Preston people 1952 - 1985 Part 1
The social mix of Preston residents changed during the thirty-three years between 1952 and
1985. Thirty-eight new houses were built, mainly along Butchers Lane, Church Lane and Back
Lane. All of these were detached homes and many were clearly designed for more the affluent
homeowner.
The social balance of local residents was only slightly redressed by the construction of
six new bungalows at Templars Lane, off Chequers Lane.
For the purposes of this article, the area researched is from Sootfield Green in the north; Hitchwood
Cottages to the south; Keepers Lodge, Kings Walden Road and Preston Hill Farm and its cottage to
the west and Bunyan’s Cottage, Wain Wood and Temple Dinsley Lodge and Poynders End to the
east.
The details that follow have been assembled from two main sources, notably snapshots provided by
the local electoral registers for the qualifying dates of 1952 (for Ippollitts), 1954, 1959, 1964, 1969,
1980 and 1985. However, the information from these registers is by no means complete – for
example, my aunts, Florence Sugden and Annie Wray were inexplicably missing on some of these
lists, though undoubtedly living in the village. If the reader finds any errors, please would contact me.
From 1952 to 1985, the adult population of Preston swelled from 195 to 267. (These figures exclude
the teaching staff at Princess Helena College). In 1952, there was but a scattering of houses to the
east of the village. Travelling towards Kings Walden along Church Lane after passing St Martin’s,
only Westleigh was to be seen until one passed the Keepers Cottage at Mayles Corner. The
Wilderness and Rose Cottage stood alone on Butchers Lane. Along the east side of Back Lane, only
Rosebank and Greenfields had been erected. Over the next thirty-three years, thirty-eight new,
private houses mushroomed at Preston – especially to the east of the village. Many were built by Bert
and Dennis Waller (Link: Waller). As a result, the social dynamic in the village changed dramatically.
In contrast, only six ‘social housing’ bungalows were built at Templars Close during this time.
Three homes along Church Lane were snapped up by employees of English Electric Company which
was based first at Luton and then at Stevenage. The Hollies cost £3,500 in the late 1950s.
Houses being constructed at Butchers Lane (left) and Back Lane
When and where the new houses were built at Preston between 1952 -1985
North-east Preston
Sootfield Green aka Pilgrims Plot
1952 - Derek W and Elisabeth Godwin (not there in 1956)
1956 - William, Samuel and Daphne Woods-Hill
1964 - Ian S, Kathleen M and Marijke Fossett. Ian only there in 1985.
Pond Farm
1952 - Harry Geoffrey, Harry Charles and Minnie Nunn (not there in 1954)
1954 - Frank Cooper (not in 1956) with Thomas E and Joan M Dancer (Thomas and Joan not there in
1959)
1959 - Robert J and Doris E Watson (not there in 1964)
1964 - Alice L Garratty and Florence M Manger (both not there by 1969 – moved to 1 Chequers
Cottages)
1969 - Ernest W, Richard and Kathleen Meyer with Olive F Pryke (Olive not there in 1980; joined by
Margot E Mayer by 1980). Ernest and Kathleen only there in 1985.
Castle Farm
1952 - Ronald B and Eileen C Foster
Herbert and Minnie Jenkins (not there in 1959)
1956 - Arthur and Eva L Howard (not in 1959)
1959 - John B and Hilda M Bartlett (Bartletts not there in 1969) and Arthur P and Hilary ME Dearmer
(The Dearmers not there in 1964)
1961 - January. Philip Howell or Hadell
1968 - April. Colin Kentish-Barnes
1969 - Ian D and Ann Clark. There in 1985.
Castle Farm - No 1 Cottage
1963 - September. Michael Brown
1964 - Michael J and Doreen Brown (not there in 1969)
1969 - Michael FJ Williams (not there in 1980)
1974 - November. John Tierney
1980 - Richard G and Janice C Small. There in 1985.
Castle Farm - No 2 Cottage
1959 - Horace S and Doreen L Jenkins (joined by Anthony J Jenkins in 1964)
1969 - Patricia A Jenkins
1985 - Mark A and Sarah-Jane Currell.
