The Albert Freeman Diaries - 1915
January 16th
Scots Hill meeting. - re use of Council Chamber by troops for lectures and writing.
Tyler at Dickinson Square disinfecting Tuberculosis shelter.
January 26th
Police called at 3.45 pm, orders not to light any street lights. Seeing Officer with soldiers obtaining trolleys for barricades, Money Hill, Rickmansworth Park, Scotsbridge, Batchworth.
(These are key entry points into and out of Rickmansworth)
Soldiers stationed at all these points to stop traffic – shop lights put out by order. Precautions taken in view of Zeppelin raid – rumoured fleet of airships seen on North Sea this afternoon.
January 27th
Soldiers arrived at 4 pm. Obtaining trolleys for barricades and seeing Police re stables for horses as Royal Artillery coming tomorrow.
January 28th
At Police Station, re storage of Artillery guns arriving today.
Dickinson Avenue, Saunders, new houses, re gas services and fittings.
(Saunders, most likely the builder)
260 men 204 horses of Royal Garrison Artillery arrived in afternoon.
January 29th
Royal Artillery left town at 9.30am for Chesham.
March 9th
600 soldiers 500 horses Royal Garrison Artillery, London Territorial, arriving today from Dover. Horses and guns in Rickmansworth Park, men billeted in town and Croxley Green.
April 20th
At Dorrofield's re case of overcrowding- measured rooms. Told her she must get a larger house.
(The Dorrofield family harvested the watercress beds from the River Chess. It is not clear which house Albert is referring to. As a large family they are known to have lived in the bungalow, Fishery Cottage, close to the river, attached to the remains of the original Pest House, as well as a cottage in New Road.
(Watercress Growers)
Scots Hill meeting. - re use of Council Chamber by troops for lectures and writing.
Tyler at Dickinson Square disinfecting Tuberculosis shelter.
January 26th
Police called at 3.45 pm, orders not to light any street lights. Seeing Officer with soldiers obtaining trolleys for barricades, Money Hill, Rickmansworth Park, Scotsbridge, Batchworth.
(These are key entry points into and out of Rickmansworth)
Soldiers stationed at all these points to stop traffic – shop lights put out by order. Precautions taken in view of Zeppelin raid – rumoured fleet of airships seen on North Sea this afternoon.
January 27th
Soldiers arrived at 4 pm. Obtaining trolleys for barricades and seeing Police re stables for horses as Royal Artillery coming tomorrow.
January 28th
At Police Station, re storage of Artillery guns arriving today.
Dickinson Avenue, Saunders, new houses, re gas services and fittings.
(Saunders, most likely the builder)
260 men 204 horses of Royal Garrison Artillery arrived in afternoon.
January 29th
Royal Artillery left town at 9.30am for Chesham.
March 9th
600 soldiers 500 horses Royal Garrison Artillery, London Territorial, arriving today from Dover. Horses and guns in Rickmansworth Park, men billeted in town and Croxley Green.
April 20th
At Dorrofield's re case of overcrowding- measured rooms. Told her she must get a larger house.
(The Dorrofield family harvested the watercress beds from the River Chess. It is not clear which house Albert is referring to. As a large family they are known to have lived in the bungalow, Fishery Cottage, close to the river, attached to the remains of the original Pest House, as well as a cottage in New Road.
(Watercress Growers)
Fishery Cottage, the home of the Dorrofield family. The cottage is on the site where the Pest House stood. Local residents with extremely contagious, infectious diseases could be isolated here to prevent the possible spread. The chimney stack to the left of the cottage shows part of the original structure.
May 7th
Lusitania sunk by German torpedo off coast of Ireland.
(A German submarine (U-boat) torpedoed and sank the British cruise liner Lusitania, travelling from New York to Liverpool. Of the 1,959 passengers and crew, 1,195 perished)
May 12th
Tyler and Barlow disinfecting Infants school Croxley Green.
