Could you be the BALH Local History Photographer of the Year?

Your chance to take part in our 2023 quest to find some great local history images from around Britain.

This year’s theme is “Up my street”, where we would like to see your view, around where you live, work or study, within the context of local history. Your image could focus on a street view, a building, some street furniture or some little details on a wall or the ground.

The competition is open to all. You do not need to be a member of BALH to take part. We actively welcome submissions from anyone interested in local history, from across Britain.

Click here for more information.

New! History book published by Chris Hewitt about the development of engines in the 1900s for motorbikes and early aircraft by the Burney brothers of Durrants Farm in Northchurch, who worked with a young Geoffrey de Havilland. There also a connection with Charles Southey, who ran a motorbike building shop in Berkhamsted.

The Origins of the Blackburne Motorcycle Engine by Chris Hewitt (20 pages, illustrated) is available to order, price £5.50 + £2.50 P&P. Send a cheque for £8.00 made payable to Mr C.D. Hewitt to: Chris Hewitt, 1 Coleswood Road, Harpenden, AL5 1EF.

Come and celebrate Berkhamsted’s architecture and culture at this year’s Heritage Open Days

This year’s HODs will be between 8 and 17 Sep 2023
Click here for HODs 2023 pdf file
Click here for details on HODs website

All events are FREE, but places are limited and must be booked via Eventbrite.

Between May 1969 and June 1970, Percy Birtchnell, writing as “Townsman” but also known as “Beorcham”, offered his readers the chance to combine exercise with an appreciation of the countryside with his popular series of local walks. So popular were they that pages were torn out of the Berkhamsted Review so that walkers could take his instructions and maps with them. That’s how we are missing walks 3, 4 and 6 (let us know if you find them).

So if you need to get some steps in, try Beorcham’s Walks!

The Society has created a display in the Civic Centre. You can view a video explaining how the town celebrated for Edward VII, George V and George VI. There is a photograph display explaining how the coronation day was celebrated for Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Let us know if you recognise any one in the Street Party photographs. Pop in any time between 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday. The show will be up for a few weeks to come yet.

Writing as Beorcham, local historian Percy Birtchnell produced articles for the Parochial Review and Berkhamsted Review from Jul 1941 to his Memoriam article in Apr 1986.

Around about 2017, Bill Willett took on the task of scanning these articles so as to make them accessible to everyone, rather than hidden in the depths of local museums and libraries. They are available on this website and here is a searchable index. Then, as with all searchable pdf files, just use control-F to bring up the search box.

Beorcham’s first words for the Review in 1941… “Isn’t it just like Berkhamsted to hide its most picturesque building behind a row of shops? The Court House is so old that no one can safely estimate its age. It was often the scene of great parish feasts, where oxen were roasted whole.. the turner of spytys (spits)… received the princely sum of – twopence!”

A word of warning – it is possible to spend hours just meandering through Beorcham’s world!

BLH&MS talk on Wed 15 Mar 2023 at 8pm in the Wellcome Great Hall, Town Hall Berkhamsted. Visitors are always welcome @ £3 at the door. This talk preceded by AGM.

Dr James Moir sends his apologies that he is no longer able to appear in person to deliver his talk entitled “Castle Street Crawl”.

However, BLH&MS is delighted to announce they have secured the services of Mr Henry Nash (aka the Grand Old Man of Berkhamsted). He will be talking on the subject, we believe, in much greater depth, having lived in the Street for far longer…

The Way Inn is having a re-fit so our local books have been removed temporarily. However, there is a new bookshop in town. The Berkhamsted Bookshop has taken delivery of our books and you can’t miss them as they have been arranged at the front of the shop.

Due to technical problems we have had to cancel tonight’s Talk by Des Turner at the town hall. Sorry for the short notice. Mary Casserley. BLH&MS Chair.

BLH&MS talk on Wed 15 Feb 2023 at 8pm in the Wellcome Great Hall, Town Hall Berkhamsted. Visitors are always welcome @ £3 at the door.
This month it’s “The Special Operations Executive” by Des Turner.
The Secrets of Station 14: Briggens House, SOE’s Forgery and Polish Elite Agent Training Station…