North-east side of Chequers Lane
Council Houses (for location, see Link: Chequers Lane Council Houses)
1951 - Clarice Bryan with Caroline Longley (Caroline not there in 1954) 5
Edna Burrows Richard and Kathleen M Jenkins (Edna not there in 1954) 8
George and Lilian Crawley (George not there in 1959; nor Lilian in 1964) 12
1954 – Clarice Bryan (Clarice there in 1985) with Denis C, Ethel L and Rose E Robinson (Ethel not
present in 1980; Denis and Rose only there in 1985) 5
Reubin G, Joyce E and Eva T Freeman (Joined by Robin in 1959, but not there in 1969; joined
by Peter R in 1969; Only Joyce and Eva there in 1985) 10
John and Lorna K Friel (John not there in 1956; Lorna there in 1985) and Frederick and Alice
Walker (not there by 1969) 6
Kenneth E and Evelyn J Hammond (Not there in 1980) 7
Richard and Kathleen M Jenkins (Richard not there in 1985; only Kathleen) 8
Francis M, Leslie AE and Raymond L Mardell (Carol A Mardell also present in 1964. No
Mardells there in 1969) 1
Arthur J, Reuben L, Maureen A, Maud and Alice M Palmer (Reuben and Maureen not there in
1956; nor were Arthur and Alice in 1959. Only Alice M Palmer present in 1980 and 1985) 4
Herbert Sharp (Not there in 1959) 11
Percy J and Lucy Sharp (Joined by Michael Sharp in 1964; no Sharps present in 1980) 3
William J, William H and Mary Woodhams (William H not there in 1964. Joined by Michael D
Woodhams by 1969; only William J and Michael there in 1985) 9
1959 - Alec A and Sylvia Currell (Joined by Jill S, Mark A, and Rachel K Currell by 1980 No Currells
there by 1985) 11
1959 - April. John Friel 6
1961 - September. Reuben Palmer 12
1964 - Reuben L and Maureen A Palmer (Joined by Richard L Palmer by 1980; Richard not there in
1985, only Reuben and Maureen) 12
1969 - Brian W and Gilian F Woodhams (Joined by Rachel A Woodhams by 1985) 1
1980 - Rosalind C and Robert D Welch. (Both there in 1985) 7
1980 - Sidney V, Gary, Lynn, and Jessie G Christmas (Sidney and Jessie Christmas only there in
1985) 3
1984 - January. Brunton 4
1985 - Martin S, Alan D and Barbara J Ephgrave 11
The wedding of Gary Christmas and Tracey Moore at St Martin’s, Preston on 20 July 1985
Rachael was the daughter of Brian W and Gillian
Woodhams. Jill and Joseph were married in
December 1980
Wayside (Location shown on right)
1958 - November. George Garner
1964 - George D and Joyce M Garner (Joined by Michael G
Garner
in 1969; no Garners there in 1985)
1985 - Elizabeth L Upchurch
(Elizabeth Upchurch was a graduate of the Royal Academy of
Music in London, England, where she won several prizes as solo
pianist and accompanist. As a music director, vocal coach and repetiteur she has worked in 21st-
century and traditional opera, music theatre and theatre. As a pianist she has performed all over
Europe and has been broadcast with the BBC, Norwegian Radio and the CBC.)
Sadliers End
1951 - John and Phyllis Hadfield
1954 - Harold F and Monica P Briggs (Not there in 1964)
1964 - Philip RN and Patricia I Kerr (Joined by Gregor R, Lorna I and
Verena P by 1980; only Philip and Patricia in 1985)
Slemish (right)
1980 - John Patrick. (There in 1985)
St Martins Field (below)
1980 - Stewart and Rosemary E McConville. (The
McConvilles had moved from The Laburnums, Preston
Green. They were still living at St Martins Field in 1985)
South-west side of Chequers Lane
Chequers Cottages
1952 - Elm Cottage. Henry J and Gertrude K Armstrong (Not there in 1964) Leonard T and
Eileen G Newell (Joined by Christopher J Newell by 1964 and Margaret A and Stephen J
by 1969; these three were not present in 1980) No. 6
Amos, Sarah and George Jeeves (Amos not there in 1954; nor Sarah in 1959; nor George
by1980) 3
Annie Margaret Peters (Not there in 1985) 2
Sidney and Louisa Smith (Louisa not there in 1969; nor Sidney in 1980) 4
Florence Sugden and Annie Wray (Florence not there in 1969; nor Annie in 1980) 5
Frank Leslie and Clarice Dent (Not there in 1959) (aka Police Cottage) 1
1964 - Mary Rutland (Not there in 1969) 1
1969 - Alice L Garratty and Florence M Manger
(Not there in 1985) 1
1980 - Harry and Doris Cook (Not there in 1985) 3
Marion G Pateman (Not there in 1985) 4
Andrew JS and Frances E Payne. (There in 1985) 5
1985 - Christopher and Susan G Raven Elm Cottage 6
Roger D and Judith A Broughton 4
Cyril J Hews and Daphne W Holder 3
Hugh B Davies 1
13 and 14 Council Houses (Link: 13/14 Chequers Lane)
1952 - Leonard C and Ada L Smith (Leonard not there in 1964;
nor Ada by 1969) 13
Herbert and Katie Hammond (Not there in 1954) 14
1954 - Percy and Dorothy R Bailey (joined by Agnes D Dobbs in 1964; who was not there in 980.
