The Herald 21/6/91
Ghostly goings-on down at the green By Tracey Cameron
No village would be complete without a green. And in picturesque Pirton, Great Green is the centre of village life. The grassy area was used for maypole dancing, fairs and cricket, and used to house the village lock-up.Three Gables, which dates back to 1480, is one of the oldest remaining houses in the street and was believed to have been a medieval hall house.
Former BBC newsreader, Richard Whitmore, lived in Great Green for 12 years between 1962 and 1974. His house, Tudor Cottage, is haunted according to neighbour, Betty Huckle. Miss Huckle was babysitting for the baby Whitmores when she heard heavy footsteps on the stairs. She looked up expecting to see Kate to appear, but the door closed and feet pounded upstairs. Miss Huckle went to investigate and found the youngsters asleep.
Mr Whitmore who now lives in St Ippollitts, recalls living in the 400-year-old house as “one of the happiest periods of my life.” He never spotted any ghosts whilst living in Pirton and believes his playful daughter, Kate, was responsible for the ghostly prank.
Miss Huckle, who lived in The Cottage since 1948, says the village and Great Green have changed tremendously over the years. “When I was a child a fair visited once or twice a year. In those days Pirton seemed a long way from Hitchin as we had to cycle or walk.” She recalls sheep and horse grazing on the green and the village blacksmith in action. “There was also a Sunday School held on the green and there used to be a Baptist church, but that was destroyed by a doodlebug,” said Miss Huckle.
According to the book, A Foot on Three Daisies, complied by Pirton Local History Group, the flying bomb hit the village on September 24, 1944. Miss Huckle recalls the blast, “It was a Sunday morning and it was pouring with rain when I heard a tremendous rushing sound like a train heading towards the house and then a bang. “We couldn’t get out of bed as we were surrounded by debris and glass – we were lucky to escape with our lives.”
There are two pubs in Great Green. Built in 1901 on the site of a former inn on the edge of the green is the Motte and Bailey pub. Before 1978 the pub was known as the White Horse. The Cat and Fiddle is the other watering hole.
