Hitchin Carnival

As a child in the sixties, I remember Hitchin Carnival as quite a spectacular event. I would stand with my parents and sister and enjoy a very elaborate array of floats coming through the town. Smiling, dressed-up folks would walk by shaking tins for charity donations. However, I recall, too, hiding behind my dad when people walked by wearing enormous painted heads. Does anyone else remember them? They freaked me out when I was little!

In 1970, I was a mini-majorette, and remember having just come through an appendix operation, and finding it quite hard to keep twirling and walking. So I got a lift from Letchworth to Hitchin on one of the floats. We all ended up on Butts Close, and prizes would be given for the best floats. It was a great occasion, with lots of floats entering.

What I found really interesting, when reading Ron Pigram’s book Strange Happenings in Hitchin & North Herts, was that a hundred years before I was a mini-majorette; Hitchin Carnival was an even more spectacular occasion. Someone wrote at the time ‘It is certainly very strange, that such a normally prim and quiet town (Hitchin) should erupt in this wild fashion on one night in the year.’

The carnival would take place around Guy Fawkes’ night, and each year the festival would try to outdo the one the year before.

In the late eighteen hundreds it would be a patriotic event, and in 1870 it was normal for men to play females in the theatre. A rather large man called Herbert Barham played Britannia, and sat on the ceremonial float. It went well until, when entering Hitchin Market Square, a low-lying telegraph wire caught him round the neck – and over the side went Britannia.

The events would be expensive and collections were carried out. Some wanted to stop the festival because it disturbed the quiet of Hitchin, which had been given the nickname ‘Sleepy Hollow’ but still the festivals continued.

The festivals included an afternoon procession of floats. Until dusk Hitchin’s Market Square was filled with boys watching excitedly as poles with firework displays were mounted into position.

As night came, special lights around the town were lit, and the air was filled with the sound of exploding firecrackers. Men and boys would swing fireballs which gave out an unpleasant gas which lit the faces of the sightseers with coloured light. The last festival in this style took place in 1881, which was probably the best of them all. There were hot-air balloons, and the bands included ‘the remains of the Edinburgh Tattoo.

There are some great pictures of Hitchin Carnival from 1966-1972 HERE

& HERE

And a photo of the Hitchin Band in the 2000 Carnival HERE

Amanda Brittany
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If you like reading pyschological thrillers Amanda Brittany has written two books: HER LAST LIE features Hitchin and other local towns, and all eBook royalties are being donated to Cancer Research UK in memory of her sister.

TELL THE TRUTH is available to pre-order and is out in December in eBook & audiobook, and in paperback in February 2019

The link to buy is HERE

Shopping in Hitchin in bygone years.

I recently found this photograph of a basket full of goodies bought in Hitchin many years ago. No plastic in those days.

It made me want to have a little look through some of my old photos and postcards of  shops and the way people used Hitchin town in years gone by. I also came across this little booklet with the prices for Perk's Lavender. Inside it told me that Prize Medal Lavender Water can be bought as cheaply as 1shilling and 1penny - which is about 51/2 pence in today's money.  And Lavender Bloom Bath Power (in boxes) were 1 shilling - which is about 5p.

Perk's Lavender Distillery - High Street, Hitchin just after it closed.

I've always loved this picture from the 1960s which shows not much has changed along Bancroft, apart from the fashions and the cars. The little white car was my dad's. :-)

A great deal of change has happened with the post office. This is John Beaver (postmaster) and staff in 1880, when the post office was situated in The Market Place. Beaver was a grocer who is said to have a good sense of humour. One story about him relates to him standing outside his office listening to the Salvation Army Band, appealing for pennies on the drum and urging 'only 2 pennies more to make a shilling' He would wait until the shilling target was reached, and would then throw a couple of coppers on, as the process started again.

Vegetables are on display outside Nicholls' shop in the High Street in 1922. They were a high class fruiterer and florist. East variety of fruit would rest on a napkin in a separate basket, shown off to its best advantage and lit by gas in the winter evenings.

