This website was last updated on 25th June 2009 
WELCOME to the website for The Hemel Hempstead Local History & Museum Society. We are a friendly group of people who are all interested in the local history of the area, and look forward to the day when Hemel can have its own local museum.
We welcome all ages from youngsters still at school & college (we have special membership rates for students), to those at the other end of life’s scale. All that is needed is an interest in our local history – our heritage.
Membership varies from those who have undertaken detailed research into various aspects of our local history, to others who are simply interested in the past, and in particular in our own area. Several of our members have published books on aspects of our local history, whereas others are content to read the fruits of their studies.
The society has one of the largest specialist lending libraries of books in Hertfordshire, covering all aspects of the history & archaeology of this part of the county and also further afield. Books are free on loan to members.
We meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month, (excepting August & December) at the Carey Baptist Church Hall, Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead. Each month we welcome a speaker. Topics covered are varied and the talk is usually accompanied by slides or other illustrative material. Sometimes the speaker will bring along a small selection of documentation or ephemera to share with us.
Mike Stanyon giving a talk on Dickinson’s Transportation, June 23rd 2009
The details of the rest of our 2009 programme can be found by clicking here.
VISITORS AND NEW MEMBERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME.
MAY/JUNE'S
HERITAGE PICTURE:
A pair of 1875 12 n.h.p. Fowler Ploughing engines called PAPWORTH & RISELY at Woodwells Farm about 1914.
In the photo are JACK STEVENS at the rear, HARRY WYATT by the firebox, and BILL LENTON by the front wheel.
The registered Agricultural Machine Operators were Thomas & Joseph Orchard of Woodwells Farm, and they purchased the pair of engines in 1913. They had been running Agricultural Road Locomotives from Woodwells since 1906, and since they were the only registered owners in the district, it seems likely they loaned/leased them to other farmers in the area.
The above photo is from the archives of the Road Locomotive Society http://www.roadloco.org.uk/ and published here with their permission.
The photo below is one taken by Barbara Chapman in 1996 showing sad looking Woodwells Farm buildings
for comparison.
This site was last updated: 25th June 2009 
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