In the village of Wheathampstead stands The Swan public house, a listed building, which means strict rules apply with regard to structural alterations. Unfortunately in 2013 a fire broke out engolfing the roof, which necessitated the public house closing until restoration work can commence. To enclose the building a hoarding was erected, which looked rather drab, so with the help of a resident artist the children of the village painted these murals which depict well-known people who have lived locally. See if you can look them up on wikipedia and read their history.
The Wheathampstead Local History Society recently held an exhibition in the village hall depicting the changing face of the high street over the past 100 years. There were very many pictures of local village life in past times. The picture of the motor car is a Lanchester 28 horse power travelling through Wheathampstead. I hope you can just about read the history of it but the flash from the camera obscures part of it. One picture is of fairy cakes with the letters spelling out "Wheathampstead." The mayor of the city of St Albans, Annie Brewster, who lives near the village, opened the proceedings seen here with some old chap, who is he? Might be a cyclist! PS: What an attractive mayor!
A very wet and miserable January day gave me a chance to look back at previous pictures from my blog. This one is a steam engine which, among other uses, was used on compacting newly laid road surfaces. Various other models were used, with cables attached to pull ploughs across fields instead of using a horse and plough. Another use was to thrash the corn at harvest time. Being of an advanced age I remember them well.
