xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes: The Wheathampstead War Memorial Windows WWI from the Folly Methodist chapel, demolished this year are now in my bedroom awaiting removal to a suitable resting place! They were advertised on eBay, and mentioned on the Bucks and Herts Gen sites and I could not bear the thought of them languishing in a scrap yard, so I bought them for £120, even though I have (as far as I know!!!!) no connection with them or Herts. The names on them are 

S Bandy, C Carter, F Gray, M Harrison, H Izzard, H Lawrence, G Minal, A Munt, A O'Dell, G Pearce, G Upton -Roberts, H Wilson

I hope this may be of interest to you or someone out there!

The Folly Boys off to the War One of several World War One pictures in Old Wheathampstead.

The Chapel was built in 1887, as the following extract from Wheathampstead and Harpenden part III shows:

THE FOLLY METHODIST CHURCH

Built in 1887 by Vince Goldhawk, this chapel was opened on 17 October; it consisted merely of one room, with a plot of grass at the back for the preacher's horse. The Mission Band from Luton are believed to have been responsible for its foundation; certainly they conducted the services, coming over in the morning and bringing their dinner with them. This could be heated on a stove in the chapel, while lighting was by paraffin oil lamps. Thomas Wren the wheelwright was active in this chapel, it seems, as well as in the one on the Hill; he was one of its earliest Sunday school superintendents. Two open backed forms were used by each class, half the scholars sitting the opposite way from the others with their legs through the backs; as at Southdown, from time to time one fell through. Other early Sunday school superintendents and teachers were Charles Smith, affectionately known as 'Uncle Charlie', Harry Smith junior and Thomas Latchford. Later the inevitable Band of Hope was formed, a bible class, and a Wesley guild, until in 1927 it was decided that for such activities another building was needed and a building fund was opened. 14 April 1928 saw the stone laying ceremony and 8 June the opening; the builders were Smith Bros. but much voluntary work was done. In the following year a primary department, for the youngest Sunday school scholars, was opened; it met in the chapel, where services were then held only in the afternoon and evening; but in 1937 it was decided to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the chapel by building a room for the primary department. This was opened on 24 August 1938; and here the department still meets, under the same leader as in 1929.

See War memorials and Rolls of Honour

1tth November 2013

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes I still have the windows, and am currently in the process of trying to contact the Imperial War Museum, to see if they would like them as a donation to their collection, especially with WWI commemorations next year.   They need to be taken care of, and I will do my best to ensure that these men are not forgotten. On the window, it says that they will not be forgotten, and yet they have been!

Within days of my posting details on the Newsletter the windows found a new home and will almost certainly be shown in a planned 1914 memorial exhibition at St Albans Museum next year