A great photo of The Market Place 

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Just to add my novel 'Her Last Lie' - a psychological thriller that features Hitchin and Letchworth, and published by HarperCollins is OUT NOW. All my e.book royalties are going to Cancer Research UK.  You can purchase a copy HERE

The Maypole Dairy Company, The Market Place, Hitchin

The Maypole Dairy Company shop was on the north side of The Market Place in Hitchin, in the 1920s.  This photograph shows Archie Barber, William White, George Stallabrass and Ernest Wright, the grocers there, at a time when butter and tea were still two shillings a pound.

No. 14 & 15 Market Place. George Spurr, Churchgate

In 1878 No. 14 Market Place was run by Joseph Perry a linen draper. 

George E Spurr went into partnership with Mr Perry between 1886 and 1890, and 14 Marketplace was known at this time as Perry & Spurr.  It was in 1899 it became known as George Spurr. 

In 1901 George E Spurr was 42 years of age and lived on the shop’s premises with his wife, Ethel, their 3 daughters and 5 sons. Three of their sons, Anthony George, Douglas Bateman and Walter Guiness, died in the WWI. Their names can be found on the Hitchin Grammar School WWI Memorial, which is a stained glass window in the Boys’ School Library, Grammar School Walk.

Next door to George Spurr, was No. 15 Market Place. It was a much larger shop and originally run by Campion Dawson, and known as Dawson.  From 1878 to 1899, the shop was run by his wife/widow. In 1899 the shop was described as ‘Market House’, and at this time Mrs Campion Dawson boasted that ‘their thoroughly practical assistants execute all orders’. Later the shop was run by Hannah Dawson, who I think must have been their daughter.  

Perry & Spurr next to Dawson.  (Pat Gadd-Thurstance)

In 1910 George Spurr bought Dawson, and his shop became a much larger department store that almost stretched the length of one side of The Market Place.

On 4^th November 1960 George Spurrs reopened after extensive refurbishment.  

In 1965 it was taken over by a Welwyn Department Store (which I believe later became John Lewis). At some point in the history of the shop Spurr became Spurrs. I can't be sure when.

Although the front façade of George Spurrs was good on the eye, behind the shop frontage was a cluster of buildings that stretched almost to the river.  

George Spurrs closed just before its demolition. (Pat Gadd-Thurstance)

In 1972/3 the buildings were demolished to make way for Churchgate,  I don’t think anyone would disagree, that Churchgate was a huge disappointment when it was built. 

There has been talk for several years about transforming Churchgate. There has even been discussions on an independent cinema for Hitchin to be built on the site.

No. 26 Market Place, Hitchin, Hertfordshire

No. 26 Market Place (a grade II listed building) has been the home of Millets, an outdoor clothing and equipment store (previously situated at 35 Bucklesbury) since 2002.

The building from 1893-1901 was a grocers and Italian warehouse, my the name of MELIA & CO.   And from 1909-1933 it was LIPTON LTD - also a grocers.

Below both windows of the shop are the words 'The Book House', and the building was indeed 'The Book House' (a bookshop) between the years 1959-1965.   In 1965 Mr Eric T Moore bought 'The Book House' from Mr Donne-Smith, along with Mr Willman's picture framing business.  The shop was moved to 24 Bridge Street and renamed Eric T Moore's Book Shop. It is still there in 2015 under different ownership.

No. 2 Market Place, Hitchin, Hertfordshire

No. 2 Market Place, is a beautiful listed building, that is now (2015) the residence of Toni & Guys Hairdresser.  It’s said that upstairs in one of the rooms there is Tudor Rose on the wall about the fireplace.   A lovely picture of the building as it is today can be found HERE

It has a long history, and in 1851 it was the home of George Beaver, a retired basket maker and his family. 

In 1859 alterations took place for a new post office (the post office had previously been in Bucklersbury.)     The post office remained in the Market Place, until it was moved to Brand Street.

