Libraries and leisure

Miscellaneous Hertfordshire Names

Our Local Patriots: A name index to photographs from the Royston Crow newspaper depicting soldiers from the Royston area who served in World War I. There are 700 references to not only those photographed but also serving relatives who are often named in the text accompanying the pictures. The photographs are of soldiers who were either killed, wounded, prisoners of war, decorated or simply serving. The index covers late 1915 to early 1919, then a little into the 1940s. A list of the WW1 dead from Royston is also included.

The soldier pictured is Private Ralph Sharp.
September 15th 1916 :

"Private Ralph Sharp, a stretcher- bearer in the Bedfords, third son of Mr and Mrs Stephen Sharp, of Gower Road, Royston, was killed in action by a shell on or about July 28th 1916. Private Sharp, prior to the outbreak of war was employed in the gardens of Yew Tree House, Royston, and at Cokenach. He enlisted on the outbreak of war and was in training near Felixstowe, and was sent out to France in may 1915. He was 22 years of age. Mr and Mrs Sharpe's eldest son, Hubert was so badly wounded and crippled in August 1915 that he has been discharged. His photograph is published in No.1 of the Herts and Cambs series of Our Local Patriots. Private Harry Sharp, the youngest son who is in the Herts Regiment, has just gone out to the Front."

Union Workhouse admission and discharge books: A name index to the admission and discharge books of the Hertford Union workhouse, 1873–1876, 1887-1900 [reference BG/HER]and Hatfield Union Workhouse, 1836-1870; 1875-1886 and Oct 1894-Sep 1899 [reference BG/HAT]. These books list people admitted to the workhouse each day and those who were discharged or died each day. They can provide information on why a person was admitted into the workhouse and where they were discharged to.

Before the creation of the modern Welfare State, individuals or families who were unable to support themselves had to turn to their local parish officers, or later their Board of Guardians, for help. Boards of Guardians of the poor were established under the poor law amendment act of 1834. Under the 1834 act, parishes were grouped together in unions to exercise the poor law functions previously carried out by individual parishes. In Hertfordshire thirteen unions were established, named after the main town in each.

One role of the Boards of Guardians was to care for the poor, both in their own homes and in the union workhouse. Many people in the past have been forced by old age, illness, disability, unemployment, bereavement, or other misfortune to seek assistance from the Poor Law authorities. A Pauper that wanted to request relief would have to sit in the waiting room at the Workhouse prior to being interviewed. The other methods of gaining admission was to apply to the relieving officer, or in cases of emergency to the Master of the workhouse.

Hertford Union workhouse consisted of the following parishes: Little Amwell, Aston, Bayford, bengeo, Benington, Little Berkhamstead, Bramfield, Brickendon, Datchworth, Hertford (All Saints, St John and St Andrew) Hertingfordbury, Sacombe, Stapleford, Tewin, Walkern and Watton–at Stone. The poor law institution was built in 1869 (on the site of the present police station). It closed in 1919.

Hatfield Union comprised the following parishes:- Essendon, Hatfield, North Mimms and Northaw.

To search the catalogue please click the link to Hertfordshire Names Online on the right hand side.