Howe Dell Primary School 1955 -2007/8

My two younger sisters and I all went to Howe Dell in the 1960s although I was only there for two years before moving on to Hatfield School. We were Bob, Jenny and Kitty Hall and we lived at 15, Hillcrest. I was in Cyril Crann’s, then Elizabeth Greenwood’s classes. Another member of staff I remember was Mr Bartlett who taught me to sail before we went to Barton Broad sailing camp. He had been to the Falklands and had 8mm film of Falklands life. Names I remember include Robert ‘Pooky’ Parker, Anthony Scott, Esther Vann, Susan Morse, the Hall twins (boy and girl) and Angela Dark(e?). I was close friends with John Stevens who was a year ahead of me and a Hillcrest neighbour. I ended up living with his elder sister Barbara for twenty years and we had a daughter together. She had been at Howe Dell in the 50s. Very happy memories.

I attended Howe Dell from 1956 – 1966 – so many memories, I lived in Fern Dells, I remember Esther Vann, Sally and Colin Hall, Patsy Banham, Barry Collins, Tommy Freeman, Christine Fordham, Alison West, Mary Ryan. I live in Virginia USA.

Hi all, just a quick revision on Neil, make it Neil Wright and Rodrick Vann.
I hope all of us remembering the great ice slides on the the Winter days on the pavements that we created. Another name that comes to mind is Sue Conway of Haseldine Meadows. Ray, hope you remember me from 57 Haseldine Meadows?

I went to Howe Dell with my brother and sisters there were 4 of us ; Sarah and Melanie ( the twins who Adam Cooper remembers !) Becky and Wesley. We remember so much about our time at the school and the friends we made.

I was at Howe Dell from 1965 or 66 until 1972. I remember Sandra Aylett, you were the youngest in the class born in August. Remember Ian Meopham v well as we were also in the same class at secondary school.
A very special school and mostly lovely teachers. Mr Crann taught the top year and was the only male teacher. He was a lovely gentle person. He read us the Hobbit and always sucked peppermint because he was giving up smoking. In Miss Wakefield’s class we did a long project about what were then called American (red) Indians. We learnt about how they lived and we made teepees and small dolls dressed in leather costumes, feathers and beads which we sewed ourselves. We did so much artistic stuff. I lived the art room, up above where the loos and cloakrooms were and where we did lino cutting and printing. Miss Matthew’s was a stickler for her italic writing. I remember hiding in the loos for ages once because I made a mistake writing out my work for our school display in ink and couldn’t rub it out or change it. I sat and cried in the cubicle. Also Miss Matthew’s had us do the gardening and I managed to shove a big garden fork right through my shoe. Luckily it went between my toes. Imagine the health and safety fuss these days. Yeah we used to collect and eat the beechnuts and go on lots of nature walks. The school trip to Wales where mIss Matthew’s showed us all how to vault a 5 bar gate…in her long tweed skirts no less! I thought she was ancient in the 1960s. Cant believe she was still there in 1988. If she retired at 65 say, she would have been only about 45 when I started juniors. No way! I’d live to go back and visit the old school again. So many winding corridors and passages and little rooms upstairs which we thought were haunted.
What’s there now if it’s no longer a school?

I went to Howe Dell from 1966 to 1970
Trying to contact someone from my year

I went to Howel Dell from 1956 till 1962 my maiden name was Linda Parker then . I remember Miss Mathews first day at Howe Dell how she told us how lucky we all were to have such a beautiful school with lots of green spaces around as she came from a school in London which didn`t have a blade of grass . I remember the hand writing lesson she gave us in assemble every morning and the occasion gardening lesson . May day was a very special day when we could bring in our best clothes to change into for the dancing round the may pole . As far as I remember Howe Dell School was Lord Salisbury`s originally home before Hatfield House was built .

Fab memories of teachers and others in my class, some in here too! Miss Matthews taught us everything from pronounciation, gardening, calligraphy to how to eat peas without scooping the fork. Fabulous memories collecting from the beechnut tree, country dancing in the grounds. Our field trips and nature walks in Hatfield park. In class 7?, Miss Owen, an official photo was taken of me in the classroom. Others in the photo are Miss Owen, I.Donnelly, D.Lengyll and J.Bowen. The photo resides in the British Photo Library. #vproud

Ahh great memories of this place I went there in late 70s early 80s when Miss Mathews was there. Always made sure I had lovely writing..and would smack me on the back and call me a cookoo lol…also live in High dells so chennels was next road. would love to walk round the old parsonage again one day 🙂

Well I was at Howe Dell, also my brother David. I recall the name Gaynor Moore. I also knew Esther Vann, well more correctly her brother Roderick. The Vann’s lived on Bishops Rise and we lived in Haseldine Meadows. I recall the winding path from Briars Lane, I walked it almost every day for years! I recall joining Miss Trimbles class year with trepidation …however I found her very good and very fair. I recall Mr.Crann, Mrs Gately and Miss Matthews amongst others. I was part of the kids who called ourselves the Spring Glen gang. Our range was from Briars Lane to Roe Green, with the occasional foray to Stream Woods and the water works in Bishops Rise. Back then we were just ‘out’ until meal times. It seemed there was much more freedom then.

I was at Howe Dell from 1957-1962 and remember it with great pleasure. 

Victor Thompson from Chennells? (Bother, Jimmy?) Hello there if it is your comment. I am Gaynor Moore who lived at number 28. I was at this school with you at the same time (same class I think). I still have dreams about Howe Dell and my walks along the winding path to it, which passed around the girls gram. school. I know the teachers you mention and remember all my teachers as follows – Mrs Gately, Miss Leak, Mrs Grant, Miss Wakefield, Miss Trimble (Scary), Mr Crann (lovely gentle, encour and Miss Matthews (who I was terrified of). I also remember that I was scared to go to the ‘sewing room’ which was a room seldom used, reached through dark corridors. Incidently, while at the school, an old painting of a dancing bear was uncovered in this room. Hated Cuffly Camp. Froze under my old grey blanket. Loved all the artistic stuff we did.

Went to Howe Dell 1960 – 1965. Had Miss Greenwood, who late became Mrs Morris. Enjoyed my time in this old building.