Here's another wonderful building seeped in history situated close to where I live in Elstree. For several months, I worked as a temporary assistant in the catering section of Aldenham public school and got to know the layout of the main building. The masters would sit on a raised dais at the far end of the magnificent wood paneled dining hall to survey the well-behaved boys during their meal.
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www.hertfordshire-genealogy.co.uk Aldenham House, just south of Aldenham village and west of Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, has a long history dating back to the 16th Century. This red brick house, originally called Wigbournes, was built around 1672 for H.Coghill the Younger and extended in 1785 for R.Hucks the Younger.
It was remodelled in 1870-3 by A.Blomfield for Henry Hucks Gibbs, Lord Aldenham. He was a former governor of the Bank of England and one of the four richest men in England, with a fortune made from imported guano. He inherited Aldenham House in the year 1843. He found the house in a "neglected and somewhat dilapidated state". The Drawing Room had been used as a farm storeroom and Jacobean paneling in the entrance hall had been painted over.
It was remodelled in 1870-3 by A.Blomfield for Henry Hucks Gibbs, Lord Aldenham. He was a former governor of the Bank of England and one of the four richest men in England, with a fortune made from imported guano. He inherited Aldenham House in the year 1843. He found the house in a "neglected and somewhat dilapidated state". The Drawing Room had been used as a farm storeroom and Jacobean paneling in the entrance hall had been painted over.
www.aldenham.com In 1883 a clock tower and court room were added, death duties meant that the family could not afford upkeep and it was auctioned off. The house became a country club, catering for from Elstree film studios. In the Second World War the BBC used it as an overseas broadcasting station. It then remained empty until bought by the school, now called Aldenham in 1959, proclaimed to be one of the most beautiful traditional boarding and day schools in England.
www.cinemaretro.com The frontage and grounds of Aldenham House were used to film a number episodes of several iconic 1960s T.V. series. I worked in the catering section of the Elstree Film Studios long after The Avengers and The Saint were produced. Once voted the world's most handsome man, Roger Moore still pulls at my heart strings. My husband at that time looked just like Roger Moore--even to the cleft chin and hair.
But that's another story best left untold. Does anything in your past bring back bitter-sweet memories?
But that's another story best left untold. Does anything in your past bring back bitter-sweet memories?
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