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LOCAL HISTORY TWO : April 29th 1971 is a day l will never forget!

Here is Brenda Treacher’s dramatic account of a memorable day in Boreham Wood.  Brenda now runs our Friends group. Not a Friend of the Museum? Join here.

April 29th 1971 is a day l will never forget!

“I was 23 years old and working as Chief Cashier at Barclays Bank, Shenley Road, Boreham Wood. It was a job l loved, friendly customers to meet every day, supportive colleagues who often socialised together and a happy working environment, life was good. Then suddenly it all changed on 29th April 1971 the day that the bank was raided.

Every Thursday morning as regular as clockwork Securicor would turn up just before 10am to collect almost £30,000 in cash to take to Elliott's in the Elstree Way for their wages department to make up the wages for the weekly paid workers. When l saw the van pull up outside l walked through to the back of the bank to give the signal for the money to come up from the vaults, as l did so an axe came crashing through the glass pane on the door between the banking hall and the working section, the latch was opened and in came a man with a shotgun who blasted at the Chief Clerks booth and at my till where l had been standing moments ago, shot went flying everywhere.

I looked back into the banking hall and saw Mr Crump, from Elstree Rural District Council, being hit over the head with a cosh by a man with a stocking over his face. I ran like Mary Peters out to the machine room at the back of the bank shouting “Raid! Raid!”, and hid under a desk. Suddenly a large pair of boots were walking towards me, l froze thinking it was one of the robbers, but it turned out to be a Securicor guard taking cover with us. My friend who was much braver than me had a side window open looking outside to see what was happening and relaying this on the phone to the manager who was safe in his office upstairs.

The robbers took the trolley with the money on it, threw the cash into their vehicle and made off towards the Elstree Way. Everyone was very shaken, the Police came and took statements and fingerprints and a few of the younger girls were taken home to recover from the shock. However Elliott's needed their wages, so myself and another colleague went into the vaults and made up another consignment. Two hours later the bank reopened and we were back serving customers. Thursday was always a busy day with local companies collecting wages, and it was also late night opening so it was almost 7pm before we got away that day. Many of us went straight to the Queens Head at Sandridge for a drink and to calm down and take stock of our adventurous day.

There were many differing reports in local and national newspapers, not all were accurate, there were lots of rumours flying about as to who the perpetrators were, but no one was ever prosecuted for the robbery which had left so many of us a little more apprehensive on a Thursday morning at 10am. 29th April is also memorable for me in a happier way as it was my wedding day one year later.”

Reading the newspaper reports the number of robbers varied, the people attacked are different, and the effects of the violent gun shot are downplayed.  Fake News 1971 style!

Volunteers’ Stories One : Matt Caro

What are the Museum Volunteers getting up to while they can’t greet you at the door, write the new Exhibition, or research in the archives?  Here is Matt to tell us what he’s been doing :

"I have signed up to be an NHS volunteer, and as well as doing that, I am completing several Open University Courses in new disciplines (Computer Science and History of Science).  I am also brushing up on my languages, making models and going for long walks."

LOCAL HISTORY ONE : A Short History of Woodcock Hill

Just in case you may be feeling a bit bored with all this hugging-the-furniture malarkey, we’re beginning a series of Local History stories to help you pass the time. And if you have any short illuminating items to send us, please use our email and pass them on.

A Short History of Woodcock Hill

The earliest records show that the land was owned by St Albans Abbey, given by Offa, King of Mercia in the 8^th Century. After the Reformation, the land was passed to Anthony Denney by Henry VIII in 1539.

In 1765, Furzehill Road was built to link Barnet Lane with Shenley Road. At that time, Barnet Lane was a drover’s road. Cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and geese passed along the route. Various ponds on the way provided a good supply of water and became known as Drover’s Ponds. The animals were taken to the market at Barnet, or on to the London markets.  Some had already travelled from as far afield as Scotland and Wales using the old drovers roads, and many of these are long-distance footpaths still in use today.

1588 saw the naval victory over the Spanish Armada. To alert London of the Armada’s approach, beacons were lit from South West England across the country. Woodcock Hill was one of the links in the beacon chain being the first high ground visible from Hampstead Heath. After the defeat of the Armada the beacons were lit again to celebrate and to pass on the good news.

In the time of the Napoleonic Wars, a telegraph station was erected near the beacon site on top of Woodcock Hill. This enabled the Admiralty to get messages quickly to Yarmouth in the east of the country from central London. The telegraph on the Hill sent messages from Hampstead Heath in the south, and on to St Albans in the north, via the semaphore on top of their Clock Tower, then onwards to Ivinghoe Beacon. Another link went down to the south coast and Portsmouth.

