Ken Burton talking about the Second World War in Pirton

Ken Burton talking in his home in Hitchin

1920s Elm Tree Farm, situated on the corner of Hambridge Way with the Elm trees. In the 1890 auction at the Sun Hotel, Hitchin, this farm was bought by Francis Gurney from Stafford Allen and run by the Gurney family. It was described as: “Well situate (sic) in one of the best positions in the village of Pirton. The house contains seven bedrooms, dining room, drawing room, kitchen, store-room, cool dairy and wash house. The farm has a large cattle yard with entrance from the road, numerous farm buildings and several valuable enclosures of excellent pasture and arable land of about 99 acres 0 roods 19 poles.”

Sam Burton and Ken with bits of the doodle bug

Cottages in Bury End were hit by the doodlebomb

Army cadets 1941 they met in a hut next to the White Horse (Motte and Bailey)

Pirton army cadets 1943

The home guard outside Pirton Court. They met in a hut in the grounds

Share this page: