S.A.L.H.S website: www.salhs.org.uk Local History Society Issue 20

Editor—Terry Collins Malting in October 2016

Tony Crosby, our September by monks and they brewed ale there, speaker, spoke to us on the subject an 1876 census shows maltings, a of Malting in Hertfordshire, some- brewery and numerous pubs in Stan- thing that most of us know some- stead Abbotts High Street. thing about as it still plays a role Why maltings in the Lea Valley? in the village today. The answer lies in the soil , not too Malting first began in ancient wet and quite light., plus Herts and Egypt, nearer home over 4000 Essex are one of the best areas in the years ago in Scotland, traces have country for barley and there is east been found of malting. Numerous access to London by road, rail or archaeological digs in A Maltings Drying Floor river. have discovered traces of grain in Many of the monasteries and reli- pre Roman sites. And in the 3rd date from the 16th century gious houses had their own breweries and 4th centuries Rome adopted a Local roads that led to London had and more than half of all ale was method of using underground tolls put in them to pay for their up- brewed privately. Bernden Priory heating to provide a means of dry- keep as they were continually in farm in Essex still has its 17th cen- ing the barley. At the Roman set- need of repair due to the heavy traf- tury malting remaining as does the tlement in Stebbing. Essex a villa fic constantly using carts to transport Eight Bells pub in Saffron Walden with a Malthouse was found. malt to the capital’s breweries. and the Sun Inn in had its Nearer home at Foxholes Farm in Transport via the was used own brew house until early in the 1975 a corn drying oven was prior to the 15th century and a parlia- Twentieth century. found together with grain and bar- mentary act was passed in 1671 to Tony ended his presentation with a ley residue. improve the river, followed by an- number of slides showing a number Moving forward, the Domesday other in 1739 which put all of the of malting related buildings from Book shows 43 brewers in the river under one group of Trustees. round the local area. county but only one in Cambridge, The coming of the railways led to He answered questions from the and in 1339 there was a bread and more and larger maltings as the trains audience and was warmly thanked by ale market in Ware. Many of the ran straight to London the chairman. maltings in and Ware Locally Stansteadbury was owned Terry Collins Important Message Ian White, our Chairman, and one ceived and he hopes to see people pital for 20 days undergoing major of the Society founders was con- out and about in the village. Obvi- heart surgery. The surgery went well fined to hospital for three weeks ously his talk in November has been and she is now safely back home but and has been given a serious diag- cancelled, but we have found a re- there are some issues still to be over- nosis. He is now back at home but placement as you can see on Page 4, come and will need some time to re- will be taking a back seat for the but Ian hopes to be able to attend the cover fully. So Janet will also be tak- time being whilst he has treatment. Xmas party. ing a back seat.. Ian and Imogen would like to ————————— I am sure you will join with us in thank everyone for their kind mes- Unfortunately another of our com- hoping that they will both be back sages and support they have re- mittee, Janet Dance, has been in hos- with us soon. Glenis & Terry Issue 20 Page 2

