Stories Etched in Stone and Memory Across Our Borough

Eighty years have passed since the guns of World War II fell silent, yet the landscapes of Broxbourne Borough continue to whisper tales of extraordinary courage, profound loss, unyielding resilience, and enduring hope. While global history books recount the grand narratives of the war, our own community holds its legacy in humble cottages, unassuming pillboxes, and the quiet corners of everyday life.

The recently unveiled WWII Heritage Trail, a remarkable initiative curated by Broxbourne Borough in partnership with Lowewood Museum, is far more than just a map; it's a heartfelt invitation. It beckons residents of all ages to embark on a journey through the streets of Goffs Oak, Cheshunt, Hoddesdon, Wormley, Waltham Cross, and beyond. It’s an opportunity to pause, reflect, and truly listen to the echoes of history embedded deep within the very fabric of our neighborhoods.

Today, we commence a two-part exploration, meticulously uncovering the poignant stories behind each site. Our aim is to honor those who came before us, ensuring their profound sacrifices and quiet heroism are cherished and never, ever forgotten.

The WWII Heritage Trail: Sites 1-15

1. Goffs Oak War Memorial (Goffs Lane, Goffs Oak, EN7 5HF) 

Standing in solemn silence at the very heart of Goffs Oak is its war memorial—a stoic stone sentinel. Etched into its surface are the names of sons, fathers, and neighbors, each a life tragically cut short by the ravages of war. Here, every year, wreaths are laid, a silent promise that their memory will forever endure. This memorial is more than just granite and chisel marks; it is a living, breathing testament to the immense cost of freedom, a legacy passed thoughtfully from one generation to the next.

2. Broxbourne War Memorial (Station Road, EN10 7AU) 

Much like its counterpart in Goffs Oak, Broxbourne’s war memorial serves as the collective memory of our borough—its history indelibly etched in names, reverent floral tributes, and the quiet, heartfelt reflection of its residents. Each name inscribed there whispers a unique story of love, irreplaceable loss, and the enduring promise to remember.

3. Cheshunt War Memorial Almshouses (Turners Hill, EN8 9BE) 

Amidst the tranquil rows of the Almshouses, Cheshunt’s memorial stands as a profound tribute to those lost in two world wars. It is a sacred place for quiet contemplation, its inscribed names forming a solemn litany of sacrifice passed from one generation to the next.

4. Hoddesdon War Memorial (High Street, EN11 8HD) 

At the very heart of Hoddesdon’s bustling High Street stands its dignified war memorial—a noble structure that calls residents and visitors alike to solemnly remember those who selflessly gave their lives. Every Remembrance Day, the community gathers around, poppies clutched in hand, to pay heartfelt tribute—not only to the brave soldiers, but also to the countless civilians whose lives were irrevocably changed by the crucible of conflict.

5. Burnt Farm Camp (South of Silver Street, EN7 5JG) 

Just south of Silver Street, past the gentle hum of village life, lies the evocative, haunting shell of Burnt Farm Camp. During the tumultuous years of WWII, this site resonated with the thunder of anti-aircraft guns, its emplacements and command posts ceaselessly scanning the vast skies for the ominous drone of enemy bombers. Remarkably, it stands today as one of Britain’s best-preserved heavy anti-aircraft gun sites. It’s a powerful, tangible reminder of how Goffs Oak’s serene fields were transformed into the critical front lines of London’s vital defense. Imagine, for a fleeting moment, the palpable tension as the crews waited—eyes fixed on the sky, hearts pounding with anticipation, ready to defend not just London, but the very lives of those they would never even meet.

6. Little Cot Cottage (Goffs Lane, EN7 5HJ, junction with St Johns Road) 

Tragedy struck this very spot on August 17, 1944, when a V1 flying bomb, a terrifying harbinger of destruction, crashed into Little Cot Cottage. The devastating impact claimed four members of the Marvel family and a local air raid warden—marking the single largest loss of civilian life in Goffs Oak during the entire war. Today, it’s easy to walk past this unassuming spot, completely unaware of the lives shattered in a single, horrific instant. Yet, for those who choose to pause, it stands as a stark, poignant reminder of the war’s indiscriminate cruelty and the ordinary families who bore its unfathomable cost.

7. Lieutenant Ellis Memorial (Lieutenant Ellis Way, Waltham Cross, EN7 5FB) 

On a somber day, August 12, 1944, a US Air Force B24 Liberator tragically crashed on farmland near Cheshunt, claiming the lives of all ten brave airmen on board. Lieutenant John D. Ellis and his dedicated crew heroically steered the doomed plane away from populated areas, sacrificing their own lives to protect countless civilian lives below. The Flamstead End Relief Road was rightfully renamed in Ellis’s honor in 1995, and a poignant memorial plaque can be found in Cheshunt Library—a timeless testament to bravery and selflessness that transcends all national boundaries.

