Blog

Friends Visit From Bow Street

Vicki Pipe from the Bow Street Police Museum paid a visit to the Friends of the Museum for a fascinating talk this week. Taking us through the founding of the Bow Street Magistrates Court, the growth of the Bow Street Runners, and their eventual merger with the Met, we received a complete history of policing in London in the 18th Century and up to the closure of the court in 1992.

Although our current Exhibition, Murder, Mayhem & Mystery, concerns local stories, the Bow Street Court and the Runners were involved in at least two of our cases - the murders of Martha Ray in 1779 and William Weare in 1823.

Here's some feedback from a couple of happy Friends :
"An excellent talk and a really enjoyable evening."
"The talk on the Bow Street Runners was excellent : informative, well presented and enlightening."

You must visit the Bow Street Police Museum - full details here

Murder, Mayhem And Mystery : A Query Answered

On #MemoriesMonday we go back to 1855, so not really a memory for any of us, but an excuse to correct one of the panels in our current Exhibition, Murder, Mayhem And Mystery.  When we wrote the panel we didn't know what happened to alleged poisoner Sarah Newton from Rowley Green.  We left her at Hertford Assizes in March 1855 and assumed she was found guilty of the murder by poisoning of her husband and son. But here is the court report of the day which was given to us by an anonymous visitor - to whom, much thanks.

We were amazed to discover that she was found NOT GUILTY! That was one very lucky woman...

[Source : London Daily News, Saturday 3 March 1855]

Dressing Up For All

Everyone can dress up in our current exhibition, even mums.  Come down and be the police person who solves the Murders and clears up the Mayhem.  And there's a bit of Mystery too.

Memories of Shenley Road

Today's #MemoriesMonday features a well-known part of Shenley Road. The colour shot is from the 1970s and includes the house of the Studio Manager of the time, Mr Grossman. You can spot it in the far background. Barclays Bank and the Dutch Oven either side of Grosvenor Road.  The black and white photo is from 1984 and shows the same block of shops from a different angle. Good view of the bookies and the caff!

International Women From Boreham Wood

To celebrate International Women's Day (#IWD) this Wednesday we have two notable ladies who were brought up in Boreham Wood and who became famous in their respective careers.

Joyce Richards was the first British woman canoeist to take part in the Olympic Games in 1948. Living in Drayton Road and teaching PE at Watford Grammar School for Girls she was asked to canoe for England and so practiced regularly on Aldenham Reservoir.  She qualified for the Games and competed against 8 foreign canoeists.  She didn't win a medal, but flew the flag for England and Boreham Wood.

Dana Wynter was born Dagmar Winter in Berlin in 1931, but brought up in Boreham Wood where her father, Dr Peter Winter, practiced.  She had a long and productive career as an actress on stage, film and tv. Her most famous film is Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but she made many tv appearances in the 70s and 80s.  Living in California and Ireland, she left Boreham Wood behind, though filming at MGM and BPI before leaving for the USA in 1953.

Shoham Visitors To The Museum

We had some important visitors yesterday when the Shoham Twinning team came into the Museum.  With them were Sandra Parnell and Jeremy Newmark from the Town Council and Clive and Elaine Butchins, Museum Trustees.  Pictured here in front of our Police Box.

The Mods And The Lynx

#MemoriesMonday : Sad to hear from Ray Nadler who's riding his Vespa GS on the left in this classic early-1960s Lynx photo that his pillion passenger, Jim Miller, passed away last month. Long-term friends from school, Ray and Jim went their separate ways and Jim went on to become a skilled and renowned Master Goldsmith.  He wrote The Work of a Master Goldsmith: A Unique Collection which includes photos of his many creations. Other Mods in the photo include Dave (Noddy) Smith and Keith Nolan. Does anyone know any of the other names?

Memories of Allum Hall

For #MemoriesMonday we are thinking about Allum Hall and wondering what your memories are. The current house was remodelled from an earlier building in the 1880s, and Dame Anna Neagle led the fund-raising for the purchase of Allum Manor for the community in the 1950s.  Many stars from Associated British Picture Corporation, including Audrey Hepburn, helped with the cause.  Eventually a new Hall was built next to the Manor and opened in 1998 following a grant from Hertsmere of £2.5 million.  The photo is supposed to show the opening of the Manor, but we don't know who the lady is or when the photo was taken.  Maybe you do?  Looking forward to your memories.

Dressing Up Stops The Mayhem

Some of our young visitors dress up in the Police Box to show us how to deal with the Mayhem of the current exhibition Murder, Mayhem and Mystery.  Complete with helmets and squeaky truncheons! Come and visit us and wear a mustache as well if you fancy.

The Story of 96 Shenley Road, Part 4

On #MemoriesMonday we reach our last part of the story of 96 Shenley Road, the home of the Museum. The old Village Hall was demolished and the current building raised in 2013 and opened in November of that year.  The pictures tell the story :