Knebworth House’s Sherlockian Archivist Jill Campbell just happened to be reading the newspaper the other day – the newspaper from Saturday 25th September 1909 (as you do) – and came across this photo and caption which resonated. This is my great-grandfather Victor Lytton explaining to his neighbours his plans – drawn up by his brother-in-law Edwin Lutyens – for a new development around Knebworth Station, to be called Knebworth Garden Village.
His “remarks were listened to with great interest.” I bet they were. I can imagine just how his audience felt about building all over the green fields at Deards End Farm, Gun Farm and Swangleys Farm. I am pleased for him he was carrying a big stick. Those sharp-edged boaters look like they could be formidable weapons at short range.
At some point over the next couple of months, I shall be doing something similar. I shall be trying to explain to my neighbours how new development up the hill from Knebworth Station, initiated by the Local Plan, might not be as bad as it sounds if we can persuade County Highways and North Herts Planning Officers to allow us to do it well… and how we’ve consulted on as a village for 27 years. That’s not a given without our politicians’ support, so I rather fancy carrying a big stick too, to deflect any sharp-edged boaters frisbeed from the front row.
Henry Lytton Cobbold
@HenryCobboldKH