A Case of Witchcraft and Other Crimes

Hertfordshire Assize Records A FOWL DEED: 21 February, children’s play area and Meadow.) show several 16th century accusa- 1857. Thomas Hawkins (29), la- TOLLGATE ROBBERY: 8 June, tions of witchcraft in East Hert- bourer of Stanstead Abbotts was 1857. George Cass, toll-collector, of fordshire, but only one in Stan- charged with stealing 29 fowls (age Stanstead Abbotts, was brought before stead Abbotts. Most were for be- not supplied), the property of Tho- the court by police constable Williams witching animals and in the days mas Dean. How a man could kill and charged with stealing the toll- when superstition was rife, if do- and carry away 29 chickens was not house ladder-wagon, property of Mr. mestic animals became ill or died, explained). Knight. often a warring neighbour was blamed and charged A SPRINGHAM IN COURT: with witchcraft. Fortunately 23 December 1855. John most such cases were dis- Springham of Stanstead Ab- missed due to lack of evi- botts, was brought before the dence.JOHN SELY, yeo- court by police constable John man, of Stanstead Abbotts, Brewer, on remand, charged was indicted for witchcraft with larceny. The Springhams on 31st May, 1592, at Stan- are a well-respected and long- stead Abbotts, accused of established village family. bewitching 40 pigs belong- FOLLY HILL, ST. MARGA- ing to John Spencer. Found RETS: Many of the cases Not Guilty. (Hertford As- brought before the Hertford sizes Records)It is interest- Quarter Sessions in the 1850s ing to note that the last concerned damaged walls, witchcraft conviction in bridges, blocked streams and England also took place in damaged roads. The following Hertford Court. In March, There's no law against flying report concerns the road we 1712, Jane Wenham of now call Folly Hill: was accused of convers- A VICAR-BASHER: 28 October, ing with the devil in the shape of a Presentation that the highway leading 1854. William Edmonds of Stan- out of the common road from London cat. A witness at Hertford Lent stead Abbotts, was charged with Assizes testified that Jane could to Ware, commonly called FOUR- assaulting the vicar, Rev. J. W. Tho- WANT WAY, to St. Margarets is out of fly, whereas Judge Sir John Powell mas. No details given unfortunately. (obviously a wise man) replied repair for half-a-mile, one side of that there was no law against fly- EMBEZZLEMENT CASE: Wil- which is within the care of ing! In spite of this she was liam Rose, a clerk and salesman for St.Margarets and the other side within found guilty. However, Sir John Mr. Hunt, the Miller at St. Marga- the care of Great Amwell. (This road set aside the conviction and sought rets, was charged with embezzling has always been the boundary between a pardon from Queen Anne which various sums of money, the property Thele/St. Margarets and Great Am- was successful. Jane Wenham of his employer. (Mr. Hunt lived at well). It is presented that the inhabi- was cared for by William Cowper, Stanstead Hall, High Street). tants of St. Margarets ought to repair their side of the road and the inhabi- 1st Earl Cowper until her death in WHAT LARKS AT THE FAIR- 1730. This case was the end of an tants of Great Amwell to repair their GROUND! 1 June, 1850. Watkins, side. Later the court issued a certifi- era as far as witch prosecution was a young bargeman, was charged concerned in England, but many cate confirming the necessary repairs with assaulting Anne Wheatley. The had been done. people throughout the 18th century complainant stated she was walking still believed in witchcraft. And, of home from the fairground in Stan- The modern Great Amwell roundabout course, a few still do today. stead Abbotts, when he indecently has six exits, but in the Victorian era, OTHER PETTY CRIMES IN assaulted her at two o’ the clock in the crossroads offered only four ways, VICTORIAN STANSTEAD the morning! Good little girls hence the strange name of Four-Want should have been at home in bed. Way. The following reports are from (In those days the fairs were held in Ron Dale Hertford Quarter Sessions with Town Mead, today the car park, one exception: Issue 20 Page 3 THE BUILDINGS OF ALFRED WATERHOUSE