Percy and Dorothy there in 1985) 14
1969 - John W and Susan C Woodhams (Susan not present in 1980, but John W joined by Lynda
Woodhams. No Woodhams there by 1985) 13
1985 - Kenneth C and Peggy A Dunning 13
15 – 24 Chequers Lane, Swedish Houses (Link: Swedish Houses)
1952 - Annie G Harper (Not there in 1954) 16
1954 - Reginald T and Violet Kimber (Joined by Regina A and Gloria J Kimber by 1969, Thomas S
by 1980 and David by 1985. Reginald, Thomas, David and Violet there in 1985) 19
Arthur, William, Dorothy and Elizabeth Marlow (Dorothy not there in 1959; Lilian M
Marlow there by 1964 - Arthur and Lilian not there in 1969) 18
Jack and Margaret P Meadows (Joined by Ruth Meadows by 1964; who had left by 1969;
Jack not there in 1980, nor Margaret in 1985) 15
William and Patricia Reid (Joined by Philip and Peter W Reid and Maureen A Lucas by
1969; Donald, William and Patricia there in 1980; only William and Patricia there in 1985) 23
Douglas H and Winifred A Salisbury (Joined by Susan Salisbury by 1969 and Robert J by 1980;
Susan not there in 1985, though Douglas, Winifred and Robert still there) 21
William Frederick and Monica Walker (Joined by Leslie F Walker by 1969. All three there
in 1985. Joined by Deena Hammond in 1964; but she was not there in 1969) 22
Ernest and Violet Jenkins (Ernest not there in 1964. Violet there in 1985) 17
Paul Edwin and Alison M Murray (Alison not there in 1959; nor Paul in 1964)) 24
John Henry and Enid Joan Yallop (Joined by Colin by 1956; and Martin D by 1969) 16
William A and Harriet Chalkley (Harriet not there in 1969; William not there in 1985) 20
1961 - April. Shackleford 24
1964 - Alec R and Joy B Bond (Not there in 1985) 24
Harry Fox (Not there in 1969) 15
Douglas J and David W Crawley (Not there in 1969) 18
1969 - Annie G Webb (Not there in 1980) 16
1980 - Leonard C and Regina A Grosvenor-Brown. (Both there in 1985) 16
Malcolm D and Margaret A Newell (Not there in 1985) 18
1985 - Asterly J and Carol A Perry 24
John W and Lynda ER Woodhams 20
Guy J Ashton and Valerie Rivenell 18
Kevin J and Anne C Cadd 15
Jacqueline and Alan married on 8 July 1985 and Ann and Kevin in August 1985.
Above, l to r: Jack and Margaret Meadows at the wedding of their son, Peter, and
Lorraine Flack in the Spring of 1974
Templars Lane
1985 - Phyllis G Deller 1
Victor E and Evelyn P Barfoot 2
Gwladys E Harris 3
Alec R and Jean M Bond 4
Constance Harris 5
Doris V Brown 6
25 Chequers Lane (aka from 1977, Chequers Cottage)
1959 – Derrick and Patricia M Seebohm (Not there in 1980)
1964 - Alison P Cvitanovich (nee Seebohm. Not there in 1969)
1977 – April. Richard Beharrell
1980 – Richard WP and Heather W Beharrell. Joined by Miles AP Beharrell by 1985