th January 1926 A Baptist chapel social was held at the Parish Hall. [Gazette 23 January 1926]

5th April 1926 - Wedding conducted by Rev Durrant at Holy Trinity- so he was obviously back in harness! The Bride - Miss Annie Winifred Gale, was the daughter of the late WH Gale of Cherry Trees Farm, and the groom was Mr Charles Waters of Colchester. [Gazette 17th April 1926]

(NB notice in Gazette re General strike - worth remembering the wall street crash and depression.)

26 May 1926 - Services in celebration of the anniversary of the Baptist Chapel were held. [Gazette 29th May 1926]

10th July 1926 -Unusually the Gazette carried a longish column of news re Leverstock Green in three parts:

LEVERSTOCK GREEN

FIRST WEDDING AT BAPTIST CHAPEL:

The Wedding was between Edith Emily Wilkins daughter of Mr & Mrs George Wilkins of Leverstock Green and Mr Charles Walter Rogers of Boxmoor.

LEVERSTOCK GREEN AND THE CENTENARY FUND

VILLAGERS RAISE GOOD SUM

Villagers of Leverstock Green raised £46 16s for the West Herts hospital centenary fund As part of the fund-raising activities there had been a WI social, home and school collections.

LEVERSTOCK GREEN PUBLIC HOUSES

TWO LICENSES "REFERRED"

[this means they are referred to get compensation and ultimately closed.]

The two PH concerned are the Red Lion & The Three Horseshoes The owner of the Red Lion is Mr. William Warren of Kings Langley, brewers are W&G Wellers, tenant Mr Frederick Phelps who had held the licence since June 1925; Owner of 3 Horseshoe was Mr. GW Finch of Corner Farm , brewers Cheetah and licensee Mr Tom Perkins who had held the licence for 22 years.

[Gazette 10 July 1926]

17th July 1926 - An advert appeared in the Gazette for the sale various goods at Cox Pond Farm, as a result of the bankruptcy of the tenant. The auction was to take place at 2 o'clock on 30th July and was to include the following items for sale:

Two excellent cart horses

Black pony

About 30 head of poultry

CAPITAL FORDSON TRACTOR in excellent condition

Tractor 2 farrow plough

Martin cultivator

Tractor ring roller

TITAN tractor

2 horse roller

Single roller

Harrows

Ploughs

Basting ploughs

Manuring machines [Gazette 17 July 1926]

9th September 1926 - The records of Horn & Co, Undertakers from Marlowes show the following entry:

Ref 503/ Deceased: White, Lilian Lizzie

DATE OF DEATH: 9.9.1926

NOTE: She was 40 years old and the funeral took place on 13.9.1926 at Leverstock Green Church

Husband: White, Edward

ADDRESS: 5 Adeyfield Terrace, Leverstock Green, Hemel Hempstead

[DCHT Undertaker's Records, Horn & Co http://www.hertsmuseums.org.uk/dacorum/funindex.htm ]

25th September 1926: An article in the Gazette headed GEOLOGY AT HEMEL HEMPSTEAD confirmed the existence of a gravel pit at the Bennetts End brickworks. The geologists were once more doing the rounds of local pits etc. to examine the geology and the following was mentioned: "Thence via Leverstock Green, the Bennetts End Pit was reached and the deposit of pebbly clay with sand overlying the Reading Beds was seen.." ( See photographs at bottom of this page ) [Gazette 25 September 1926]

14th November 1926 - The records of Horn & Co, Undertakers from Marlowes show the following entry:

Ref 524/ Deceased: Edwards, John

DATE OF DEATH: 14.11.1926

NOTE: He was 89 years old and the funeral took place on

20.11.1926 at Leverstock Green churchyard

ADDRESS: High Street Green, Leverstock Green

[DCHT Undertaker's Records, Horn & Co http://www.hertsmuseums.org.uk/dacorum/funindex.htm ]

26th November 1926 -The records of Horn & Co, Undertakers from Marlowes show the following entry:

Ref 527/Deceased: Finch, Jane

DATE OF DEATH: 26.11.1926

NOTE: She was 83 years old and the funeral took place on 30.11.1926 at Leverstock Green churchyard

Husband (late): Finch, George

ADDRESS: Corner Hall Farm, Leverstock Green, Hemel Hempstead

NB Interesting to note the address is wrong should just be Corner Farm ( i.e. Westwick Row corner Many of the Finch clan were buried together in the same tomb, and other graves are nereby)

[DCHT Undertaker's Records, Horn & Co http://www.hertsmuseums.org.uk/dacorum/funindex.htm ; Monumental Inscriptions Holy Trinity & other documentary evidence concerning the Finch family of Corner Farm. Photograph shows (to be added shortly)

26th December 1926 - Walter Ayre reported in the school log book that:

"Henry George Stewart passed away in the West Herts Hospital - from Meningitis,[T.B.]" It is unsure if Mr. Ayre mistook meningitis for T.B. or if there was some doubt as to the diagnosis. [S73]