Post Office in Draper's Shop: There were no banks in the town and we were so rustic that the post office was held in a draper's shop, and postal facilities were meagre compared with the present days; no telephone, parcel post or postal orders.

Stamps were postage only; revenue stamps had to be bought elsewhere.

The rural postman to Chorleywood and Chenies carried his letters; the Sarratt one, JC had a pony and cart, the Woodcock Hill postwoman, Mrs H; had a donkey and cart.

These rurals went out in early morning and returned in the evening to catch the outgoing mail, which was carried to Watford by a one horsed mail cart, a red box like vehicle on two wheels.

Formerly, during the summer months, many thousands of children came by train to enjoy a days outing in Moor Park, by the kindness of the owners, Lord and Lady Ebury, a most lovable early Victorian couple.

Other well-known residents in the mansion, 70 years ago, oft-times might have been seen driving in the town her attractive equipage consisting of a team of three beautiful donkeys and a light carriage.

Eventually a pair of ponies superseded the donkeys.

In the pleasure grounds was held the annual flower show of the Rickmansworth Horticultural Society and on one occasion, in her girlhood days, her Majesty Queen Mary visited the show with her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Teck.

One wonders if her Majesty, when she visited the Freemasons School for Girls at Rickmansworth Park a year or two ago, remembered that visit.

An interesting old photo of the neighbourhood shows the high trestle bridge that years ago, carried the towing path, and spanned the adjoining stream at Batchworth.

In the mid-distance is seen The Bury, and in the foreground two worthies of the town, L.E (fishing) and Len C.

May 6, 2003 13:30