Topic ID 6121
I have just got a postcard on e-bay which I thought was an old photo of Bengeo House when it was a childrens home but now I have it I am not sure where it is. Can anyone indentify it it says Bengeo School, Herts House and Grounds and by the ladies dress I would guess c 1920 The strange thing is there seems to be a chapel in the background and I can't think of anywhere like that in Bengeo any ideas? I am fairly sure it is not Bengeo School that was next to the church as I went there and it didn't look like that or Duncombe which has a distinctive square tower. I did wonder about Millmead when it was Port Vale School but it doesn't look like Christ Church to me? Thanks to admin for adding the photo for me! [img]../images/forum/Bengeo School0916.jpg[/img]
Reply ID 82715
Is it where Vale House now stands with the Baptist Church in the background?
Reply ID 82716
quote:Ah now theres a thought was there a school there? Must check out the Baptist Church, not sure it has that sort of "chimney"? It is Bengeo just as it is over the bridge and I belive one of the boundaries between Hertford and Bengeo was the river.
Originally posted by Woody
Is it where Vale House now stands with the Baptist Church in the background?
Reply ID 82718
Interesting suggestion [img]../images/forum/baptist-church-excerpt.jpg[/img]
Reply ID 82719
The Baptist church as two "towers" and a small window above the main one and I don't think it hads been altered since it was built so probably not that one unless it is a different window at a different angle. http://www.hertfordbaptist.org.uk/ It could of course be a wrongly titled postcard I suppose!
Reply ID 82720
quote:Marilyn, I think that you will find that it is St Mary's C of E School in Tonwell, which is obviously still within the parish of Bengeo. http://www.tonwell.herts.sch.uk/ Quote: "Tonwell St. Mary’s was built in 1858 and now incorporates the building of St. Mary’s Chapel." [img]http://www.tonwell.herts.sch.uk/ http://www.tonwell.herts.sch.uk/ (This is a great website by the way [:)]) Quote: The modern parish church of Holy Trinity lies further west in the more thickly populated part of the parish. Tonwell, a hamlet on the road from Ware to Stevenage, has a chapel of ease built with the adjoining school by Mr. Abel Smith in 1857.
Originally posted by Marilyn
I have just got a postcard on e-bay which I thought was an old photo of Bengeo House when it was a childrens home but now I have it I am not sure where it is. Can anyone indentify it it says Bengeo School, Herts House and Grounds and by the ladies dress I would guess c 1920 The strange thing is there seems to be a chapel in the background and I can't think of anywhere like that in Bengeo any ideas? I am fairly sure it is not Bengeo School that was next to the church as I went there and it didn't look like that or Duncombe which has a distinctive square tower. I did wonder about Millmead when it was Port Vale School but it doesn't look like Christ Church to me? Thanks to admin for adding the photo for me! [img]../images/forum/Bengeo School0916.jpg[/img]
Reply ID 82722
Hadn't thought of Tonwell. It never occured that could ever have been called Bengeo School not Tonwell Scool will investigate that thanks. I have sent the picture to someone I know who is very involved with Tonwell School and the former Chapel /Church so they will know if it is there I am sure, will keep you posted!
Reply ID 82730
It is not Tonwell, I have had a reply from my contact who knows all about the history of Tonwell School and chapel and it never looked like that so back to the drawing board. The building at the back is certainly similar in style to the Baptist Church but I can't seem to find the exact window or angle for it so still not sure where it is.
Reply ID 82732
quote:I am sure that the chapel in your picture is the rear of the current picture of the school. A quick check on google maps even shows the side of the property next door and the sprawling grounds in your picture are probably now the A602. Of course, this is just a guess. [:)]
Originally posted by Marilyn
It is not Tonwell, I have had a reply from my contact who knows all about the history of Tonwell School and chapel and it never looked like that so back to the drawing board. The building at the back is certainly similar in style to the Baptist Church but I can't seem to find the exact window or angle for it so still not sure where it is.
Reply ID 82736
Could it be: HERTFORDSHIRE REFORMATORY FOR BOYS, CHAPMORE END, WARE, HERTFORDSHIRE. Certified 10th November 1857 for 50 boys at Bengeo, Herts. Re-certified 1st February 1901 for 80 boys, 1st October 1909 for 88 boys, 15th September 1910 for 100 boys and in 1916 for 125 boys. It became Hertfordshire Training Approved School from 1933 for 90 boys. Which is now The Dell/Courtyard Mews/Crouchfields.... I believe there is a converted chapel down there too and/or a converted coachhouse. Just a thought.
Reply ID 82738
quote:Dorothy Abel Smith is the one to ask [url]http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/Whats-On-Leisure/How-the-naughty-boys-came-to-Chapmore-End.htm[/url]
Originally posted by Rooster
Could it be: HERTFORDSHIRE REFORMATORY FOR BOYS, CHAPMORE END, WARE, HERTFORDSHIRE. Certified 10th November 1857 for 50 boys at Bengeo, Herts. Re-certified 1st February 1901 for 80 boys, 1st October 1909 for 88 boys, 15th September 1910 for 100 boys and in 1916 for 125 boys. It became Hertfordshire Training Approved School from 1933 for 90 boys. Which is now The Dell/Courtyard Mews/Crouchfields.... I believe there is a converted chapel down there too and/or a converted coachhouse. Just a thought.
Reply ID 82739
Two other schools which could be considered might be 1. The Duncombe School in Warren Park Road, (not sure about the chapel bit though), or 2. Danesbury School which stood at the other end of Warren Park Road. This was a Community Home with Education ( a bad boys school!) The original building was known as School House,and I seem to recall that the school had it's own Chapel. The school was demolished some years ago and is now the site of vey posh houses! I know a person who used to be on the staff of Danesbury, and I will make further enquiries.
Reply ID 82740
Buzz may be right with Danesbury. I havent got to grips with posting in a picture but if you have a Friends Reunited account you can search for Danesbury and on that page there are some photos posted. The main school building has definite similarities.
Reply ID 82741
I have checked the Danesbury photos and I think Buzz is right too.
Reply ID 82742
I have just spoken to my neighbour who was a senior member of staff at Danesbury School, and he can positively confirm that the photo is that of School House at Danesbury School, Warren Park Rd. He has a wealth of fascinating detail concerning the school. I will e-mail Marilyn with some further information.
Reply ID 82745
quote:Many thanks mystery solved. I remeber going to the swimming pool at Danesbury from Bengeo School but didn't remeber anything about the buildings. Buzz you have mail many thanks. Just for interest in 1901 it is listed as Danesbury a prep school and after much searching in 1911 it is called "Bengeo College" .........
Originally posted by buzz
I have just spoken to my neighbour who was a senior member of staff at Danesbury School, and he can positively confirm that the photo is that of School House at Danesbury School, Warren Park Rd. He has a wealth of fascinating detail concerning the school. I will e-mail Marilyn with some further information.
Reply ID 83541
Could be duncombe school?
Reply ID 83542
quote:We've confirmed it's Danesbury School [:)]
Originally posted by Mek Mek
Could be duncombe school?
Reply ID 85585
I just want to say thank you to the forum as through this I have been contacted by two people one who now lives where the school stood and one who was a pupil there. Between them we have managed to sort out where things were in relation to what is there now and positively identify the photo that stated this with more details of where the buildings were, chapel was etc. and also some other photos of various parts of the School. I am hoping the museum may be interested in keeping a copy of this info for other peoples ref in the future
Reply ID 94168
Again I know its old but been doing a bit more on Danesbury /Bengeo College when fist built as a prep school it was not as I though linked to Haileybury but a lot of the pupils went there.
Reply ID 94170
Hi Marilyn, Can you please confirm which school this is in Warren Park Road. Is it 'Miss Bees School' at the Port Hill end or the old school where they are building the new houses The Spinney.
Reply ID 94172
quote:See four posts up
Originally posted by Linda
Hi Marilyn, Can you please confirm which school this is in Warren Park Road. Is it 'Miss Bees School' at the Port Hill end or the old school where they are building the new houses The Spinney.
Reply ID 94174
Danesbury was at the end of Warren Park Road where the new houses are now. The oval that the road goes round was the school cricket ground. Duncombe is still there the other end was possibly known as Miss Bees although it was started by Miss Lily Taylor in what had been a private house Danes Hill. The Danes and their port have a lot to answer for!
Reply ID 94179
Miss Taylor was my form mistress in Form 3. She had a reputation for being very strict.
Reply ID 94180
Interesting pictures and names of pupils and staff here http://www.friendsreunited.co.uk/danesbury/b/0e548be3-124d-495a-af14-120ebb985035
Reply ID 94188
quote:Thanks James yes I have seen some of those but there are some new ones on there. They are from when it was an approved school. Also been in touch with someone who was a pupil at that time. I am interested in who built it c 1871 now I have found out it wasn't Haileybury! More searching through records and newspapers at HALS I think!
Originally posted by James007
Interesting pictures and names of pupils and staff here http://www.friendsreunited.co.uk/danesbury/b/0e548be3-124d-495a-af14-120ebb985035
Reply ID 94189
quote:Ah ...............she started by looking after the children of the headmaster at Hertford Grammer school. As the number of children grew it moved a few time from Hertford to Westfield Road and then to "Danes Hill". I remember Miss Taylor as she also lived in Bengeo and got mixed up with my grandmother a lot who was Mrs Lily Taylor! Miss Taylor had no formal teacher training! Sorry off topic!
Originally posted by Steve
Miss Taylor was my form mistress in Form 3. She had a reputation for being very strict.