The Edwardian village from 1901 to 1914. Total inhabitants in 1901 were 460 so the census tells us and if you look down the occupation list a large percentage of the village was working on the farms. Those that weren’t were providing services such as boot makers and running shops. The school was educating those who were able to attend when they weren’t required for farm work and the church and chapel were making sure you were occupied on a Sunday.
The big change in this period began to come with mechanisation. The steam ploughs were starting to work on the fields, gradually replacing the horses. The end of this period saw the biggest change to the village for centuries with the First World War.
Occupations: Farm Labourer, Horsekeeper, Cattleman, Nurseryman, Farmer, Carpenter, Cook, Grazier, Steam Plough Engine Driver, Bootmaker, Teacher, Dressmaker, Thatcher, Blacksmith…
Village names: Pitches, Ives, Brand, Cranwell, Drury, Flack, Rogers, Green, Harvey, Chambers, Cane, Pigg…
This is the wedding of Walter Green and Rhoda Brand which took place on 22nd June 1907. They are pictured outside Peacock Cottage in Crawley End. We know some of the people on the photograph but not all of them so if you can name anyone else do please let us know in...
This lovely postcard, recently acquired, shows Phoenix Cottage, Crawley End. The post date on the card is September 1916 but I wonder if the picture was actually taken in 1911 …
We have two photographs for the Cricket Team in 1910. The one below shows Frank Pitches holding centre stage although I don't think he appears in the one above. But sadly we don't currently have names for any of the other players. In the photo below you can see a...
This nice study of the primary school is postmarked 1908 and addressed to Mrs King in Barnet. Note how narrow the High Street appears to be. The gate marks the current pedestrian access to Jigneys Meadow.
Unfortunately the date and any names are unknown - the board that the little girl is holding simply says "Chrishall Group 2". (photo kindly lent by John Cane - if either his grandfather or grandfather's sister is in the photograph, this would support c1910)
If this photo is from 1911 then, according to the census, it seems that the people in the picture maybe Joseph and Rebecca Flack, both aged 69. Joseph was formerly a cowman and they had been married 43 years and had 12 children, 8 of whom were still living at the time...
This photograph was probably taken soon after the spire had been removed. According to Chrishall Scrapbook this was when the tower was restored in 1914. Note the lamp opposite the main door. There seem to be a series of these lamps across the village. (Click to...
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