Hidden from view in the woods two lodges in Hollycross Road, plus English Heritage, Mr. Waterhouse of Easneye in Cappell Lane at a group of three staff houses in Cap- was not the architect used for St. An- the end of its mile-long drive is pell Lane. These can easily be rec- drews Church. The architect used by one of the most impressive ognised by the unusual shape of the Mr. Buxton on this occasion was buildings in the village, if you Zephaniah King of London. Easneye enjoy Gothic, the All-Nations Mansion, now the All-Nations Christian College, now probably Christian College, is hidden up on the country’s largest college of the hillside amidst the woods of Eas- its kind. Originally built for Mr. neye Park, but it occasionally has Thomas Fowell Buxton as his open days for village residents to new home and manor house in view. The mansion was once used as 1867/8, Mr. Buxton, member of the school in a St. Trinian’s film, but a famous Quaker family, chose a could easily have fitted into a Ham- Quaker architect to design his mer House of Horrors film with its mansion in the woods, Alfred Gothic splendour. Waterhouse. This architect be- came famous for his buildings LIST OF HIS WORK IN STAN- which were mainly of the Victo- STEAD rian Gothic style and his work EASNEYE MANSION. 1867/8 Built included the Natural History as a family country house in red Museum, South Kensington and Alfred Waterhouse 1830-1905 brick with black diapering in 3 Manchester Town Hall and blocks, asymmetrical. many other accomplishments. roofs, typical of Waterhouse, and He was the most widely em- the right-hand side wall of this SOUTH GATE LODGE. 1867/9. ployed architect of the mid-19th group bears a large terracotta shield Contains two houses, believed to be century. bearing the Buxton arms. Alfred Waterhouse designed according to In Stanstead Abbotts, he also Waterhouse has certainly left his English Heritage. built a dairy farm on the Eas- mark on our village. Contrary to Continued on Page 4 neye estate, in addition to the popular belief and the records of SALHS Barbecue 2017 Sunday 14th August saw the 5th SALHS summer Bar- around the garden . becue, this time held in the spacious garden of Marsh Many thanks to Andrew and Christine for hosting yet Cottage, the home of members Christine and Andrew another successful SALHS afternoon at their home. Day. Fortunately the weather was fine, not too hot but Terry Collins lots of sunshine. Once everybody had found a comfortable seat and had a drink the smell of the food cooking began to per- meate the air. Ray Dixon, as usual had donned his chef’s apron and was working hard to feed 27 people, occasionally helped by me! Even though the butchers in has closed we were still able to get some of their excellent sausages which all went down well, with some fresh bread and salad, together with tasty burgers. When they had been eaten it was time for des- sert, this year we had a choice of three, all of which looked very appetising, although I only tried one of them. (I thought that was very good of me) There seemed to be cheerful conversations going on all Issue 20 Page 4 THE BUILDINGS OF ALFRED WATERHOUSE Continued

DAIRY FARMHOUSE AND DAIRY. Circa 1868. A T-plan two-storey house in brick with tiled roof

EASNEYE STABLES. 1868. An L-shaped building in red brick with a tiled roof.

IN : COTTAGES & EASNEYE ESTATE OFFICES. T-shaped in brick, two- storeys. Ron Dale Easneye Mansion in its Gothic splendour Quiz 2016 NORTH GATE LODGE. 1867/9. not known, but probably 1868/9. Built as one house, believed to be Believed to be Waterhouse de- As most of you will be aware, the Waterhouse designed according to signed according to English Heri- quiz night scheduled for 14th Oc- English Heritage. tage. A block of three staff houses tober was cancelled. I am sorry with attractively styled roofs. The but this was because we had sold HALVING COTTAGES, 112, 114, right hand house bears a terracotta only 18 tickets one week before it 116 CAPPELL LANE. Exact date shield with the Buxton arms on its was due to take place, and it would side wall. The houses are now pri- not have been feasible to run the vately owned. The land on which quiz with so few people attending. Data Protection Act they were built was once part of It’s a real shame as this was our last Quiz Night. Terry Collins In accordance with the above act we have to Halving farm. advise that the Society holds information on computer in respect of each member. This information is used for routine membership Forthcoming events purposes only and remains confidential.

The SALHS Committee November 11th 2016 The Buxtons and Easneye by Paul Davies May 2015 December 9th 2016 Christmas Party Members Only Hon. President Ron Dale Chairman Ian White January 13th 2017 Hertfordshire Literary Lives by Marion Hill Secretary Lynne Heraud Treasurer Glenis Collins February 10th 2017 Antiques Roadshow Archivist/Historian Ray Dixon Archivist/Facebook Andrea Coppen March 10th 2017 Mills, Thatching and Windmills by Robin Webb Public Relations/ Vice Chair Bob Hunt April 10th 2017 Stanstead Abbotts Convicts 1770-1870 by Newsletter Terry Collins Ken Griffin Parish Council Rep Julia Davies Committee Members Linda Gifford Unless stated otherwise all meetings are at the Parish Hall at 7.30pm Gerald Coppen Rob Gifford Members Free. Non Members £2 Tea, Coffee and biscuits included

Website Manager Brian Johnson General enquiries email [email protected]