Memories of Mr. George Frank Burton
Interviewed: 3 October 1984
Born: 7 January 1902
Father: Frank Burton
Mother: Maria Burton (née Wilson, from Shillington)
George Frank Burton, born in 1902, was the son of Frank and Maria Burton (née Wilson). His family’s roots in the area ran deep, tracing back to his grandfather who came from Kimpton. The elder Burton had been hired at one of the great country hiring fairs to work at Walnut Tree Farm, Pirton, and later married a servant from Highdown — a Miss Catterall. Though he could not read or write, his hard work established the Burton family in local farming life for generations to come.
Frank Burton, George’s father, lived along Hexton Road and walked daily to the British School in Hitchin. He was married three times, and George was one of two children from his first marriage to Maria Wilson, who died in 1906. The family lived next to Kate Francis, another familiar village name.
School Days
George began school in Pirton on 1 October 1906, at the age of four. His first teacher was Miss Tapscott, whom he remembered fondly. Lessons were simple and practical, and the infants played with sand and on the seesaw in the playground. Later teachers included Miss Prutton. George said he “didn’t mind school,” suggesting a straightforward, contented attitude to his early education.
The school playground was gravel, and games were often improvised. Football was played with a tennis ball, and in summer the children enjoyed games of cat and stick in the road, or spinning whips and tops. These simple diversions filled the days of village childhood before organized sport and formal playgrounds became common.
Village Pubs and Local Characters
George’s recollections painted a vivid picture of the village’s social life. In his youth, Pirton had no shortage of public houses, each serving as a small community hub. Among them were:
– The White Horse now The Motte and Bailey
– The Cat and Fiddle 7 Great Green
– The Red Lion 5 Crabtree Lane
– The Old Royal Oak 26 Royal Oak Lane
– The Shoulder of Mutton (on Hambridge Way, which burned down in 1927)
– The Blacksmiths Arms 71 High St
– The Fox
– The Live & Let Live,31 High St where George himself was brought up and which he later ran from 1933, alongside managing Burge End Farm.
Beer cost 4d a pint in 1933. The licensees were often well-known local families. Ted Titmuss, for example, was the landlord of the Blacksmiths Arms — and also the village barber, charging two pence for a haircut.
Shops and Trades
Pirton in George’s time was largely self-sufficient. The village supported several bakers, grocers, and tradespeople:
– Bob Walker’s bakery at 1 Holwell Rd
– George Kingsley’s at 21 Royal oak Lane
– William Gurney’s shop at Cromwell Cottage High Street , where he would hand out small rolls to the village children
– Thomas Ashton’s, at 1 Shillington Rd
– Frank Walker’s shop (Ted Walker’s father) at 28 Shillington Rd
– Andrews’s (1 High Street) for groceries and general goods
– Albert Walker’s 14 Great Green, also a shopkeeper
– Westwood’s at 51 High St, selling socks, thread, and other haberdashery items
Deliveries were common. Edwin Wilshire, for example, fetched flour from Bowmans Mill in Hitchin to supply all the Pirton bakers.
Farming and the Land
George’s grandfather had once owned three farms — Burge End, Hammonds (formerly Kingsley’s), and Mangrove (over Stanford Way). Eventually, financial hardship led to bankruptcy, though Burge End survived by being held in George’s name. It had previously belonged to a man named Lake before 1900.
Farming traditions were strong in Pirton. Highdown Farm was among the first in the district to own a binder — introduced around 1899–1900 from Hinseys of Hitchin. Phil Crawley, Doug Crawley’s grandfather, was the only one trusted to drive it. Walnut Tree Farm was farmed by the Coxall family until 1911.
George remembered the old droving days. Bob Kingsley would buy flocks of sheep in Scotland and walk them back to Pirton — a journey of three weeks. It was an era when men and animals travelled on foot and local trade depended on endurance and trust.
The land was used for mixed farming — cattle, sheep, and pigs, along with arable crops such as mangolds, potatoes, Brussels sprouts, corn, barley, beans, oats, and peas for livestock feed.
