As a result of investigating where Railway workers lived in 1881 it was decided to collect similar data (as far as possible) for 1851. The situation was similar in that there were a number of locally born railway labourers living in Aldbury and the following more skilled railway staff were living at in the cottages at Tring railway station:

Benjamin ADAMS (21, Akeley, Bucks, Cokeman)

Nan Hobson  (nancat3 @t aol.com) says Benjamin Adams aged 21 was my husband's G.G.Grandfather. I had already found him on the 1851 census, lodging with Edward Adams. I haven't found the connection yet - if there is one. Benjamin's father was named John. Benjamin married Ann Bachelor from Aldbury and by 1871 they had moved to Lambeth Walk in Surrey, had 4 sons, and Benjamin was still an engine driver. Benjamin's son Albert (G.Grandfather) was also an engine driver

Edward ADAMS (39, Ringshall, Bucks, Porter)

Samuel ASKHAM (28, Oundle, Northants, Porter)

Richard BYRCHILL (26, Marlborough, Wilts, Policeman)

George CRADDOCK (32, Abington, Northants, Policeman)

Samuel FAREY (24, Redbourn, Herts, Porter)

William FLITNEY (29, Aldbury, Herts, Porter)

Thomas MARKS (27, Brighton, Sussex, Telegraph Clerk)

William McCOWELL (46, London, Station Master)

Michael MEREDITH (47, Stoke Prior, Hereford, Ticket Collector)

Thelma Gibson (gandt @t infogen.net.nz) says that Michael was her great great grandfather, and the family emigrated to New Zealand in 1859. For more information about Michael and his involvement in the Maori Wars see MEREDITH, Aldbury, mid-19th century

William PATES (40, Aldbury, Herts, Porter)

George H RICH (18, Gravesend, Kent, Clerk)

George SOLLY (32, Littlebourn, Kent, Porter)

Alfred STANNARD (32, Farnham, Surrey, Policeman)
see STANNARD, Tring Station, Aldbury, mid 19th century

Edward STUDD (61, Winston, Suffolk, Engineer)

Jasper WEBSTER (39, Exton, Rutland, Porter)

There is a different distribution of occupations - including three railway policemen. It is also interesting that in 1851 the staff of the Royal Hotel, built next to the station, included 18 resident grooms, only one of which was born locally. This was presumably to provide a local horse transport service for people arriving at the station. In 1881 there was only one resident ostler at the hotel to look after the horses. 

The former Royal Hotel at Tring Station [Chris 2003]

It is clear that the coming of the railway brought a significant number of skilled staff into the area, and it would be interesting to know how many have descendants still living in Aldbury or Tring.

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October 2004

Rita Fretwell (ritafretwell @t talkgas.net) writes: I was so pleased to find this on the web as I was born in Aldbury, lived in Malting lane. My Father was an engine driver on the LMS railway, Grandfather named Jelley was a foreman at Tring station lived in one of the cottages in the picture, I was married in Aldbury  church in 1957.

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

October 2012		Meredith link added