(The school mentioned was in Yorke Road, both men are R.U.D.C. employees.)
May 15th(Saturday)
Lot Mead lock, Croxley lock and Common Moor, taking levels of river for Mr Smith, British Museum.
(Albert is by the River Gade and the Grand Union Canal. The British Museum referred to here is probably the Natural History Museum.)
May 19th
RA Brigade left today. (Royal Artillery)
May 20th
Tussaud's - re girls employed in Studio model making - measuring room.
(The Studio was in the grounds of the Tussaud family home in 17, New Road.)
June 2nd
170 men & horses of Royal Horse Guards came here for overnight. Men billeted in town (Rickmansworth). Horses on Rickmansworth Park.
(At this time Rickmansworth Park was privately owned by Mrs Julia Birch and the grounds and stables requisitioned for the war.)
June 10th
Wilbee's New Road- Slaughterhouse, found cow in lair in poor condition and arranged to inspect same when killed. Dickinson Avenue inspecting building.
June 20th
Tyler at Dickinson Avenue re new buildings for Clark Brothers. (Builder)
June 22nd
Tyler disinfected at New Road - case of Tuberculosis - removed to Sanatorium.
(There was a Sanatorium / Isolation Hospital at Holywell, West Watford.)
July 30th
Seeing Mr Charles Barton-Smith after Education Committee. Meeting as to boundaries of Urban District for National Registration purposes at Croxley Green.
(Charles Barton-Smith, Manager of John Dickinson paper mill)
Lusitania sunk by German torpedo off coast of Ireland.
(A German submarine (U-boat) torpedoed and sank the British cruise liner Lusitania, travelling from New York to Liverpool. Of the 1,959 passengers and crew, 1,195 perished)
May 12th
Tyler and Barlow disinfecting Infants school Croxley Green.
(The school mentioned was in Yorke Road, both men are R.U.D.C. employees.)
May 15th(Saturday)
Lot Mead lock, Croxley lock and Common Moor, taking levels of river for Mr Smith, British Museum.
(Albert is by the River Gade and the Grand Union Canal. The British Museum referred to here is probably the Natural History Museum.)
May 19th
RA Brigade left today. (Royal Artillery)
May 20th
Tussaud's - re girls employed in Studio model making - measuring room.
(The Studio was in the grounds of the Tussaud family home in 17, New Road.)
June 2nd
170 men & horses of Royal Horse Guards came here for overnight. Men billeted in town (Rickmansworth). Horses on Rickmansworth Park.
(At this time Rickmansworth Park was privately owned by Mrs Julia Birch and the grounds and stables requisitioned for the war.)
June 10th
Wilbee's New Road- Slaughterhouse, found cow in lair in poor condition and arranged to inspect same when killed. Dickinson Avenue inspecting building.
June 20th
Tyler at Dickinson Avenue re new buildings for Clark Brothers. (Builder)
June 22nd
Tyler disinfected at New Road - case of Tuberculosis - removed to Sanatorium.
(There was a Sanatorium / Isolation Hospital at Holywell, West Watford.)
July 30th
Seeing Mr Charles Barton-Smith after Education Committee. Meeting as to boundaries of Urban District for National Registration purposes at Croxley Green.
(Charles Barton-Smith, Manager of John Dickinson paper mill)
Lindiswara, the family home for Charles Barton-Smith, in the Watford Road, mill manager for the John Dickinson paper mill located near Common Moor, the Grand Union Canal and River Gade.
August 27th
Fatal accident on Scots Hill. Engine with trailer coming down lost control and young man on trailer killed.
Fatal accident on Scots Hill. Engine with trailer coming down lost control and young man on trailer killed.
Accident on Scots Hill, date unknown but shows how an unbalance load could lead to overturning on the steep gradient and bend on the hill.
September 24th
New Road, Croxley Green, re flooding of houses through stoppage or overflow of drain.
