Cuffley Brook - Ponsbourne Park
Cuffley
Brook
Cuffley Brook rises in this area and flows southwards towards the River Lee
Post to the east Wormley Woods
Post to the south Newgatestreet
Newgate Street
St.Mary’s Primary School. This is a Church of England Voluntary Controlled School, founded in 1847.
The original
buildings remain plus a new classroom. The schoolhouse is used for offices and
library.
The Crown
Catsford Cottage. 17th house in brick
St.Marys Church. Stone church built in 1848 and originally called St Mary's Tolmers and then St Mary's Hatfield. Steeple added 1858. Inside is an elaborate carved pulpit
The Coach and Horses. 18th pub building.
Ponsbourne Manor house. Built 1887 and now flats. Ponsbourne was part of the manor of Hatfield and it is the name of a local medieval family.
Ponsbourne Riding Centre
New Park Road
Newgate Street Village Hall. Built in the 1960s on land bought for the purpose in 1935
Ponsbourne Park
The Warren – area of woodland
Old Ponsbourne House. demolished in 1761 and originally built in the 15th.. / The foundations are said to lie below the present house on what was a football field. In 1539 the owner, Sir Adrian Fortescue, was beheaded on Tower Hill for refusing to recognise Henry VIII as Head of the Church. This is why the Catholics took it over as a school and called him Blessed Adrian Fortescue,
Ponsbourne House, big pale brick mansion built in 1761. After the Second World War it became St Dominic’s Priory School. It later became Tesco’s Management Training Centre. And now is a hotel run by the de Vere Group. Fernery in the basement was built by Pulham in 1858 used as a chapel when the house was a school. The fernery was re-erected at Capel Manor in Enfield. The pools and stream associated with it remain in the grounds of the hotel. The Doric Temple on the side of the house is said to have been built as a dairy
Walled Garden. This also uses some Pulham stone and includes gate posts
Grave yard. Used by the nuns
Golf Course
Lake – was formed by damming the stream which eventually becomes Cuffley Brook
The Lodge –keepers cottage deep in the woods
Cuffley Brook rises in this area and flows southwards towards the River Lee
Post to the east Wormley Woods
Post to the south Newgatestreet
Newgate Street
St.Mary’s Primary School. This is a Church of England Voluntary Controlled School, founded in 1847.
The Crown
Catsford Cottage. 17th house in brick
St.Marys Church. Stone church built in 1848 and originally called St Mary's Tolmers and then St Mary's Hatfield. Steeple added 1858. Inside is an elaborate carved pulpit
The Coach and Horses. 18th pub building.
Ponsbourne Manor house. Built 1887 and now flats. Ponsbourne was part of the manor of Hatfield and it is the name of a local medieval family.
Ponsbourne Riding Centre
New Park Road
Newgate Street Village Hall. Built in the 1960s on land bought for the purpose in 1935
Ponsbourne Park
The Warren – area of woodland
Old Ponsbourne House. demolished in 1761 and originally built in the 15th.. / The foundations are said to lie below the present house on what was a football field. In 1539 the owner, Sir Adrian Fortescue, was beheaded on Tower Hill for refusing to recognise Henry VIII as Head of the Church. This is why the Catholics took it over as a school and called him Blessed Adrian Fortescue,
Ponsbourne House, big pale brick mansion built in 1761. After the Second World War it became St Dominic’s Priory School. It later became Tesco’s Management Training Centre. And now is a hotel run by the de Vere Group. Fernery in the basement was built by Pulham in 1858 used as a chapel when the house was a school. The fernery was re-erected at Capel Manor in Enfield. The pools and stream associated with it remain in the grounds of the hotel. The Doric Temple on the side of the house is said to have been built as a dairy
Walled Garden. This also uses some Pulham stone and includes gate posts
Grave yard. Used by the nuns
Golf Course
Lake – was formed by damming the stream which eventually becomes Cuffley Brook
The Lodge –keepers cottage deep in the woods
Comments
I remember us walking down to the Convent, for Mass, Benediction, and our meals.
Do you recall the Chapel, with the Rockery & Goldfish ?
I also went back there, in 90's, only to find.....
Does anyone remember my parents, Bill and Elsie Manning?
I often went to bed with wet sheets ,as I was too terrified to ask for dry ones. Sister Oliver was the biggest culprit of the lot.I remember her distinctly for her bad temper and terrifying presence,hairs grew from her chin. The only ray of sunshine was Fr,Lee.I remember he had a burned and scarred hand, but he was a delight to me.My name is Michael Hilderbrand I am now in my 78th year,the awful memories of those awful Nuns I will never forget or forgive.
If you were Irish you stood a chance,but some of my colleagues and myself who were English were targets for their unfair wrath, terrible treatment and unfairness.
If this happened today they would be locked up .
The Dominican Order should be held responsible for this shabby and cruel treatment.This was supposed to be a good Catholic Education,receiving examples of good behaviour from devout Sisters of God.
I was a very badly traumatised boarder, 1950-1956
Michael.
Late 1940’s and into the 1950’s. Although the nuns were strict I do not remember any cruelty. Indeed they would get me ready on some occasions early in the morning before a chauffeur driven car would collect me to be driven to the nearby film studios where I had bit parts in a couple of films including the Hitchcock film “Stagefright” with Marlene Dietrich, Michael Wilding and Richard Todd. I remember another boy there called Paul, who lived in Hampstead, and a girl, Mary Warmerdam, I think her surname was. I will be 80 in a weeks’ time! I then went to Stonyhurst College and then became a barrister.
Nick Valios K.C.
I read your comment with interest,I also remember Mary Warmerdam.I have listed a couple of posts on this site
My name is Michael, Michael Hilderbrand,My treatment at the school I have mentioned in a couple of posts above.I was traumatised by my experience at the school.Do you remember any of the following.
Peter Jones, he joined me at St. Michael’s College, Hitchin.Also John Mc Goldrick,Paddy Power, Michael Power, Freddie Brown, I am now 79.
Keep Well Regards.
Was there from 52 to 54 with my very young bro Paul. He was in infants. I was a senior and I think I was in St Patrick's.
I remember Sister Oliver very strick and
Father Lee a very nice man.
Now reading the book about it The Veritas Years. About 8 years after I left. Interesting reading. Stayed there for a week with another boy at Easter to be alter boy for Easter. We were unsupervised most of the time and roamed all over the whole area. Very mixed feelings about the place.Parents has no idea of what it was like. Glad Paul left when I did.
Was there with very young bro Paul from 52 to 54
Remember Sister Oliver FrLee very nice man. Very mixed feelings about the place glad bro Paul left when I did
Reading the book the Veritas Years was 8 years after we left but interesting reading. Brings back lots of memories.