Hello from a new lister. I have finally discovered that my g.g.g.grandfather, Henry Hyett DARKE, Birmingham born and bred, spent the last years of his life in Hertfordshire (I think as manager of a paper mill). I have found that he is buried at St. Lawrence, Abbots Langley. According to a microfiche of memorial inscriptions for that church, he is in section C, C338. The inscription reads: "Henry Hyett DARKE d. 30 Nov. 1871 aged 59 years Also Sarah Ann, d. 2 Oct 1887 aged 75 Also daughter Sarah Jane d 4 May 1932 aged 84" I was wondering if there are any Abbots Langley residents on the list, who might be familiar with the churchyard. I would dearly love to know what condition the memorial is in, and if anyone could email a digital photo, or "real" photo (all costs reimbursed of course) I would be even happier! But just to know it is still standing and in reasonable order would be great, Best regards, Jane Nicholas Melbourne, Australia

Hi Jane Although I actually live about 5 or 6 miles from Abbots, and have ancestors in St Lawrence's, I simply cannot find the time to get there, what with kids and work and all that! I can tell you however that John Dickinson had several paper mills around here. The one in Abbots Langley is called Nash Mills, and is still running today. I used to work at his first Mill at Croxley Green in the late 1970s, but that was demolished around 1981. His third Mill was (and still is) at Apsley near Hemel Hempstead. The first Mill (at Croxley) was built in 1801, and was so successful that the others were opened within a few years. The names of some of the paper they made were "Three Candles", "Basildon Bond". and "Croxley Script", and thes are still in shops around the world to this day. There would have been around 1,000 people working at the mill, with four shift managers each being in charge of about 200 men and women. If your ancestor was Shift manager at Nash Mills, he would have been very well known in the Village, and you may find him in local trade directories of the time. Anyway, when I finally get around to looking up my HOW ancestors in Abbots, I will remember your name, and try to find the memorial. Regards and best wishes Phil HOW ----- Original Message ----- From: <nich3046@tpg.com.au> To: <ENG-HERTFORDSHIRE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2005 9:15 PM Subject: St. Lawrence, Abbots Langley - Henry H. DARKE > Hello from a new lister. > I have finally discovered that my g.g.g.grandfather, Henry Hyett DARKE, > Birmingham born and bred, spent > the last years of his life in Hertfordshire (I think as manager of a paper > mill). > I have found that he is buried at St. Lawrence, Abbots Langley. > According to a microfiche of memorial inscriptions for that church, he is > in section C, C338. > The inscription reads: > "Henry Hyett DARKE > d. 30 Nov. 1871 > aged 59 years > Also Sarah Ann, d. 2 Oct 1887 aged 75 > Also daughter Sarah Jane > d 4 May 1932 aged 84" > > I was wondering if there are any Abbots Langley residents on the list, who > might be familiar with the > churchyard. I would dearly love to know what condition the memorial is in, > and if anyone could email a > digital photo, or "real" photo (all costs reimbursed of course) I would be > even happier! > But just to know it is still standing and in reasonable order would be > great, > Best regards, > Jane Nicholas > Melbourne, Australia > > ______________________________