8. Chadwick & Shapcott’s Acorn Works (Sturlas Way, EN8 7BF) 

On January 2, 1945, a devastating V2 rocket struck this brush factory. The impact tragically claimed many lives and forever etched the scars of war onto the very landscape of Waltham Cross. This site serves as a somber reminder that the industrial heart of our borough beat just as fiercely as its defensive one—workers and civilians alike shared equally in the profound risks and heart-wrenching losses.

9. Winston Churchill Way (Waltham Cross, EN8 8RL) 

Rightfully named in profound honor of Britain’s indomitable wartime Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, this road stands as a permanent, enduring tribute to national leadership during the darkest, most perilous times our nation has ever faced.

10. Fishpools (115 High St, EN8 7AL) 

Fishpools, a name synonymous with household familiarity across Hertfordshire, played its own quiet yet crucial role in the vast tapestry of the war effort. An advertisement from August 1940 offered essential blackout curtains, designed to cover everything from humble back doors to sprawling factories, thereby helping to shield countless families from the ever-present threat of air raids.

11. Replica WWI Tank – Cedars Park (Theobalds Lane, EN8 8RX) 

Long before the ominous rumble of the Second World War, Cheshunt Urban Council was proudly honored for its outstanding fundraising efforts during WWI with the significant gift of a real tank, strategically placed in Cedars Park. That very tank was, in 1940, valiantly given up for scrap, its metal recycled to aid the next generation’s desperate war effort. Today, a striking replica stands in its place, forging a powerful connection between past and present, a poignant symbol of enduring community service.

12. Dahlia Close, Cheshunt (EN7 6NR) 

Named for the Royal Navy corvette H.M.S. Dahlia, this road proudly commemorates the close, cherished association between Cheshunt and the valiant ship, seamlessly linking local pride to naval valor and sacrifice.

13. Pillbox – Cheshunt Park (Park Lane, EN7 6QA) 

Hidden in plain sight, a squat, hexagonal pillbox steadfastly remains in Cheshunt Park. Constructed as an integral part of the outer London defense ring, its sturdy concrete walls once sheltered armed troops and brave Home Guard volunteers, standing ever ready to repel an invasion that, mercifully, never materialized. Stand beside it, and you can almost feel the tangible weight of expectation, the unwavering readiness to defend, and the collective sigh of relief when that dreadful moment ultimately never arrived. Nearby, another silent sentry, a pillbox at Cheshunt Park Farm, stands vigil facing Hells Wood, both serving as mute witnesses to a Britain held perpetually on high alert.

14. Pillbox – Bread and Cheese Lane (EN7 6PE) 

Perched on a hilltop, commanding expansive views across the valley, another pillbox gazes out over the landscape. From this strategic vantage point, defenders could mount powerful Bren or Lewis guns, ready to engage in anti-aircraft roles. The formidable anti-tank block positioned beside it serves as a stark reminder of just how real and imminent the threat of invasion once felt in these otherwise peaceful fields.

15. Cheshunt Cottage Hospital (Cottage Gardens, EN8 0DL) 

As the dark clouds of war gathered, Cheshunt Cottage Hospital, with its modest 16 beds, was swiftly pressed into service, joining the Emergency Medical Service. The cruel reality of bomb damage in 1941 was a stark, undeniable reminder that no place was truly safe, and that dedicated medical staff found themselves as much on the front lines as the courageous soldiers themselves.

A Community Shaped by War

Each of these sites is far more than a mere point on a map; they are living, breathing pages in our borough’s rich history. They speak eloquently of courage in the face of unimaginable terror, the quiet, unsung heroism of nurses and tireless factory workers, and the heartbreaking, irreversible reality of loss. They vividly illustrate how Broxbourne, much like countless other British communities, was forever transformed by a global conflict that reached into every single street, every beloved home, and every beating heart.

Bomb Sites and Reminders of Destruction

The indelible scars of war are also starkly written into the very fabric of our roads and fields.

Bury Green Lane, Barrow Lane, Silver Street, Goffs Lane, College Road, Monarchs Way, Eleanor Cross Road, High Street, Cheshunt Lake, Hoddesdon (from Ware Road to Cock Lane), and Dobbs Weir Road—all these places bore the brunt of bombings during the war. In some instances, the destruction was catastrophic and widespread; in others, the community simply breathed a collective sigh of relief, grateful to have survived. Each bomb site marks a specific place where normal, everyday life was violently interrupted, yet where, remarkably, recovery, tireless rebuilding, and inspiring resilience always followed.

As we solemnly mark the 80th anniversary of WWII’s conclusion, let us remember these stories—not as distant, dusty history, but as vital, pulsating threads in the intricate tapestry of our shared life.

Stay tuned for Part 2 - available only to Broxtown Premium members, where we continue our journey through Cheshunt, Hoddesdon, Wormley, and beyond, unearthing more stories of endurance, remembrance, and hope.

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Editor-in-chief | Emeka Ogbonnaya

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