ALAN CASH - web pages WGC book index - click here Collection of books on Welwyn Garden City

41 Pictures of Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire

Author: (anon)

First published: 1923 by Welwyn Garden City Bookshop

Format: Paperback 9" by 7" with 48 pages

This is a treasure of a book and must be quite rare. Below are the words and pictures in the book.

IN his inner self almost every thoughtful man cherishes an ideal of a kingdom of towns and country, towns not over large nor over dirty, and a country not over full, but well cultivated in parts, and in parts even bare of settlers.

J. C. SQUIRE.

THE TOWN itself is . . . a cradle of life, a school of manners, and the foundation of civilization.

W. R. LETHABY.

Introduction

WELWYN GARDEN CITY has a history of a little over two years, though it is a neighbourhood that has been famous for generations as a choice district for good houses. The two years have seen the beginnings of a town which is already adding beauty to a lovely countryside. The forty-one pictures show what has been done so far. They show that it is possible to build a town for all classes of people, where utility, convenience, and economy, may be practised, and the amenities of modern town-life enjoyed, without spoiling the aspect of the country. Welwyn Garden City does, as yet, give no more than a suggestion of what it will become in the course of a few years - the town of fifty thousand, with its industry and rural belt; but these pictures more than hint at the order, design, and character that the place may be expected to possess, and point to the conclusion that this new town will not only be a good place to see, but to build or buy a house to live in. This is the first collection of pictures of Welwyn Garden City, and we send it out with confidence. We hope to add to it from year to year, and make it a useful record of the growth of the town.

YOU ASK ME where in peaceful grot
I'd choose to fix my dwelling ?
I’ll tell you; for I've found the spot,
And mortals call it Welwyn.

Its shade a solitude imparts,
All other shades excelling;
The County where it stands is Herts,
And hearts are lost in Welwyn.

I feel my own throw of its load
When passing by the Bell Inn;
And why ? Because I know the road
Will lead me on to Welwyn.

And when arrived beneath those trees
Secure from storm and felling,
The charms of beauty, friendship, ease,
All welcome me at Welwyn.

In other days, ere mute his tongue,
His Thoughts there Young sat telling:
Now I, although I am not young,
Fix all my thoughts on Welwyn.

His were but Night Thoughts, so they say,
But mine are more rebelling,
For though they're knight thoughts still by day
They're ever fixed on at Welwyn.

And when my sorrows and my grief
I seek to be repelling,
I always pray for such relief
As kindness gives at Welwyn.

Shall I implore those heathen dons
On high Olympus dwelling ?
No, faith; I’ll write to Mrs. Johnes
To ask me down to Welwyn.

THEODORE HOOK (1829).

. . . . and the city we have described being thus established in the speediest and easiest manner, it will both be happy itself and be of the greatest advantage to that people among whom it is established.

PLATO’S ‘REPUBLIC’

(click on the images to enlarge)

		On Handside Lane
		Cottages on Handside Lane Architect: Louis de Soissons, A.R.I.B.A., S.A.D.G.
		A quiet close off Handside Lane Architect: Louis de Soissons, A.R.I.B.A., S.A.D.G.
		A house facing the Green Architect: Louis de Soissons, A.R.I.B.A., S.A.D.G.
		A formal house and garden Architect: Louis de Soissons, A.R.I.B.A., S.A.D.G.
		A house in Canadian timber Architect: Bernard Parkes
		A house in the Welwyn Garden City red brick Architect: Louis de Soissons, A.R.I.B.A., S.A.D.G.
		A garden on Handside Green Architect: Louis de Soissons, A.R.I.B.A., S.A.D.G.
		Handside Close Architect: Louis de Soissons, A.R.I.B.A., S.A.D.G.
		A small house in stone Architect: Bernard Parkes
		The new town hostel Architect: H. Clapham Lander, F.R.I.B.A.
		A blending of old and new Architect: Louis de Soissons, A.R.I.B.A., S.A.D.G.
		At the corner of Handside Lane & Russell Croft Road Architect: C. M. Crickmer, F.R.I.B.A., and Allen Foxley, M.A.
		A house in High Oaks Road Architect: Louis de Soissons, A.R.I.B.A., S.A.D.G.
		The garden fronts on High Oaks Road
		A pair of Georgian houses Architect: Theodore Leake
		A house overlooking the valley Architect: Louis de Soissons, A.R.I.B.A., S.A.D.G.
		A semi-bungalow on High Oaks Road Architect: Louis de Soissons, A.R.I.B.A., S.A.D.G.
		A garden on the Green Architect: Louis de Soissons, A.R.I.B.A., S.A.D.G.
		Handside Lane
		Dellcott Close Architect: Hennell & James
		Meadow Green, off Handside Lane
		A living room
		A bed room
		A dining room
		A living room Architect: Louis de Soissons, A.R.I.B.A., S.A.D.G.
		A drawing room Architect: Louis de Soissons, A.R.I.B.A., S.A.D.G.
		A drawing room facing on to a south-east porch Architect: Louis de Soissons, A.R.I.B.A., S.A.D.G.
		An interior Architect: H. Clapham Lander, F.R.I.B.A.
		The Cherry Tree Restaurant in the woods Architect: Louis de Soissons, A.R.I.B.A., S.A.D.G.
		In the woods
		The Mimram
		At Digswell Water
		At Hatfield Hyde
		Handside Lane
		Lemsford
		A road skirting the wood
		The New Town Agricultural Guild The Cow-shed: for production of 'Certified' milk
		The Welwyn Garden City Stores
		The Welwyn Garden City Stores
		A part of the Welwyn Garden City Bookshop
		Printer's plate

(click on the images to enlarge)