October 13th
Reported - Airship reported to be a Zeppelin over here tonight about 9.30pm. Heard it and some guns but didn’t see it. Reported to have dropped bombs at Hertford killing 7 people.
October 21st
Dickinson Institute meeting Mr Barton-Smith re alterations for converting Dickinson Institute into a Convalescent Home for wounded soldiers. (Voluntary Aid Department (V.A.D.)
Fosters, re prompt removal of manure from adjoining yard to Institute.
(Prior to Killingdown Farm on The Green, Joseph Ghost Foster kept a small dairy herd in New Road)
New Road, Croxley Green, re flooding of houses through stoppage or overflow of drain.
October 13th
Reported - Airship reported to be a Zeppelin over here tonight about 9.30pm. Heard it and some guns but didn’t see it. Reported to have dropped bombs at Hertford killing 7 people.
October 21st
Dickinson Institute meeting Mr Barton-Smith re alterations for converting Dickinson Institute into a Convalescent Home for wounded soldiers. (Voluntary Aid Department (V.A.D.)
Fosters, re prompt removal of manure from adjoining yard to Institute.
(Prior to Killingdown Farm on The Green, Joseph Ghost Foster kept a small dairy herd in New Road)
The Institute built in New Road, provided by the local John
Dickinson paper mill. It became a focal point for the village and was enjoyed by all the residents,
whether or not they worked at the mill. There was a hall at the rear for social occasions and in
the main building an opportunity to learn and develop new skills.
However, the crisis in Europe in WW1 led to many injured soldiers needing care and attention
and was proving too much for the General hospitals especially for the after-care and
recuperation. Suitable building were offered to the Red Cross to help and support them. These
were known as Voluntary Aid Detachment(V.A.D.)
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Joseph Ghost Foster, dairyman and his family lived in New Road and had a small herd of cows at this time.
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October 26th
Case of Scarlet Fever, Kerr's Dickinson Square. Tyler disinfecting.
November 3rd
Dickinson Institute, testing drains from new lavatories. Taking boiler ring for Dickinson Institute. Bringing back coppers from slots, in sidecar. (Albert’s motorcycle and sidecar)
Cassiobridge House re cesspool ACS there.
(‘Coppers’ = 1d, one penny, ‘slots’= meters)
Case of Scarlet Fever, Kerr's Dickinson Square. Tyler disinfecting.
November 3rd
Dickinson Institute, testing drains from new lavatories. Taking boiler ring for Dickinson Institute. Bringing back coppers from slots, in sidecar. (Albert’s motorcycle and sidecar)
Cassiobridge House re cesspool ACS there.
(‘Coppers’ = 1d, one penny, ‘slots’= meters)
Cassiobridge House occupied land at the lower part
of Croxley Green. The Croxley Danes school now occupies part of the original site
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Cassiobridge House occupied land at the lower part
of Croxley Green. The Croxley Danes school now occupies part of the original site
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December 1st
Called up by Police Inspector at 10pm, subsidence at Watford Road (Dickinson Square) Went to gas works to get lanterns & walked to Croxley Green with Inspector. Mr Coutts, Mr Huse and one other there besides Clark (builder) and P.C. Hagger. Told Clark today he's alright as watchman.
Home at 12.15am
(P.C. Hagger lived 252 New Road)
December 8th
Barlow called re subsidence in Dickinson Square.
(William Barlow [mentioned] a builder)
Called up by Police Inspector at 10pm, subsidence at Watford Road (Dickinson Square) Went to gas works to get lanterns & walked to Croxley Green with Inspector. Mr Coutts, Mr Huse and one other there besides Clark (builder) and P.C. Hagger. Told Clark today he's alright as watchman.
Home at 12.15am
(P.C. Hagger lived 252 New Road)
December 8th
Barlow called re subsidence in Dickinson Square.
(William Barlow [mentioned] a builder)
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1916 Diaries
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CLICK HERE for Albert Freeman Diaries 1917
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