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…

The 800^th anniversary of St Peters Church dominated the year. As part of their celebrations the Society organised three excellent and popular talks in the church, including by Julian Hunt and Christopher Green. May also saw the installation of a short 10 minute film about the heritage of St Peter’s, assembled and  organised with great skill by James Moir. This was played on a loop in the south transept, and the church found this, and the Society’s large pop-up banners, so popular that it requested the film remain all year.

For future historians to enjoy, a separate video was made recording some of the “once-in-history” 800^th celebratory events during 2022, and we thank retired local filmmaker Barney Greenwood for his skilled production. It is now available to view here.

BLH&MS talk on Wed 18 Jan 2023 at 8pm in the Wellcome Great Hall, Town Hall Berkhamsted. Visitors are always welcome @ £3 at the door.

This month it’s “Grand Junction Canal – later Grand Union Canal” by Julian Hunt.
The canal at Berkhamsted…

Society books are now available in the local books section at the Way Inn book shop at the rear of the Post Office.

BLH&MS talk on Wed 21 Dec 2022 at 8pm in the Wellcome Great Hall, Town Hall Berkhamsted. Visitors are always welcome @ £3 at the door. As this is the Christmas meeting, there will be free wine and nibbles.

This month it’s ‘Poles Apart: Polish radio experts who worked in Gade Valley during WW2’, by Roger Yapp.

BLH&MS talk on Wed 16 Nov 2022 at 8pm in the Wellcome Great Hall, Town Hall Berkhamsted. Visitors are always welcome @ £3 at the door.

Trent Park Home of the Secret Listeners by Helen Fry.