Photo from Hitchin Past and Present by Pat Gadd

The first postmaster was John Beaver, who stayed in his post for forty years.  He also ran a grocery shop on the same premises.  John would watch the Salvation Army Band playing in the Market Place, and when the band asked the crowd for a penny to play another tune, he would throw enough money on the drum to make the band start over again.

From 1908 – 2002 the building was Briggs & Co, later Peter Briggs (book maker, later a shoe shop – which I remember very well.)

No. 1 Market Place, Hitchin

In 2015, No. 1 Market Place is the home of the HSBC Bank, but there's been an interesting history attached to the site where the bank now stands.

In 1591 there was a house in the Market Place called Red House where Thomas Chapman, the bailiff of the manor and brother of George Chapman, the poet and translator of Homor lived.  It is thought that Red House was No. 1 Market Place.

Later the building was owned by Josias Hobbs a Hitchin silkman, who sold the house to Michael Harding (an innholder) in 1631.  At this time the Red House was a cordwainer. (A shoemaker or worker in cordovan (Spanish) leather.

In 1668 The Red House (and The George's) leases were sold to John Freeman of Luton for 5/-.

During the years 1730-1818 The Red House was an inn leased to John Bradley, a brewer.

From 1851-1878 the building was leased to Charles Newton who was a linen and woollen draper.

Photo from 'Hitchin Past and Present' by Pat Gadd.

Later still, during the years 1890-1899, Alexander Lamb (also a draper) used the building for his business, and lived in the private house next door.  The private house had railings around it and young boys would hang over the railings flirting with the girl shop assistants who lived in the basement rooms.

Photo from 'Hitchin Past and Present' by Pat Gadd.

No.1 Market Place continued as a drapery until 1920, when the The Red House building was demolished and a bank built on the site.  The Midland Bank was in business from 1922-1992.  It was my first bank, and I remember feeling excited to have my own cheque book, which, if my memory serves me right, the cheques were striped with a mustard yellow.

In 1992, The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) acquired full ownership of The Midland Bank, and the HSBC has been at No. 1 Market Place ever since.

The Corn Exchange, 31 Market Place, Hitchin

The Corn Exchange is a beautiful listed building that stands proudly in Hitchin’s Market Place. It was built at a cost of £2000, and designed by William Beck a local architect who submitted his design free of charge. It opened in 1853, when traders and dealers came from far afield to buy and sell.

On market days the Corn Exchange was filled with a maximum of 30 tables, and corn dealers and seedman rented the tables. The newly formed 'Market Company' helped with the running cost and leased the market tolls from the Crown for 31 years.

To celebrate the wedding of The Prince of Wales to Princess Alexandra of Denmark, in

1863, Hitchin were given free gas to light up The Corn Exchange, which I think shows what an important building it was to the town at that time.

In December 1941 The Corn Exchange was opened as a British Restaurant, and catered for 600 people a day.  Daily 'crocodiles' of children could be seen heading there from a local school, as food was rationed during the war.

By the 1950s and 1960s the building was used as a skating rink, and many young romances began there.  My mother recalls everyone would bring their own skates, and girls would wear short skating skirts.  Not everyone would skate. Many would stand round the edge listening to the music and watching others roll around the wooden floor. 

A Hitchin resident has told me that during the 1970s The Hitchin Historical Society buried a time-capsule in The Corn Exchange.

During the 1980s and 1990s, The Corn Exchange Craft and Antique Centre became a popular venue.  There were plenty of stalls selling arts and crafts, and a small café.

The Corn Exchange eventually opened as a bar and night club, and later became known as Que Pasa.

The Pitcher and Piano took over the lease in August 2013 

Prior to The Corn Exchange being built, The Red Lion Public House stood on that site. It was demolished in 1852, but had stood at No. 31 Market Place from 1612 - 1852.  The Red Lion then moved to No, 36 Bucklesbury.   In the early years of The Red Lion cock fights took place in the public house, and in 1767 there was a  2d wax works show at the Red Lion Craft.   The town crier would call out the news from the steps of The Red Lion Inn on market days.
Amanda.
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My best selling ebook Her Last Lie is available HERE  All ebook royalties go to Cancer Research UK in memory of my amazing sister. Her Last Lie is a psychological thriller, with a  chapter devoted to Hitchin, and the main character lives in Letchworth.

