WELCOME TO THE DACORUM HISTORY DIGEST
sponsored by
Friends of Dacorum Museum
WELCOME TO THE DACORUM HISTORY DIGEST
sponsored by
Friends of Dacorum Museum
An on-line magazine of articles and other relevant information concerning the history of the Borough of Dacorum in Hertfordshire, UK. This website is being developed with the approval of Dacorum Heritage Trust, and is intended to compliment the Trust's own website. It is sponsored by the Friends of Dacorum Museum.
TO VIEW THE ARTICLES CLICK ON THE NAVIGATION TABS AT THE TOP OF THIS PAGE, OR SELECT "CONTENTS".
To ensure accuracy as far as possible, the articles are written by the Borough’s numerous local historians, archaeologists, archivists, or others with a keen interest in, and knowledge of, the area’s heritage.
In developing this site I hope to give the reader a taste of the very extensive and varied heritage to be found within the Borough of Dacorum.
To find out even more, there is large and varied number of volumes of books produced on the area’s history, many of which are still available for purchase, and most of which are available from the local libraries. Detailed lists of pubications can be found by clicking on the two Publications tabs above.
I would hope too, that Borough residents, on finding out more about their locality, may wish to become more involved by joining one of the many Local History Societies, perhaps be encouraged to join The Friends of Dacorum Museum , go on a Tour of our Heritage Store, or possibly volunteer to help in a practical way at the Dacorum Heritage Trust’s Museum Store, or by visiting and possibly volunteering at the Borough’s other heritage sites,such as the Apsley Paper Trail,Berkhamsted Castle, and once it is up and running, Tring Museum.
My especial thanks to Mike Stanyon for his help in pointing out the odd error & omission (now corrected I hope!) and for several constructive criticisms, which I hope have led to improvements on this site.
Barbara Chapman
In developing this site I hope to give the reader a taste of the very extensive and varied heritage to be found within the Borough of Dacorum.
To find out even more, there is large and varied number of volumes of books produced on the area’s history, many of which are still available for purchase, and most of which are available from the local libraries. Detailed lists of pubications can be found by clicking on the two Publications tabs above.
I would hope too, that Borough residents, on finding out more about their locality, may wish to become more involved by joining one of the many Local History Societies, perhaps be encouraged to join The Friends of Dacorum Museum , go on a Tour of our Heritage Store, or possibly volunteer to help in a practical way at the Dacorum Heritage Trust’s Museum Store, or by visiting and possibly volunteering at the Borough’s other heritage sites,such as the Apsley Paper Trail,Berkhamsted Castle, and once it is up and running, Tring Museum.
My especial thanks to Mike Stanyon for his help in pointing out the odd error & omission (now corrected I hope!) and for several constructive criticisms, which I hope have led to improvements on this site.
Barbara Chapman
CALLING ALL GRANDPARENTS!
In this year of the book, I decided to write a small book for my granddaughter telling her of what it was like when I was a little girl growing up – in my case on the Isle of Wight and in Surrey.
I would like to challenge the Grandparents & Great-Grandparents of Dacorum to do the same, i.e. write a letter or short story for their Grandchildren telling them of what it was like growing up; what their town or village was like and the things they had and did which are different to now, and the items we have now and take for granted, which we didn’t have when we were young children.
[For example as a 4 year old I had a ration book for certain items, I played marbles in the gutter of our road with my friends (cars were few and far between), and the only persons I knew who had a telephone were our Doctor and Dentist. My paternal grandparents had a phone installed when I was about 4, and they had to share their phone line with someone else. We had no car until I was about 7, and that was my grandfather’s ancient sit-up and beg Morris which he was no longer able to drive. My mother didn’t have a washing machine of any kind until I was about 8, and that was a twin tub. And we were the first of all my friends to have central heating installed – just before the big freeze in the early 1960’s – and prior to that I can remember having to get dressed, shivering, in front of the dining room fire of a morning, with my clothes draped over a clothes horse to warm them.]
Once you have written your letter or short story, and attached any relevant images to it, please post it to lghistorian@btinternet.com or enquiries@dacorumhistory.net together with your name, and contact details, and I will then post it on this website. Hopefully over time, this will then build-up into a useful collection, painting a picture of life in Dacorum before our present high tech age and instant and mass communication.
Barbara Chapman (PS, yes its me in the pigtails!)
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE AN ARTICLE,PLEASE SEE SIDE PANEL.
YOU CAN NOW EMAIL ENQUIRIES, INFORMATION ETC. DIRECT TO
Visit the DHT Forum for additional information and discussion about Dacorum’s Heritage. http://www.dacorumheritage.org.uk/phpbb/index.php
CALLING ALL GRANDPARENTS!
In this year of the book, I decided to write a small book for my granddaughter telling her of what it was like when I was a little girl growing up – in my case on the Isle of Wight and in Surrey.
I would like to challenge the Grandparents & Great-Grandparents of Dacorum to do the same, i.e. write a letter or short story for their Grandchildren telling them of what it was like growing up; what their town or village was like and the things they had and did which are different to now, and the items we have now and take for granted, which we didn’t have when we were young children.
[For example as a 4 year old I had a ration book for certain items, I played marbles in the gutter of our road with my friends (cars were few and far between), and the only persons I knew who had a telephone were our Doctor and Dentist. My paternal grandparents had a phone installed when I was about 4, and they had to share their phone line with someone else. We had no car until I was about 7, and that was my grandfather’s ancient sit-up and beg Morris which he was no longer able to drive. My mother didn’t have a washing machine of any kind until I was about 8, and that was a twin tub. And we were the first of all my friends to have central heating installed – just before the big freeze in the early 1960’s – and prior to that I can remember having to get dressed, shivering, in front of the dining room fire of a morning, with my clothes draped over a clothes horse to warm them.]
Once you have written your letter or short story, and attached any relevant images to it, please post it to lghistorian@btinternet.com or enquiries@dacorumhistory.net together with your name, and contact details, and I will then post it on this website. Hopefully over time, this will then build-up into a useful collection, painting a picture of life in Dacorum before our present high tech age and instant and mass communication.
Barbara Chapman (PS, yes its me in the pigtails!)
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE AN ARTICLE,PLEASE SEE SIDE PANEL.
YOU CAN NOW EMAIL ENQUIRIES, INFORMATION ETC. DIRECT TO
Visit the DHT Forum for additional information and discussion about Dacorum’s Heritage. http://www.dacorumheritage.org.uk/phpbb/index.php
.
This site was last updated 20 July 2011 
