Stella Wycherley (stellawycherley @t hotmail.com) of Walkern says I have recently moved to The Maltings, Walkern, which was the Wrights Brewery. I am looking for any Photos and History on this building. I do know that it was renovated into Housing in 1986.

The Hertfordshire County Council run an excellent library service and their web site will give you the the address of the nearest library to you, if you haven't already discovered it. They may also be able to give you a contact address for a local history society. However I suspect that your best bet is the main Stevenage library which, I would expect to have a good collection of local books, maps, microfilms of the 1841-1891 censuses, and other material.

You may be interested in the following entry for Brewery House, Walkern, in the 1881 census:

Emma WRIGHT	41	Melbourn, Cambs	Head, Widow	Brewer
Eleanor Mary WRIGHT	21	Walkern	Daur
Saml.E. WRIGHT	19	Walkern	Son	Brewer
Ernest F. WRIGHT	16	Walkern	Son
Abigal E. WRIGHT	10	Walkern	Daur
Herbert WRIGHT	9	Walkern	Son
Alice M. WRIGHT	6	Walkern	Daur
James BULLEN	50	Walkern	Brother	Farmer 800 Acres 35 Men & Boys
Ann BULLEN	47	Bennington	Sister In Law
Alice M. GREAVES	21	Nottingham, Notts	Governess	Governess (Teacher)
Elizth. TRIGO	17	Sandon	Servant	Dom Servant
Alice GODFREY	19	Rushden	Servant	Dom Servant

January 2003

Chris Bell (chrisfip @t hotmail.com) writes: I am trying to find out whether the "Wrights Brewery" listed on your answers web page Sept 2001 was situated on George St and I can't seem to find the answer anywhere. Wrights Brewery, George St. was mentioned on a scrap of paper behind a miniature portrait of my ggg grandmother. I'm trying to locate where she came from and that is the only lead I have so far. I have no census details of her here in Australia, nor birth records.

Walkern is (and was) only a tiny village - with the single High Street being referred to as simply "Village Street" in the 1881 census (now available world wide online, as is the 1901 census), while no street addresses are given in the 1882 Kelly's Directory because they were not needed. A quick check on a modern online map would show you that there is no George Street, and I have found no reference to a pub called The George (see The Inns & Public Houses of Walkern). I would therefore suggest that your ancestor had no connection with Walkern. Your best bet is to visit a good genealogical library - there are a number in the principal cities in Australia - and look at the classified section of trade directories under brewery - starting with London at a likely date.

If you can add to the information given above tell me.