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A Walk around Hemel
Hempstead
illustrated by old postcards
Gadebridge Park
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A Walk around Hemel
Hempstead Gadebridge Park |
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Beyond the site of the former Bury, turn right to reach the parish church.
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Gadebridge House |
The Iron Bridge over the River Gade |
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Detour to visit Gadebridge House |
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Gadebridge Lane The bridge in this picture is an earlier one to that shown in the Valentine postcard of 1906 |
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Taken from the footbridge, apparently on the same day in 1906 as the larger picture. The spire of St Mary can be seen in the distance. |
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Gadebridge Lane, Hemel Hempstead The picture shows the bridge built in 1915 over the ford to give access to the military camp during the First World War. [The London Gunners come to Town] Sydney E Tombleson sold fancy goods at 52, High Street, and the card probably dates from the 1920s. |
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Message: The camp where Jim was stationed for 3 months, before going to France on July 18, 1917. If you had turned left at the North end of the park during the First World War you would have reached the temporary military camp shown in the above card. It was first occupied about Easter of 1915, and the ford over the Gade was replaced by a bridge built under the supervision of my grandfather, Walter Locke. Towards the end of the war the camp became a hospital for treating soldiers with VD - and afterward was demolished as quickly as possible. Further details are published in The London Gunners come to Town. In the 1912 Kelly's directory George Day is listed as "Fancy repository & news agent, 34 High Street" |
At the North end of the Park turn right along this lane, and right again at the top, to enter the North end of the High Street.
You may also turn left for Piccotts End.
If you know of other books, websites, etc, relating to this place, please tell me.
Page updated July 2008