Halsey's Delicatessen and Tearooms

Halsey's Tearooms

No. 9 Market Place, Hitchin is now the home of 'Halsey's Delicatessen and Tearooms', but it was discovered when some alteration work was being done forty or so years ago, and a Tudor fireplace was found, that the building dates back to as far back as 1500.  The fireplace, when cleaned, showed various scratchings with many dates, the earliest being around that time.

In the 16th century a survey of Hitchin Rectory taken by Trinity College, suggested the building was once part of  'The Parsonage House '

From 1767-1847 the building was a public house called 'The Artichoke'. Reginald Hine described in his 'History of Hitchin' how a football match was played in the town in 1772, and the ball was kicked in the doorway of the Artichoke.  Gypsy, Frederick Draper who was born in 1797 and lived until he was 105 had a standing engagement to play his fiddle in the Artichoke.

From 1878-1926 the building was first used by Martha Flint (milliner), later Martha Flint's & Ebenezer Allsop and finally Ebenezer Allsop (gent's milliner).   Halsey's staff through the years have often claimed to have seen the ghostly presence of Martha Flint.  Martha Flint did live on the property for some time with her apprentice, Beatrice Haydon.

In 1948, the building became G.W. Halsey & Son.  Many years later it was bought out by Jacksons of Picadilly Ltd, but still traded in the traditional Hitchin name.

In January 2006 Kirsty and Damian Caldwell bought the business.  Their website can be found HERE

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My best selling ebook Her Last Lie is available HERE  All ebook royalties go to Cancer Research UK in memory of my amazing sister. Her Last Lie is a psychological thriller, with a  chapter devoted to Hitchin, and the main character lives in Letchworth.

The Market Place...the very heart of Hitchin - Reginald Hine

It wasn't until early in the 20th Century that a Saturday market was introduced to Hitchin, first on a Saturday morning and then, due to its success, it increased to a full day.

The market flourished and it would have been very noisy, with the hustle and bustle of the shoppers and the cries from market traders.

The most famous trader was probably James Rennies, an Australian-born preacher who sold bibles and books from his travelling van.  Other traders included the Day brothers, John Pigg who would bring along an upright piano and, to sell his song sheets, would play all the well know songs of the day.

Another market trader would sell sweets made at a factory in Bancroft.  Hard Mixed and Bulls Eyes were wrapped and laid out on large trays that attracted wasps in their droves.

Early in the 20th century the south west corner of the market was primarily for the trading of straw plait.

My late aunt, Pat Gadd-Thurstance's memories of the Market Place as a child in the late twenties, early thirties are very touching.

I recall walking along the cobbles towards the Market Place, I would have been six or seven at the time.  It was the end of the day, a time for bargains.   All would be quiet as my mother and I made our way along the darkened streets, lit only by gas lamps.  I believed I could see ghosts darting out of the dark corners of the shadowy streets.   As we approached the market a cacophony of hoarse cries from the traders, and the hustle and bustle of traffic and people would assail our ears.  The stalls set slantwise across the square from the High Street  across to Sun Street, would each have a naphtha flare hung from its canvas covered frame.  The hiss and flaring of this as each gust of wind threatened to extinguish its flame would cast yet more eerie shadows over the scene.  

In 1939 market stalls moved to St Mary's Square to make room for a static water tank which was installed for the fire brigade to use should Hitchin get bombed.  St. Mary's Square had been completed in 1930 after the demolition of the slums during the 1920s.  After the war the tank was removed and the Market Place became a car park.

Today Hitchin Market Place is attractively cobbled, and has been the venue for French markets, The Rhythms of the World celebrations, Christmas celebrations and much, much more.

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My best selling ebook Her Last Lie is available HERE  All ebook royalties go to Cancer Research UK in memory of my amazing sister. Her Last Lie is a psychological thriller, with a  chapter devoted to Hitchin, and the main character lives in Letchworth.