Hatching Green

Halsey Family

The White Horse, Hatching Green, in the 1930s
LHS archives - HC85

I was born into my paternal grandparents home on Hatching Green in 1944 while my father was overseas during WWII. My family, the Halseys, had lived on Hatching Green since the late 19th century as far as I can tell. The 1901 census shows my great-grandfather and great-grandmother, Edward and Harriet Halsey living there with their several children including my grandfather Stanley Halsey.

I was interested to read John Seabrook’s piece in a past publication of the Society where he said that he was related to the Seabrooks and Halseys*. In another piece on the website there is a short history of the White Horse pub on Hatching Green. When I was a small child my grandfather and his brother would sit outside wearing their traditional leather gaiters on the pub furniture made by my grandfather. In the two photos dated much earlier you can see similar seats probably made by my great-grandfather Edward.

When my father returned from France in 1946 we were lucky enough to be offered one of the new prefabs in Oakley Road just off Grove Road where we lived until the mid 1950s.

I am currently researching my family history and if anyone has further information about the Halseys I would be glad to hear from them.

*  John Seabrook has recently published a fictional history of his link with the Halsey family – Her Father’s Name. Ed.

Comments about this page

  • Hi,  My name is John Halsey and lived and worked in Harpenden in the 1960s before moving to Kimpton finishing work in Harpenden in 1981. I do not think we are directly related, my family seemed to come from Great Gaddesden and Ivinghoe. I never knew about the Halsey connection in Hatching Green.

    By John HALSEY (14/12/2020)

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