The Albert Freeman Diaries - 1927
January 1st
At Croxley Green housing site inspecting work.
January 4th
At Chairman's re cemetery site.
At Col Woolrych's re cemetery site, he suggested small holdings & adjoining land.
(It would appear Col Woolrych still does not approve of the proposed site in Loudwater Lane, and is suggesting an alternative site that would not be intrusive and passing his home. He could be suggesting the site off Lavrock Lane at the bottom of Scots Hill ?)
January 6th
At Small Holdings with Mr Cole re site for cemetery, fencing etc.
January 8th
Croxley Green housing site re lamps etc.
January 10th
At Croxley Green housing site re rough cast.
February 14th
New Road measuring for lamp posts.
February 22nd
At Horse Guards Gdns seeing Mr Clements re route of North Orbital.
February 25th
At new cinema re gas supply. Opened 12th March 1927
March 3rd
At Croxley Green housing site men rolling in gravel on roads.
March 12th
At opening of new Picture Playhouse - Mr Barton-Smith opened.
March 15th
At Croxley Green housing site re outside, distemper to pair affected by frost.
March 16th
At Croxley Green refuse site with chairman at demonstration of Rat Killing machine "Cyanogas"
(With the new housing sites now built, and the introduction of bins for the collection of household waste, there was a need for its disposal. In Croxley Green with much of its farming countryside undeveloped, sites were chosen for this purpose. Unfortunately, the waste containing food was attracting vermin and their eradication was needed urgently. Albert was investigating this.)
At Croxley Green housing site inspecting work.
January 4th
At Chairman's re cemetery site.
At Col Woolrych's re cemetery site, he suggested small holdings & adjoining land.
(It would appear Col Woolrych still does not approve of the proposed site in Loudwater Lane, and is suggesting an alternative site that would not be intrusive and passing his home. He could be suggesting the site off Lavrock Lane at the bottom of Scots Hill ?)
January 6th
At Small Holdings with Mr Cole re site for cemetery, fencing etc.
January 8th
Croxley Green housing site re lamps etc.
January 10th
At Croxley Green housing site re rough cast.
February 14th
New Road measuring for lamp posts.
February 22nd
At Horse Guards Gdns seeing Mr Clements re route of North Orbital.
February 25th
At new cinema re gas supply. Opened 12th March 1927
March 3rd
At Croxley Green housing site men rolling in gravel on roads.
March 12th
At opening of new Picture Playhouse - Mr Barton-Smith opened.
March 15th
At Croxley Green housing site re outside, distemper to pair affected by frost.
March 16th
At Croxley Green refuse site with chairman at demonstration of Rat Killing machine "Cyanogas"
(With the new housing sites now built, and the introduction of bins for the collection of household waste, there was a need for its disposal. In Croxley Green with much of its farming countryside undeveloped, sites were chosen for this purpose. Unfortunately, the waste containing food was attracting vermin and their eradication was needed urgently. Albert was investigating this.)
An advertisement by a company for demonstrating a Cyanogas system for killing rats. It is unknown which company Albert used.
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It would appear many councils and counties were experiencing similar problems which prompted them sourcing methods to control rats
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March 23rd
At Nuttfield seeing Mr Andrews re lodgers - none.
March 24th
Final meeting to select tenants for Croxley Green.
March 26th
Marlow in afternoon my father in law died this morning aged 87.
March 28th
Burial committee 6.30 re cemetery site.
April 7th
At Croxley Green housing site meeting Mr Kempster & plasterer re roughcast work.
April 12th
At Gonville Ave seeing various tenants re dustbins etc.
April 14th
Letters to tenants as to occupying 6 houses at Springfield Close.
April 16th
Annear went to Croxley Green to set out gardens on housing site. I called at Croxley Met Station on my way back from Watford, found barrier across entrance to Springfield Close erected by Railway Company.
April 26th
At Gonville Ave, Springfield Close, with Peddle re-fixing street name plates.
At Kinch's New Rd with MOH inspecting.
May 3rd
At Croxley Green New Road meeting Mrs Coxhill re widening near Croxley Station she agreed to give land if council provide & erect iron fence & rebuild wall on new line.
