Welham Green's Hope and Anchor will reopen

Talks underway to secure pub's future

The Hope and Anchor - August 2018
Image by the North Mymms History Project, released under Creative Commons

There had been fears that the Hope and Anchor on Station Road, Welham Green had closed, with rumours circulating on social media that the last pint had been pulled at the Grade II listed North Mymms pub.

But Ei Group, who own the building, have confirmed that they are not looking to close the pub, but are working with the current tenant to ensure the 19th century inn continues to serve beer as it has for 180 years.

North Mymms boundary then and now

Comparing the parish outline 100 years ago

The North Mymms History Project has created an interactive map showing the outline of the parish of North Mymms as it was in 1914, and the outline in 2018.

100 years ago, North Mymms stretched as far as The Forum in Hatfield and included parts of south Hatfield and Roestock.

Bulls Lane re-opens after large fly-tipping dump

Police move rubbish to side of the road

Fly-tipping along Bulls Lane, Sunday, November 11, 2018
Image by North Mymms News, released under Creative Commons

Police warning signs have been positioned either side of a large dump of fly-tipping along Bulls Lane between Bell Bar and Welham Green.

It's the second time rubbish has blocked the lane in as many weeks.

Silhouettes of North Mymms WWI fallen join service

Shadows on pews for 100th anniversary

Silhouettes at St Mary's Church

Image by Mike Allen of the North Mymms History Project

40 life-size head-and-shoulders silhouettes have been placed at the end of the pews in St Mary's church, North Mymms as part of the 100-year commemoration of the end of WWI. Attached to each of the black cutouts, designed to look like the shadow of a soldier, are details of servicemen from the parish who died during the 'Great War'.

Isabel Hospice appeals for fresh stock for charity stores

Charity's warehouse "trashed" overnight

Isabel Hospice shop in Haldens, WGC

Image courtesy of Isabel Hospice

Isabel Hospice says its appeal for the public's help to try to salvage warehouse stock damaged overnight has been met with such a good response that help is no longer needed at the Welwyn Garden City warehouse, "trashed" after a break-in.

However the charity says it now needs to replenish damaged stock, and has put out a fresh appeal for donations to sell in the local charity stores.

Isabel Hospice warehouse "trashed"

Charity appeals to public to help salvage stock

Salvaging stock from the Isabel Hospice warehouse
Image courtesy of Isabel Hospice

Isabel Hospice is appealing for the public's help to salvage warehouse stock damaged overnight.

According to the charity, its Welwyn Garden City warehouse was broken into, "water pipes trashed and our shop stock is being ruined".

Rare photographs of North Mymms pillbox

Wartime archaeology on private land

A type 24 pillbox in the fields of Boltons Park Farm owned by the RVC
Image by the North Mymms History Project released under Creative Commons

Standing in the corner of a field south of Hawkshead Road, Little Heath, with good views to the north, south, east, and west, is the only pillbox in North Mymms.

It's a type 24 box, and was part of the local WWII defences set up to protect London from invasion.

To the north and east of the pillbox is a dip in the land, formerly the trench that was part of the outer London anti-tank defence line.

Police target speeding drivers in North Mymms

Checks carried out in Welham Green and Little Heath

The speed warning sign on Bluebridge Road, Brookmans Park
Image by North Mymms News, released under Creative Commons

Recent speeding checks in North Mymms found that an average of 22% of motorists driving through Welham Green and Little Heath were travelling above the legal speed limit. Police say some offenders lived locally.

Officers have issued an invitation to local residents to volunteers in order to help catch speeding motorists. They say members of the public are "more than welcome" to help carry out their own speed checks using police equipment.

Then and now photographs spanning 100 years

Local history team digs deep in the archives

Hawkshead Road, Little Heath - left 1967, right 2018
Mix of photographs by R Kingdon (1967) and the North Mymms History Project (2018)
Montage by North Mymms History Project, released under Creative Commons

The North Mymms History Project (NMHP) has been examining how the Hertfordshire parish has changed since Victorian times by selecting images from its archives and comparing the scenes with modern day snaps of the same spots. And the results are fascinating.