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Harpenden from the 1950s to 1981

Selection from Jim Jarvis's slides

By Rosemary Ross

The Society was given a large collection of 35mm slides of scenes in Harpenden from Jim Jarvis's extensive photographic output, which also includes many glass negatives of model railway locomotives, and of houses on the West Common estate built by Jarvis Brothers in the 1930s. The donation came through Mr Humm in the spring of 2013. Sets of slides relating to Harpenden Lawn Tennis Club have been passed to the club, and of scenes around Wheathampstead to the Wheathampstead History Society.

The Harpenden slides were digitised by Peter Boden, after they had been sorted into a geographical sequence. Dates on most of the slides help identify the historical sequence. Some photos show little change from Harpenden in the 2010s, but others provide evidence of buildings that have disappeared, notably some houses demolished to make way for the car park of Harpenden (Moat) House Hotel in the 1970s. Below is a selection from the collection, concluding in 1981 with one of Jim's many stunning studies of trees around Harpenden - most of which have not yet been digitised.

To enlarge and view the pictures, click on the first one and follow through the sequence by clicking on 'next' - or choose just one picture.

Photo:Hatching Green Lodge, Autumn 1952
Photo:Pimlico cottages, West Common, 1953/53
Photo:Abbot & Anderson's factory, Leyton Road, October 1964
Photo:Elm stump on the Common, Leyton Road, November 1978
Photo:Harpenden Common with Paddling Pool, from Leyton Road, October 1953, showing buildings between The Welcombe and Lourdes Hall, demolished in the 1970s
Photo:Silver Cup Paddling Pool in September 1952
Photo:Harpenden Common, view through the Baa Lamb trees to Lourdes Hall in the 1950s. The houses to the left were demolished to form car park of Harpenden Moat House Hotel in the 1970s
Photo:Silver Cup and Common, 1953
Photo:Silver Cup pub with Baa Lamb Trees, Harpenden Common, 1973
Photo:Harpenden Common with riders about to cross the cricket pitch, 1950s
Photo:Harpenden Common, viewed from Leyton Road, across the cricket pitch to Queen's Road and East Common, 1960s
Photo:Southdown ponds, October 1960
Photo:2 Southdown Road, January 1978
Photo:Harpenden Hall in early 1970s
Photo:Harpenden Hall, Urban District Council offices, early 1970s
Photo:Gates of Harpenden Hall - UDC office, pre 1974. Note that the wrought iron arch with lamp does not have 'Harpenden Hall' inscription.
Photo:Harpenden Moat House Hotel, from the Silver Cup - looking over the site of the paddling pool, 1970s
Photo:Harpenden Moat House Hotel, 1976
Photo: Illustrative image for the 'Harpenden from the 1950s to 1981' page
Photo: Illustrative image for the 'Harpenden from the 1950s to 1981' page
Photo: Illustrative image for the 'Harpenden from the 1950s to 1981' page
Photo:The Harpenden Arms, autumn 1978
Photo:Harpenden High Street, slide marked "no traffic - Suez made petrol scarce", autumn 1956
Photo:Kingston House and Harpenden High Street, 1961
Photo:Harpenden High Street, looking south - also in October 1961, or earlier?
Photo:73 & 71 High Street, 1950s
Photo:71 & 71a High Street, 1950
Photo:"Harpenden Green" - site of Old Cock Pond, November 1963
Photo:Christmas lights in front of Bowers Parade, December 1966
Photo:Vaughan Road, looking east, 1976
Photo:Vaughan Road, looking west, 1976
Photo:St Nicholas Church, 1953
Photo:St Nicholas Church, from Leyton Road; wall of Batchelors' Row cottages, 1956/7
Photo:Church Green, October 1978
Photo:Church Green, October 1978
Photo:The Cross Keys from Church Green, autumn 1978
Photo:Rothamsted Manor, south front, 1953
Photo:Rothamsted Manor, from east with coach entrance to yard - ? 1950s
Photo:Rothamsted Manor, from east with coach entrance to yard - 1960s
Photo:Harpenden Gymkhana, Rothamsted Park, 1964
Photo:Rothamsted Park, December 1981
Photo:Winter sports in Rothamsted Park, December 1981
Photo:Winter sports in Rothamsted Park, December 1981
Photo:Winter in Rothamsted Park, December 1981
This gallery was added by Rosemary Ross on 12/11/2013.
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More about...
Picture Gallery
  • Ernest Hasseldine (1875-1944) - drawings, sketches, family photos etc
  • Harpenden from the 1950s to 1981
  • Jarvis houses of the 1930s on the West Common Estate, photographed by Jim Jarvis as they were built
  • Jim Jarvis's photos of 'Jarvis houses' in the 1930s
  • Some older trees in Harpenden
  • Paintings and sketches of old Harpenden
  • Church Green - 1880s to 1950s
 
 
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