14 Jun 2025
Have you wondered about some of the faces featured on Harpenden’s new mural in the Station Road underpass?
You can find out more about their history at the next monthly meeting of Harpenden & District Local History Society.
Selection of Harpenden Folk from the new Station Road Mural will be delivered by Alison Bourke, who actually devised the mural.
She said: “Certain aspects of Harpenden’s history can be seen recreated on the walls of the pedestrian tunnel outside Harpenden Station. Many of the featured faces are familiar to us – John Bennet Lawes had a huge impact on the town, and who cannot smile when remembering the humour of Eric Morecambe as we pass his iconic portrait. However, other faces are less immediately recognisable.
“Who are some of these Harpenden heroes?”
Alison will talk briefly about how the tunnel painting came into being, and she will also reveal some fascinating, and sometimes scandalous, stories behind four of the famous faces.
The talk is the second in a double-bill, following Methodism in Harpenden by Rev Mark Hammond.
Mark said: “My presentation will provide some insights into the story of Methodism in Harpenden, which begins soon after the Methodist movement began in the 18th century.
“Since then, Methodism has, over the years, made its mark on our townscape in the form of various landmark buildings. These have been constantly changed, reshaped and adapted to reflect the different ways each new generation of Methodist people have sought faithfully to live out their Christian faith in ways that are appropriate to ever-changing British culture and society.”
Mark will be mentioning just a few of the prominent individuals who were instrumental in establishing what has been referred to as ‘a cathedral of Methodism’.
The lectures follow the society’s AGM at 7.45pm on Tuesday June 24, and takes place at High Street Methodist Church.
Chairman Roger Butterworth said, “For a society where things are going well the AGM passes with little comment. However, at this year’s AGM, long-standing trustees Gavin and Rosemary Ross are taking well deserved retirement from their trustee responsibilities. Among many other contributions, Gavin was chairman for 11 years to 2023 and Rosemary has been secretary, archivist and webmaster. Without the valuable contribution of Gavin and Rosemary, and others over the years, we would not have been able to launch the museum and extend our reach as we have recently.”
All of the society’s future lectures will also be held at High Street Methodist Church, which has a state-of-the-art AV system, and they are free to members and students. Visitors welcome and £5 donation is requested, which on this occasion will be paid to High Street Methodist Church, as will all donations on the night.
As well as free on-street parking in the evening, the Methodist Church benefits from direct pedestrian access to the back from Bowers Way (West) public car park, lower level, behind Sainsbury’s.
