Stanstead Abbotts Local History Society

Fella Andrews had the next shop. It was a cycle shop. He seemed to spend his time mending all sorts of cycles. I think he used to mend saddles for horses at one time, not sure about that.

It’s now Butlers motorcycles sort of the modern version really. Vyse the butchers were next. Sam Roland worked there and lived in Elephant lane. [Netherfield Lane]  Down the back there is the village club. Not been in there much so can’t tell you anything about that. Then there’s Bachelors Hall followed by the Pied Bull. They had horses with stables when I got here. The Kitteringhams used to run it.”

The Pied Bull as it appeared in 1926 the year Mrs Bright arrived in Stanstead Abbotts.

AT THE TOP OF THE HIGH STREET

“Then round the corner there’s the Mill. Jack had an extra job there. He operated the sluices and did some gardening. They had some nice gardens along the bank of the river [Mill Stream] near the Mill. Burts Glass opened in the 1930’s; did mirrors and all sorts of things in there. The building stood empty ages before Burts moved in. There used to be two little bridges for the Mill stream just there but they buried it all under the road. Better for traffic I suppose but it spoilt it. It was such a nice spot before.”

“The Clock House was another place that stood empty in the 1930’s; needed a lot of work to improve it. Had a large hall inside it once and used to be a school, penny a day they say; probably a lot then. Clock House Was empty for some time until somebody bought and did it up.”

Stuart Moye 2013