Memories of the 'mansion' (From Watford Observer)

Memories of Blackwell House, South Oxhey

11:07am Friday 22nd October 2010 in Memories By Michael Pickard

Blackwell House is the subject of a letter from Irene Voss, of Oakdale Close, South Oxhey.

She wrote: “In answer to recollections of the ‘mansion’ as we used to call it: “My mother was the cleaner for the doctors and nurses that worked there. There was Dr Trimmer and Dr Scott. I recall the doctors wearing white coats and stethoscopes hanging around their necks.

“I also recall a pink room and a green room. I think children played in one of the rooms, while the health visitors tended to the babies in another room.

“My mother would go out very early in the mornings, to lay and light the fires with wood and coal in all the rooms being used at the time, as this was the only form of heating in those days.

“I remember a huge staircase and a cellar (and, of course, mice).

“I also remember a row of bells on the wall, which many, many years before would have been used to call the servants.

“On South Oxhey Estate, all those years ago, there were two health visitors who lived in a house in Muirfield Road, near the cinder track. Their names were Miss Evans and Miss Whitman. The midwives lived in a house in Gosforth Lane and rode bicycles with their bags on the back.

“I was happy playing in the old farm buildings, which were still around then, and playing games in the street.

“My mum loved her job and went on to clean for the doctors and health visitors, even when they first moved to Oxhey Drive. She was loved by them all.

“Also, the mansion was used as offices for the planning of the estate. Behind the mansion was waste ground on which there were hostels where workmen lived, who were building the houses in which we live in now – Polish, Irish and Englishmen.”