Today's County in the Spotlight:Part 2

[NewcastleFalcon]

If you want to find out about stuff there is always someone who knows more about stuff than you.

So in troop this lot



Everything you wanted to know about Sopwell Priory but were afraid to ask, can be read and pictures looked at here.

Of course with the dissolution of the Monasteries in the 1530's you would expect nothing more than a site and a ruin or two, and that's what you get. The ruins are not the priory itself but later structures.

https://www.stalbanshistory.org/buildin ... ll-ruins-2

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

You may have seen this sort of thing in many churches. This one is in St Stephens Church, St Albans.
It is a Victorian replica of "The Dunkeld Lectern". Never mind the minor inconvenience of "thou shalt not steal", the original "Dunkeld Lectern" was plundered from Holyrood Abbey, in the fair City of Edinburgh

The story is covered in the article linked in the previous post.

During the so-called War of Rough Wooing, Richard Lee accompanied an English punitive expedition to Edinburgh in 1544. He returned to England with a knighthood and the Dunkeld Lectern, seized from Holyrood Abbey. Sir Richard Lee installed the brass lectern, in the form of an eagle with outstretched wings, in St Stephens church, St Albans. In November 1984, the lectern was taken from the church by a group claiming to be the ‘Seeds of the Gael’. Followed a protracted Anglo-Scottish dialogue involving several institutions and individuals, St. Stephens accepted the offer of a Victorian replica of the lectern in 1995, which is now to be found in the church. The original surfaced in Edinburgh in 1999, and was loaned by St. Stephens to the National Museum of Scotland, where it remains on display.

How kind of St Stephens...loaning their original 16th Century stolen goods from Holyrood Abbey back to Scotland

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

The Hertfordshire 1903-1974 Vehicle Registration Area codes

AR , JH, NK, RO, UR

Here's a NK from "Hatfield of my Youth Hatfield Hertfordshire 1950's and 60's"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSMNeeo_-Qs

REgards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Canterbury scene Prog Rock...if you like it you like it, and I do! Hatfield and the North

Regards Neil

[mickthemaverick]

When Bob and I were at primary school we had to walk to and from the school, mornings, lunch times and home time. In order to help pass the time we used to invent many make believe games, one of which was cops and robbers. The rules were very simple, each of us was a boss of a private detective agency, an idea copied from a TV program , and our duties were to make sure that all the robbers in our world were being closely shadowed by an agent from either of our companies. Basically the deal was that all robbers drove cars with 'RO' plates, Bob's agents had cars with 'AR plates and mine had 'NK' plates. UR plated cars were freelancers working for the police. JH were not involved at all.

So on each walk to and from school, and other times, we watched out for an RO car and as soon as one was spotted we looked for one of our cars. Whoever's agent was spotted first gained 1 point for either Bob or I. If a UR was spotted first we had to deduct a point each from our running scores as they had outdone our men!! You got a bonus point if your car was actually behind and following the robber!!

Interestingly at that time we had no idea that the letters represented Hertfordshire registrations, just that they were around in sufficient numbers to make our game work!!

[mickthemaverick]

This morning I had to go to town to get some Dominican Pesos for SWMBO's mate. They are off to Dominican Republic on Sunday and I have to get them to Gatwick for 07.30, what joy!!!

However it gave me the chance to take some pictures of Hertford on its county's very own day in the spotlight:

There is a dangerous arrangement of shops in the part of town where the bank and Money Matters, our currency exchange, are located. You can go to the bank for some cash, as Money Matters only accept cash, then literally it is only walk past one shop to reach the exchange. However as you will see there is a danger if you get preoccupied counting your newly drawn out funds and walk past two shops!!

Own work - My bank!!

and the two shops after passing the coffee shop:

Own work - two shops to take your cash!

[mickthemaverick]

I had to take the opportunity to show off our town centre for what it's worth!

To begin with a simple street map:

BFTW

After Covid these are the only three parking places for 30 minutes free parking:

The end of Fore Street

We have a nice selection of oldy worldy shops:

The florest in Market Street

And of course town centre pubs:

The White Hart

A small market with not much to offer:

The market at the end!!

One could almost think you were in France!

Our town fountain, not a public loo!!

Until you come across the town notice board:

Today's news!!

The town is largely pedestrianised with little or no access to vehicles other than deliveries etc:

You need your walking boots!

But we do have some notable buildings:

The Shire Hall (court house I believe)

The Corn Exchange

[mickthemaverick]

I've been doing a lot of virtual legwork to get the car numbers together:

I only managed to find two on the internet:

BFTW

BFTW

and then I turned to my bible which was quite productive:

From my Bible

From my bible

From my bible

But both sources failed to produce a UR, Oh well another bible listing I thought, and then I remembered somewhere I had this book:

From my book of Watford

and after a twenty minute search I found it lurking in a closed bookshelf! I opened it and began leafing through and Bingo!!:

From my Book of Watford

In case that is not too clear I zoomed in on the phone and took a screenshot of the zoomed picture:

Screenshot from above magnified

Ureka!! Mission Accomplished

[mickthemaverick]

So as the last mystery man I posted still remains unidentified I think it's time for another one:

So who is this and what is the connection to Hertfordshire?

BFTW

[NewcastleFalcon]

So as the last mystery man I posted still remains unidentified I think it's time for another one:

So who is this and what is the connection to Hertfordshire?

That's Nick Faldo, 6 time major winner, Born in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire.

regards Neil

[Rp0thejester]

I agree, thats Nick Faldo. Anyone done a Letchworth spotlight yet?

[NewcastleFalcon]

What's your favourite Hertfordshire Brew Mick



REgards Neil

[mickthemaverick]

Nothing on Letchworth so far but there is still time - post up your thoughts!!

[NewcastleFalcon]

Anyone done a Letchworth spotlight yet?

Lob anything in you want, Letchworth is in Hertfordshire and its Hertfordshire's day-ish in the spotlight today.

The counties are selected at random from the 92 Historic Counties of the United Kingdom and the random selection moves on until all 92 are covered.

So a few hours left to put up what you want about Letchworth or Hertfordshire in general. Anything goes. Quirkier the better.

REgards Neil

[myglaren]

Nick Faldo looks like one of Arnie's terminator brethren.