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

Hertfordshire - The County Handbook
An Illustrated Review of the Holiday, Sporting and Industrial Amenities of the County

Author: Frances M Brockhurst, L.R. Drage, Reg. Cannon, edited by H. E. O'Connor

First published: 1940 (*approx) by Ed. J. Burrow & Co Ltd, Cheltenham and Strand, London.

Format: Paperback 10" by 7½" with 52 pages

(* I am guessing the date of publication because there is no indication in the guide. There is a reference in one of the articles to municipal buildings being opened " as recently as 5th January 1940". Also there is a small note glued to a page near the front which says in red "NOTICE Times, charges, general arrangements, etc., are subject to possible war-time revision")

The handbook is quite stylish, is printed on cream paper, and is illustrated by 29 clear and atmospheric photographs. The ones relating to Welwyn Garden City are reproduced below, together with some of the advertisements in the guide.

The handbook is in the following sections:

• Foreword - Brig. Gen. The Viscount Hampden
• Holidays in Hertfordshire - Frances M. Brockhurst
• Sport in Hertfordshire - L. R. Drage
• Commerce and Industry in Hertfordshire - Reg. Cannon
• The Chief Centres of Interest in Hertfordshire (anon), which has separate sections on:
  
  
  • Barnet
  • Berkhamstead
  • Bishop's Stortford
  • Broxbourne & Hoddesdon
  • Bushey
  • Cheshunt
  • Harpenden
  • Hertford
  • Hitchin
  • Letchworth
  • Radlett
  • Rickmansworth
  • St Albans
  • Ware
  • Watford
  • Welwyn Garden City

There is a road and rail map of Hertfordshire inside the front cover.

(click on the images for a better view)

 Advertisement for Ordnance Survey

 The Welwyn Viaduct

This is the lane down which I walked from my house in Digswell Road under the viaduct to the riding stables at Digswell. I think that the vehicle in the picture is an electric milk float. The lane is now subsumed into the Knightsfield housing estate.

 The Shredded Wheat factory

 The premises of Welwyn Garden City Laundry Ltd

 Advertisement for Shredded Wheat

 Guessens Road, Welwyn Garden City

 Shops and offices in Howardsgate, and the Howard Memorial.

 Advertisement for Arthur J. Howard, Estate Agent.

 Advertisement for Welwyn Stores.

The new Stores building (now occupied by John Lewis) had only recently been opened (1939) replacing the original Stores on the opposite side of Parkway.

(click on the images for a better view)