Foreword
by Lionel Munby

David Short came to work and live in Ashwell in 1975. During the twenty-one years since then he has immersed himself in the history of Ashwell, its human history, its architectural history and its landscape history. From the Merchant Taylors’ Centre he has taught local history to school children, teachers and adult students. The result is that Ashwell has become a familiar and fascinating place to people throughout Hertfordshire and beyond.

In 1992 David began to share his knowledge with those who live in Ashwell by publishing a column in the monthly magazine, Ashwell News. Now he has put us all in his debt by bringing together many of these articles in a single publication which he has, modestly, called Snippets of Ashwell’s History, From this we can, for the first time, really appreciate the width and depth of the knowledge of Ashwell history which David has acquired. Ashwell people are fortunate to have such an expert living amongst them and one who not only wants to share his knowledge but who can present it in an attractively readable form. David would not forgive me if I did not add that he, like all competent local historians, has learnt much from other local people whose research he has encouraged.

Lionel M Munby
October 1996