May 10th
At Met cottages Rousebarn Lane. Trench for new over flow drain nearly done.
May 19th
At Mr Little’s, re land for housing & cemetery on Col Woolrych's land.
At Sunbeam Cycle Co, Holborn Viaduct, meeting Nurse Carter re selecting cycle for Nursing Assoc.
May 24th
At Davis Gas Stove Showrooms Oxford St to see cookers.
June 10th
At Dickinson recreation, Croxley Green testing top length of main drain to new pavilion.
June 11th
New Road to see joints grouted in on drain to Dickinson pavilion.
June 13th
At Mrs Catesby's Highfield re cooker and gas fires.
June 21st
Wilson's house near Coach & Horses seeing concrete footings.
June 27th
Croxley Green meeting Baker re widening Dickinson Square to Red House.
Saw Darvill re widening in front of his shop he agreed.
July 11th
Scotsbridge - complaint from Lady Lacey as to smell in road - something broken off in sewer under bridge.
At Scotsbridge Mill re complaint as to white powder on water through Scotsbridge gardens - due to work repairing old floor at mill.
(This would be the River Chess that flowed through the mill)
At Nuttfield seeing Mr Andrews re lodgers - none.
March 24th
Final meeting to select tenants for Croxley Green.
March 26th
Marlow in afternoon my father in law died this morning aged 87.
March 28th
Burial committee 6.30 re cemetery site.
April 7th
At Croxley Green housing site meeting Mr Kempster & plasterer re roughcast work.
April 12th
At Gonville Ave seeing various tenants re dustbins etc.
April 14th
Letters to tenants as to occupying 6 houses at Springfield Close.
April 16th
Annear went to Croxley Green to set out gardens on housing site. I called at Croxley Met Station on my way back from Watford, found barrier across entrance to Springfield Close erected by Railway Company.
April 26th
At Gonville Ave, Springfield Close, with Peddle re-fixing street name plates.
At Kinch's New Rd with MOH inspecting.
May 3rd
At Croxley Green New Road meeting Mrs Coxhill re widening near Croxley Station she agreed to give land if council provide & erect iron fence & rebuild wall on new line.
May 10th
At Met cottages Rousebarn Lane. Trench for new over flow drain nearly done.
May 19th
At Mr Little’s, re land for housing & cemetery on Col Woolrych's land.
At Sunbeam Cycle Co, Holborn Viaduct, meeting Nurse Carter re selecting cycle for Nursing Assoc.
May 24th
At Davis Gas Stove Showrooms Oxford St to see cookers.
June 10th
At Dickinson recreation, Croxley Green testing top length of main drain to new pavilion.
June 11th
New Road to see joints grouted in on drain to Dickinson pavilion.
June 13th
At Mrs Catesby's Highfield re cooker and gas fires.
June 21st
Wilson's house near Coach & Horses seeing concrete footings.
June 27th
Croxley Green meeting Baker re widening Dickinson Square to Red House.
Saw Darvill re widening in front of his shop he agreed.
July 11th
Scotsbridge - complaint from Lady Lacey as to smell in road - something broken off in sewer under bridge.
At Scotsbridge Mill re complaint as to white powder on water through Scotsbridge gardens - due to work repairing old floor at mill.
(This would be the River Chess that flowed through the mill)
Scotsbridge Mill
July 15th
Called at Mr Dimmock's re position of swings in Recreation Ground.
July 16th
At Croxley Green recreation with Dimmock & Ragget re position of swings and as to allotments, cemetery site etc.
July 18th
Office Mr Cameron, Mr Cole, Mr Lomas called re cemetery site nr railway.
(On the 4th January Col Woolrych suggested moving the cemetery site to small holdings and adjacent land. The site mentioned indicates the allotments near Lavrock Lane, off Scots Hill close to the Metropolitan line between Rickmansworth and Moor Park. If this site were chosen to route all funerals taking place in Rickmansworth and Croxley Green they would not pass in front of Parrotts farm)
August 4th
Called at Neal & Wise re field for Croxley Green dump.
August 24th
New Rd measuring for position of lamps.
August 31st
At Croxley Green seeing Taylor re new street lamps near station.
