Commemorating 100 Years

Berkhamsted and Tring Living Magazines Ashlyns

It’s 100 years since the end of the First World War, and celebrations are taking place all over the UK to honour the dead and those who fought for their country.

And Berkhamsted is certainly doing its bit. As well as a service at St Peter’s on Sunday 11 November, Berkhamsted Local History and Museum Society (BLHMS) has produced two books to commemorate the end of the War. The books will be on sale on 9 and 10 November, at an exhibition at Berkhamsted Civic Centre called ‘Commemorating Peacetime in Dacorum’ organised by Dacorum Heritage Trust, and on 24 November in the Court House with a small exhibition by BLHMS.

The Rectory Lane Cemetery is also commemorating the end of the War on 16 September with poetry, music and drama. Full details will be published nearer the time.

Berkhamsted Heritage Open Days

For the past 15 years the BLHMS has organised the Heritage Open Days and, this year, many of them are linked to the anniversary of the end of the First World War.

A Walk Back in Time
A guided tour of the historic town centre.
Thursday 6 September, 10.30am
Friday 7 September, 3pm
Thursday 13 September, 10.30am

A Walk into the Past: Berkhamsted Place – successor to the Castle
Friday 7 September, 10am
Saturday 8 September, 2pm
Meet at the top of Castle Hill near Berkhamsted Place
This tour takes you into what remains of this once large Elizabethan mansion and explains its links to the castle

Ashlyns School, former Foundling Hospital
Sunday 9 September, 1pm-5.30pm
Tours led by former foundlings. Learn what life was like for the children who grew up there during 1935-55. Booking is essential.

Berkhamsted Castle

Berkhamsted Castle
Sunday 9 September, 10.30am, 2pm and 4pm
Friday 14 September, 10.30am and 2pm
The best remaining example of a motte and bailey castle in the country.

Berkhamsted Town Hall
Sunday 9 September, open 10.15am-1.30pm, tour at 11am
This replaced the old market house that burnt down in 1854, and included an assembly room and rooms for the Mechanics Institute, as well as a Market Hall.

Inns of Court: Then (1914-19) and Now
Sunday 9 September, 11am
Sunday 16 September, midday
Meet at the back of the station
During the First World War the Inns of Court Officers Training Corps (IOCOTC) was stationed in Berkhamsted and the surrounding area. This tour takes you to some of their haunts and shows you what it was once like.

Post a Letter
Sunday 16 September, 10.30am
Meet at the front of the station.
Berkhamsted’s postal history tour.

Rectory Lane Cemetery
Sunday 9 September, open 11am-6pm
Let them RIP. Carve an inscription, record something for posterity, explore trails and enjoy poems, playlets and songs. Also a focus on the Remarkable Women of the town.

Memorials to Fallen of WWI
Sunday 16 September, 3pm
Meet by the War Memorial by the west door of St Peter’s
Visit the Town Memorial, the Roll of Honour in Berkhamsted school, the memorial in the Baptist Church, the British Legion memorial, and the War Commission Graves in Rectory Lane Cemetery.

Repton’s Ashridge
Thursday 6 September, 2pm
Thursday 13 September, 2pm
Assemble outside the main entrance to Ashridge House.
These two tours mark the bi-centenary of Repton’s death. Repton was commissioned by the 7th Duke of Bridgewater to design gardens to go with his new gothic style mansion. Booking essential.

St Peter’s Church and Court House
Sunday 9 September, 3pm
Meet at the west door of the church
The church has an extensive history and interesting memorials depicting the history of the town and its people.

Canal

Lost Wharves of Berkhamsted
Saturday 8 September, 10am
Meet at Bank Mill bridge
Where flourishing trade once existed along the canal’s banks, even the holiday boats are no longer for hire. Follow the lost wharves. In conjunction with Berkhamsted Citizens Association. Booking essential.

Old Hall and Chapel
Sunday 9 September, 10.30am and 2.30pm
Meet at the bottom of the steps leading up to Old Hall
Visit the original school building from 1544 and learn something of the school’s history.

Tours of Dacorum Heritage Trust (DHT) Museum Store
Saturday 8 September, 10.30am and 2pm
Saturday 15 September, 10am
The Museum Store, Clarence Road, Berkhamsted
See collections from different areas of Dacorum and find out more about the area.

All bookings to Jenny Sherwood, apart from the DHT Museum Store.
01442 865158 or KSherw9100@aol.com
More details available on the Heritage Open Days website www.heritageopendays.org.uk