(Associated with extract from Hertfordshire Mercury 16/12/1916)
In this particular copy of the Mercury, it is reported that “Henry Reed, a noted butcher of 15 Castle Street, Hertford, reported that he had, for the Christmas trade, received the choicest pigs, geese, ducks, fowls and rabbits, but also 320 turkeys from different suppliers, one of whom was Mr Brooks of Jepps Farm.”
Jepps Farm is close to where I live in Hoddesdon, and the occupiers of the farm, Julia and David Camp, are neighbours and friends of mine.
When I asked for any information that they might have on “Mr Brooks”, they told me that Mr Brooks had come to the Jepps Farm in 1905 as a tenant farmer, with his wife Polly. They had 3 children whose names were Alice, Hubert and John.
“Mr Brooks” was Julia’s maternal great grandfather. The daughter Alice was Julia’s grandmother. Both Hubert and John did not marry, but Julia spent much time on the farm in her childhood with her great uncle John.
David and Julia came to run the farm in 1992 and chose to carry on with the Brooks name for the business, thus still trading as H.J.Brooks and Sons.
(I note that 15 Castle Street is now an Indian restaurant (Tikka Village) – nothing to do with turkeys, I’m sure!!!)
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