September 5th
On plan of land Croxley back of allotments, and recreation ground, re site for housing and cemetery, through levels with Annear.
At Baths in evening.
(This would be in Ebury Road swimming baths where the Channel Swimmer & Amateur Diving Champions were giving displays. Nearly 700 people were estimated to be there for the event)
September 6th
At Mr Little’s office re land at Croxley Green for cemetery & housing site.
Discussing layout and levels.
September 16th
Heavy rains - New Road flooded. Annear called at Wades re same.
September 22nd
At Croxley Green meeting Col Woolrych re line of sewer near Coach & Horses & roadway in front of Copthorne Cottages.
September 23rd
At Garston Research Station with Annear - very interesting day.
(Originally based at Acton, West London, the Building Research Station [BRS] moved to Bucknalls, a large Victorian house surrounded by 38 acres of land near Watford/Gaston in 1925. Now the British Research Establishment it occupies that same site, although the area has been extended over the years it now covers all aspects concerned with the built environment.)
September 26th
Fish shop New Road re nuisance from smoke Gibbs tyre melting.
(Referring to Gibbs the blacksmith now New Road Service Station, the Fish Shop was next door)
September 29th
Went to Cranmore in Somerset with Mr Thornton to visit Roads Reconstruction Ltd – quarries. special train from Paddington.
(Albert was probably sourcing material for new local roads/ paving stone from the Cranmore limestone quarries near Shepton Mallet Somerset)
October 1st
Springfield Close inspecting various houses as to work required to finish.
October 3rd
Dickinson Institute, Health Lecture.
October 4th
Red House Croxley Green, meeting Major Thorpe (from Benskins) re removal of bank in front of garden asked for concrete retaining wall etc.
October 5th
Dickinson Institute, Welfare Meeting, Mothers Tea.
October 11th
Seeing SAB re cemetery sites & going through plans of suggested ones at Croxley Green & Mill End
October 14th
At Watford Road meeting Mr West & Mr Baker at Red House, re widening & arranging for concrete wall etc as required by Benskins.
October 25th
With Dr Clarke taking samples of water & cress from beds near Croxley Mills & by side of tow path Cassiobridge (near lock and houses)
At Small Holdings Baldwins Lane inspecting Wiseman's piggeries.
(The water referred to was the River Gade and culverted through the mill)
October 28th
Phoning Mr Abbott re plan of new road near Artichoke Croxley Green
(This road would be Green Lane)
October 31st
New Road flooded - Sewers full.
November 2nd
With Annear on plan of suggested housing site and cemetery site Croxley Green.
November 4th
With Nurse Dixon at wooden bungalows by canal re repairs required.
Annear disinfected one room at No 3 after TB.
November 12th
At Croxley Green Recreation Ground meeting Chairman & Mr Raggett re position of goalposts. Lamps New Road.
At Col Woolrych re roads across Common / Cemetery Site etc.
(Referring to The Green and Loudwater Lane)
November 22nd
Seeing Lovett re pruning trees Dickinson Square.
November 30th
At Croxley Green with Annear & Sansom taking samples of water & cress from beds near Croxley Mills.
(The John Dickinson paper mill was accused on several occasions of polluting the canal and River Gade from waste chemicals used in the paper processing and discharged locally. The River Gade was culverted through the mill.)
Called at Mr Dimmock's re position of swings in Recreation Ground.
July 16th
At Croxley Green recreation with Dimmock & Ragget re position of swings and as to allotments, cemetery site etc.
July 18th
Office Mr Cameron, Mr Cole, Mr Lomas called re cemetery site nr railway.
(On the 4th January Col Woolrych suggested moving the cemetery site to small holdings and adjacent land. The site mentioned indicates the allotments near Lavrock Lane, off Scots Hill close to the Metropolitan line between Rickmansworth and Moor Park. If this site were chosen to route all funerals taking place in Rickmansworth and Croxley Green they would not pass in front of Parrotts farm)
August 4th
Called at Neal & Wise re field for Croxley Green dump.
August 24th
New Rd measuring for position of lamps.
August 31st
At Croxley Green seeing Taylor re new street lamps near station.