1861 saw the coming of the railways to Borehamwood. This new mode of transport brought the farm stock more quickly to the capital and its outskirts. More housing was built in Borehamwood and Elstree. In 1862, the first railway tunnel was built at Woodcock Hill with a second tunnel added in 1868. Clay from the tunnels went to make bricks for the ever expanding housing developments. Some of the bricks used are still to be seen in houses in Brownlow and Drayton Roads.

In 1890, an aqueduct was built to carry the brook across the railway through Borehamwood to Radlett and the River Colne.

Local Scouts guarded the beacon at Woodcock Hill in 1935, when it was lit to celebrate the coronation of George V - 1,390 beacons were lit across the country. Land here was part of WW11’s 'Dig for Victory’ campaign. The land was particularly suited to wheat but several allotments were allowed, particularly alongside the railway. In 1944, a doodlebug dropped opposite Milton Drive, and part of the bomb crater is still visible.

During the Centenary Commemorations of the Spanish Armada in 1988, a procession went from the Town up the hill recreating the Armada Beacon ceremony. Local school children dressed in period costume and Town and Borough dignitaries were there to officiate.  Again the local 1st Elstree Scouts and Elstree District Venture Scout troop were on hand to help.  There have been several beacon lightings in recent years to celebrate national events.

The whole area was given Wildlife Conservation status in 2002. Following a great community campaign, in 2008 the land was ratified by Hertfordshire County Council as Village Green and a Trust was formed.  The Hill continues to be a historical site as well as a valuable community asset.

MUSEUM CLOSED FOR NOW

Our Mascot, Captain Ahab, has decided to self-isolate, and the Museum is now closed for the forseable future because of the coronavirus.  Please watch this space and our Facebook and Twitter pages for further information.
Look forward to seeing you soon.

The Volunteers

Holby City At 20 Still Operating

Our current Exhibition is still packing them in. Running until April 25th you have lots of time to dress up as a nurse or a doctor, and have a go on our body! Here is super fan Claire performing open heart surgery!  All operations are free, as is our Museum. We have small 'staff cards' of your favourite actors to take away - for a small donation.

Looking For Volunteers

Dave Armitage waiting for the first volunteer!

On Monday 27^th January Hertsmere held a Volunteering Exhibition at which all the local charities prepared stalls to advertise their organisations and try to attract new volunteers.  In the rear hall of 96 Shenley Road the Museum valiantly displayed our recent activities for the last year hoping to gain a few new helpers.  Unfortunately the flow-through of interested viewers was rather slow.  But if you’d like to volunteer with us all please contact us anyway you can – it is good fun!

2019 : A Year In Photographs

The first of this year’s regular coffee mornings, organised by Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council was held today in All Saints Church in Shenley Road. With free refreshments and an Exhibition of community organisations presenting 2019 A Year in Photographs.  The Museum’s stand was right by the door and our excellent volunteers Helen And Elaine were there to greet everyone who walked in.  And what a busy year we’ve had, from two Exhibitions, Families Day and History Walk, Friends Evenings and school visits. 2020 is shaping up to be busier…

Friends Evening With Dr Shyam Kolvekar

Last week the Friends of the Museum held a special Evening to celebrate our current Exhibition, Holby City At 20. Joining us for a talk and questions was the chief medical adviser to the programme, Dr Shyam Kolvekar.  His main ‘job’ is being the Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon at St Barts Hospital, but he has been the Holby adviser since the show began, making sure that all the medical terms and scenarios are exactly correct.  He has also worked on medical documentaries and wherever his expertise is called for.  A fascinating evening for lovers of drama and surgery!

More Holby City Playtime

Any budding surgeons out there?  You can try out your skills, whatever your age, at our Holby City At 20 Exhibition in the Museum.  Here we see a serious visitor trying to improve the condition of our ‘body’.  Good luck and keep trying!

Christmas Cards

Yes, it’s time to send your loved ones memories of Elstree & Boreham Wood, and we have a new range of Christmas Cards for you.  We’ve taken local scenes in the snow and created exclusive and unforgettable cards that will bring back memories!  And we’ve made our drawing cards brighter and better.  On sale in the Museum, the foyer of 96 Shenley Road for the next three Saturdays, and the Friends Evening on Wednesday, and Going Down The Village on Thursday morning.