Waterend Barn restaurant
Waterend Barn restaurant
Sir John Jenyns, a well to do Hertfordshire land owner built Waterend Barn back in 1610, originally in the Parish of Sandridge. On his death, Richard Jenyns inherited the properties and despite an income of £4,000 a year, the family fortunes faltered severely and he died insolvent in 1667.
His daughter Sarah was born seven years before Richard’s death and destined to become the Duchess of Marlborough. Sarah Jenyns spent much of her time at Waterend, but in 1673, the pretty and self-willed girl left Hertfordshire to go to Court in London. Two years later she met and fell in love with Colonel John Churchill, who became First Duke of Marlborough and Queen Anne’s great General.
Sarah, as Duchess of Marlborough, became the Queen’s favourite and close confidant, and held great influence at Court. Though much traveled in later years, she always had great affection for the area of her birth and often returned - then living in Holywell House, St. Albans. A chronicler of that time noted that “she never ceased to praise its air”. She died an irascible 85.
In 1938 the Barn was no longer needed for its original use at the farm, and the Brocket Estate decided to dismantle it - timber by timber, re-erect it on a site they owned in the middle of St. Albans and let it as a restaurant. This was completed in 1939 and two brothers, Ralph and William Thrale, who owned and ran a long established local family bakery business took on the lease.
In the next few years the site was enlarged with the addition of the Little Barn, brought over from Little Hormead. In 1978 the Thrale family decided to relinquish their interest in The Barns and they were sold to Simmons of Hatfield, another long established family baking and catering business.
The Waterend was run by the Chris Cole between 1997 - 2002, under the name of Moorsom & Co. Ltd.
Please contact me, if you …
- know any information about Waterend Barn during the Thrale’s ownership;
- worked there;
- have any old photograph, etc.