September 5th
On plan of land Croxley back of allotments, and recreation ground, re site for housing and cemetery, through levels with Annear.
At Baths in evening.
(This would be in Ebury Road swimming baths where the Channel Swimmer & Amateur Diving Champions were giving displays. Nearly 700 people were estimated to be there for the event)
September 6th
At Mr Little’s office re land at Croxley Green for cemetery & housing site.
Discussing layout and levels.
September 16th
Heavy rains - New Road flooded. Annear called at Wades re same.
September 22nd
At Croxley Green meeting Col Woolrych re line of sewer near Coach & Horses & roadway in front of Copthorne Cottages.
September 23rd
At Garston Research Station with Annear - very interesting day.
(Originally based at Acton, West London, the Building Research Station [BRS] moved to Bucknalls, a large Victorian house surrounded by 38 acres of land near Watford/Gaston in 1925. Now the British Research Establishment it occupies that same site, although the area has been extended over the years it now covers all aspects concerned with the built environment.)
September 26th
Fish shop New Road re nuisance from smoke Gibbs tyre melting.
(Referring to Gibbs the blacksmith now New Road Service Station, the Fish Shop was next door)
September 29th
Went to Cranmore in Somerset with Mr Thornton to visit Roads Reconstruction Ltd – quarries. special train from Paddington.
(Albert was probably sourcing material for new local roads/ paving stone from the Cranmore limestone quarries near Shepton Mallet Somerset)
October 1st
Springfield Close inspecting various houses as to work required to finish.
October 3rd
Dickinson Institute, Health Lecture.
October 4th
Red House Croxley Green, meeting Major Thorpe (from Benskins) re removal of bank in front of garden asked for concrete retaining wall etc.
October 5th
Dickinson Institute, Welfare Meeting, Mothers Tea.
October 11th
Seeing SAB re cemetery sites & going through plans of suggested ones at Croxley Green & Mill End
October 14th
At Watford Road meeting Mr West & Mr Baker at Red House, re widening & arranging for concrete wall etc as required by Benskins.
October 25th
With Dr Clarke taking samples of water & cress from beds near Croxley Mills & by side of tow path Cassiobridge (near lock and houses)
At Small Holdings Baldwins Lane inspecting Wiseman's piggeries.
(The water referred to was the River Gade and culverted through the mill)
October 28th
Phoning Mr Abbott re plan of new road near Artichoke Croxley Green
(This road would be Green Lane)
October 31st
New Road flooded - Sewers full.
November 2nd
With Annear on plan of suggested housing site and cemetery site Croxley Green.
November 4th
With Nurse Dixon at wooden bungalows by canal re repairs required.
Annear disinfected one room at No 3 after TB.
November 12th
At Croxley Green Recreation Ground meeting Chairman & Mr Raggett re position of goalposts. Lamps New Road.
At Col Woolrych re roads across Common / Cemetery Site etc.
(Referring to The Green and Loudwater Lane)
November 22nd
Seeing Lovett re pruning trees Dickinson Square.
November 30th
At Croxley Green with Annear & Sansom taking samples of water & cress from beds near Croxley Mills.
(The John Dickinson paper mill was accused on several occasions of polluting the canal and River Gade from waste chemicals used in the paper processing and discharged locally. The River Gade was culverted through the mill.)
John Dickinson mill 1927
December 5th
At Dickinson Square - pruning trees. Dickinson Institute gas supply to Science Room.
December 14th
Seeing Mr Little with SAB re housing site & cemetery sites Croxley Green.
December 30th
At Boys School Croxley Green meeting Mr Barton-Smith & Rev Bisshopp re gas lighting & suggesting improved burners. Inspected burners Girls School.
At Dickinson Square - pruning trees. Dickinson Institute gas supply to Science Room.
December 14th
Seeing Mr Little with SAB re housing site & cemetery sites Croxley Green.
December 30th
At Boys School Croxley Green meeting Mr Barton-Smith & Rev Bisshopp re gas lighting & suggesting improved burners. Inspected burners Girls School.
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CLICK HERE for Albert Freeman Diaries 1926
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CLICK HERE for Albert Freeman Diaries 1928
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