Heritage: ‘Thanks to everyone for help with display’

A public exhibition at Boxmoor Hall, Hemel Hempstead explores the history of the venue and of the town's iron foundry, run by the Cranstone family

The culmination of months of work by Dacorum Heritage Trust (DHT), South Hill Primary School, Hemel Hempstead Local History & Museum Society, Sally Illsley of Boxmoor Hall and other community partners, in collaboration with Dacorum Borough Council, was the official opening of the public exhibition at Boxmoor Hall on Wednesday, September 17.

A small sample of Heritage Trust panels, together with the displayed work from every year group in the school, was augmented by a display of the conservation work throughout the UK of Tim Millard of TM Studios, who carried out the restoration.

None of this would have been possible without the substantial grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The invited audience heard a short speech by Derek Townsend, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire and a Freeman of the Borough.

DHT and supporters at restored Cranstone fountain. The Cranstones were an important Hemel family in the 1800s

Also present were pupils and staff from South Hill School and their headteacher Sarah Bourn, and Alec Grey, who had been born in the attic room at the top of the building when his parents were the caretakers there in the early 1900s. Fiona Webb represented Dacorum Borough Council; Roger Hands, chairman of DHT welcomed Roy and Margaret Wood and Denis and Isabel Miles, all associated with local history societies.

Sally Illsley, unfortunately, was ill and could not attend –but her mother, Linda, stood in for her to represent Boxmoor Hall.

Tim Millard was present to explain his work.

The importance of our local heritage, and the value of treasuring such historical features which enhance the local scene, cannot be stressed too strongly and it was heartening to see the interest in the project shown by the younger generation.

A plaque will be put in place in the near future and a DVD by the school of the project will also be available.

For further information, please contact Dacorum Heritage Trust by visiting www.dacorumheritage.org.uk

> The DHT is the accredited museum for Dacorum. DHT is based in a converted fire station in Berkhamsted, where it houses more than 110,000 artefacts relating to the history of the Borough. But unlike traditional museums with public galleries it exists as a museum store with visiting by appointment.