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countyCapturing the essence of ... life HERTFORDSHIRE AUTUMN ISSUE 2019 WELWYN - on the cover Gardens Great and Small - St Paul’s Walden Bury. Down your way In the footsteps of Welwyn retains much old-world the Queen Mother. charm. It was once home to Anne Van Gogh, sister of Vincent Van Grand Days Out Gogh, the famous painter. Aspects of County Life We return to Stratford-Upon-Avon; THE WICKED LADY OF MARKYATE. home to Shakespeare £2.50 By day Lady Catherine Ferrers was the dutiful wife but by night she took on a and those quintessentially more sinister role. English tearooms. Down Your Way • Aspects of County Life • History & Heritage • County Connections • The County Gardener • Wildlife • New Books • Lifestyle • Seasonal Features • Grand Days Out • Great British Traditions • A Picture of England • The Short Story • FIRST WORD Your Autumn Edition This edition of County Life Magazine has an eclectic editorial mix of articles, which I’ve enjoyed compiling. As a result of numerous requests from readers, having missed editions spanning nearly 7 years since the first edition of County Life-Hertfordshire in 2013, I am publishing some articles from our archives. Welwyn has been described as a village which maintains its old-world qualities and retains its charm. In spite of its proximity to its larger neighbour, Welwyn Garden City, it has kept its individual identity. Welwyn was once home to Anne Van Gogh, sister of Vincent Van Gogh, the famous painter. The village was also a resting place for the body of Lord Byron en route to St Mary Magdalene in Nottinghamshire, where he is burried. Myths and legends abound in our county. The Wicked Lady of Markyate is once such legend. Lady Catherine Ferrers led a life of mystery, intrigue, deceit, robbery and murder. By day, she was the dutiful wife, but, by night, she took on a more sinister role. During the 1940s, families were torn apart as a result of World War II. Many children were evacuated from our cities to more secure rural locations. Our article ‘Awash with Fruit’, from our archives, recalls one young evacuee’s account of life on a farm. Originally part of a series of articles by author Michael Dundrow, published in County Life, this story is a heart-warming account of the period. The three counties of Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire have a diverse range of gardens - great and small. In this edition, we embark on a new series as we discover the best that our region has to offer. Our first location is the striking house, gardens and estate of St Paul’s Walden Bury, which remain local landmarks. The gardens come alive every year with swathes of colour amidst the lawns, trees and statues. The house is also known as being one of the childhood homes of Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon, later Queen Elizabeth and, later still, the Queen Mother. ‘Made in our Region’ is another new category to complement our eclectic editorial content. In this edition, we introduce Hadham Brewery. Don’t forget our regulars, including: ‘A very British Tradition’; ‘Nature Notes’; ‘Under The Hammer’; ‘The County Gardener’; ‘Great Days Out’; and ‘The Short Story’. Enjoy! an Al www.countylifemagazines.co.uk County Life 3 YOUR LETTERS DEAR COUNTY LIFE ... ABSORBING CONTENT. Your article ‘Mrs Ridgley’s Murder’ proved a fascinating read and insight into life during the last century. I’m pleased to tell you that I also purchased the author’s book to read more about it. Hitchin also featured in your last edition, and I once worked, for a short period, at William Carlings. It was nice, therefore, to read your article on the town, which, I’m pleased to say, still retains much of its splendour, a fine range of shops and accessible parking. I enjoy reading County Life-Hertfordshire and, although you are also available to read online, I must say there is nothing like reading the real thing! James Broadbent Hertfordshire From the editor... James, I also worked at Carlings when they published the Gazette series of weekly newspapers, including their two freesheets: the Adlook and the Stevenage Mid-week. Publishing has changed a lot since my time at Carlings, but I’m pleased to learn your preference is still to read hard copy magazines! Every wedding is as unique as the venue. writeback We take pride in high quality, friendly service and attention to detail Write to County Life at ... Pen-ultimate letter DEAR COUNTY LIFE ... email: [email protected] Simple things in life bring me pleasure. It might be just a few words on the page but your regular Pen to paper: articles, ‘A Very British Tradition’ and ‘A Picture of County Life Magazines England’, continue to entertain, educate and PO Box 32 amuse me. I look forward to each issue, and Biggleswade Bedfordshire wonder just what you’ll be writing about next. SG18 8TE Have your say - make a comment or recommendation. Our ‘Pen-ultimate’ letter will receive one year’s subscription For more information, please call the hotel to our Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire or on 01727 864 444 or e-mail us at Cambridgeshire editions; redeemable as Mr Ian Canon a gift subscription to a friend if preferred! Stevenage [email protected] www.countylifemagazines.co.uk County Life 5 EDITOR: Alan Humphreys - [email protected] SALES: Lesley-Ann Humphreys - [email protected] Published by County Life Magazines (Select Publishing), PO Box 32, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 8TE A look inside PROUDLY INDEPENDENT, SINCE 1998 www.countylifemagazines.co.uk - Tel: 01462 81 94 96 LIFESTYLE AUTUMN 2019 ISSUE 26 REGULARS 20 • ASPECT OF COUNTY LIFE An evacuee’s life on the farm in 1940 29 • MADE IN THE COUNTY Oddy, First and Gold, a perfect trio 30 welwyn • SERENDIPITY 29 The home of good ideas on the cover 38 • BRITISH TRADITIONS y and all moral rights in such text, photography images. Front cover image copyright Peter Etteridge 2019 A little of what we love irrevocable, non-exclusive right and licence to use, reproduce modify, modify, non-exclusive right and licence to use, reproduce irrevocable, 42 • COUNTY GARDENER ose of the editor and should not be taken as such and the proprietors, publisher publisher ose of the editor and should not be taken as such proprietors, This season’s gardeners’ notes 44 • UNDER THE HAMMER Buying and selling at auction 52 • NATURE NOTES Unseasonal ‘snowy’ vista explained 54 10 • GREAT ESCAPES We return to Stratford-Upon-Avon 64 down your way • SHORT STORY 20 42 Time to relax and unwind 66 • THE LAST WORD Welwyn A picture of England SPECIAL HISTORY ASPECTS OF SUBSCRIBE nology now known or hereafter developed, unless otherwise directed and to re-publish in future editions and assert in future and waive an and to re-publish developed, unless otherwise directed nology now known or hereafter 53 grant Select Publishing a perpetual, royalty-free © 2019 Select Publishing. Contributors automatically and hereby ntents remain FEATURES HERITAGE HERTFORDSHIRE Capturing the essence of ... county life not necessarily th in this magazine are at the owners risk. The views and opinions expressed aterial submitted is sent entirely 32 • IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HERTFORDSHIRE LIFE AUTUMN ISSUE 2019 THE QUEEN MOTHER 10 • HERTFORDSHIRE WELWYN - on the cover Five miles south of Hitchin, in the HAS A CLUSTER OF The double life of north Hertfordshire countryside, is JEWELS IN ITS CROWN: Lady Catherine Ferrers. St Paul's Walden Bury, situated Welwyn has been described as By day she was the dutiful wife, Gardens Great & Small - but, by night, she took on a Down your way St Paul’s Walden Bury. just outside the village of a village which keeps its old- 16 In The Footsteps of Welwyn retains much old charm. the Queen Mother. It was once home to Anne Van Gogh, sister of Vincent Van Gogh Grand Days Out more sinister role. the famous painter. Whitwell. The striking house, world qualities and retains its Aspects of County Life We return to Stratford-Upon-Avon. THE WICKED LADY OF MARKYATE. Home to Shakespeare £2.50 By day Lady Catherine Ferrers was the dutiful wife but by night she took on a and those quintessential more sinister role. English tearooms. gardens and estate remain local District Council courtesy of Stratford-Upon-Avon image: charm. In spite of its proximity Down Your Way • Aspects of County Life • History & Heritage • County Connections • The County Gardener • Wildlife • New Books • Lifestyle • Seasonal Features • Grand Days Out • Great British Traditions • A Picture of England • The Short Story • landmarks, and the gardens come to its larger neighbour, Welwyn 16 • THE WICKED LADY OF MARKYATE 32 STRATFORD-UPON-AVON Subscribe to Hertfordshire’s alive every year with swathes of A daycation for culture, shoping and relaxing! Garden City, it also retains its The boredom of Lady Catherine Ferrers in her marriage traditional county magazine for photo: Courtesy Carloine Bowes Lyon Courtesy Carloine Bowes photo: colour amidst the lawns, trees and own identity, with reminders of to the much older Sir John Ferrers, back in the JUST £23 A YEAR statues. The house is also known 54 • HOME TO THE ‘BARD OF AVON’. its long history, and position on 17th century, would lead Catherine into a life of mystery, A quarterly miscellany of CONTRIBUTORS as one of the childhood homes of Stratford-Upon-Avon, although the home of the the old Great North Road. The intrigue, deceit, robbery and murder. By day she was the Hertfordshire life, home Ron Bird - Jon Boon - Peter Dean - interest, days out and lifestyle Michael Dundrow - Peter Etteridge - Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon, later world’s most famous writer, William Shakespeare, River Mimram runs through the dutiful wife, but, by night, she took on a more sinister in the county and beyond.