Village Life and Change
The early 1920s brought visible change to Pirton. In 1922, buses began running, started by Amanoola. Shepherd. At first, they were little more than lorries with canvas tops and wooden benches for passengers. Seats were fitted only when needed.
George also recalled how the village ponds were once essential features. The pond at Ransome’s, originally a fishpond, and others like the one at Wellbury Farm, provided food before the days of refrigeration. Dovecotes, too, were common for raising pigeons for meat. The drought of 1921 dried up Ransome’s pond for good.
After leaving school, George went into farming and remained in the trade throughout his life. During the Second World War, he combined farm work with rabbiting and other wartime rural duties. In later years, he continued to farm at Burge End and even in his late seventies was still driving the combine harvester.
He recalled some colourful local figures — Sid Jarvis, for instance, who drove without ever having a licence. George chuckled at the memory of him, typical of the resourceful, unbothered independence of country life in earlier times.
George Burton’s recollections bring to life a century of Pirton’s rural history — from the hiring fairs of his grandfather’s youth to the mechanised farming of his own. His memories blend humour, pride, and an enduring affection for the village that shaped him — its people, its pubs, its fields, and its quiet determination to endure.
Joan’s notes
Interviewed 3/10/84 George Frank Burton (Sam’s father), born 7.1.1902 – went to school at 4, 1.10.06, grandfather originally came from Kimpton – was hired at one of the hiring fairs to work at Walnut Tree Farm. Married a servant from Highdown (Catterall) Grandfather could not read or write.
Father Frank Burton, married three times, Mother Maria Wilson (from Shillington) (died 1906)
GB was one of 2 children of 1st marriage
Frank Burton used to walk to British School in Hitchin from Hexton Road. Lived next to Katie Francis
Miss Tapscott 1st teacher. Sand, seasaw
Prutton Didn’t mind school
Gravel playground – played football (with tennis ball). Cat and stick in summer in the road, whips and tops
Pubs White Horse (M&B)
Cat and Fiddle
Red Lion (where Mrs Times lives)
Old Royal Oak
Shoulder of Mutton (Hanbridge Way – burnt down 1927)
(Charles Burton)
Blacksmiths Arms (Clack’s)
(Ted Titmuss – landlord – also a Barber’s (2d)
Fox
Live & Let Live (Sam brought up there)
(GB ran it from 1933 as well as farming Burge End Farm)
Old Hall (Docwra Manor)
Beer 4d pt in 1933
Shops Bakers Bob Walker (Helen’s)
George Kingsley (Fausset’s)
William Gurney – Cromwell Cottage (he gave small rolls to children)
Thos Ashton – opp. Zoe
Frank Walker (Ted W’s father) – James’
Andrews (Turners shop) – also general goods
Albert Walker (Evans) Great Green, – also shop
Westwood – Little Lane – socks, thread etc.
Farms Grandfather owned 3 farms – Burge End, (Hammonds (formerly Kingsley) and Mangrove (over Stanford Way)
Became bankrupt – Burge End in George’s name, so they kept it
Burge End owned by Lake before 1900
Highdown was first farm to have a binder in 1899/1900, from Hinseys in Hitchin.
Phil Crawley (Doug’s grandfather) used to fetch it – he was the only one allowed to drive it.
Walnut Tree – belonged to Coxall till 1911
Bob Kingsley used to buy flocks of sheept in Scotland and walk them back to Pirton – took 3 weeks
Edwin Wilshire used to fetch flour from Bowmans in Hitchin to all the Pirton bakers
Elm Tree (there were 2 farms) – Gurneys. Rose Gurney’s mother was a Burton.
1922 Buses started by Shepherd – first a lorry with a canvas top. When passengers, seats put in.
Pond at Ransome’s was originally a fishpond. Dovecotes for meat. Ponds for fish (no fridges etc)
Wellbury Farm – fish pond
1921 drought finished Ransome pond
After leaving school – farmed, 2ND WW, rabbiting
Mr Cross started in 1981
GB still driving combine in his late 70s
Sid Jarvis had no licence
Farming – early days cattle, sheep and pigs Arable – mangols/potatoes/Brussels/corn/barley/beans/oats/peas for cattle
