Thrale/Thrall history

Search | Advanced Search | Search Families | Search Site

First Name:   Last Name:   ID:  

31 Market Place, St Albans, Hertfordshire, England

Tree: UK Thrale family

Notes:

In 2024 a Moroccan restaurant `Little Marrakech` operates from the premises. The frontage is largely unchanged from the days of the Thrale Café.

Email from Emma Rainey to David Thrale on 4 Sep 2007.

I just found your site while I was searching for a recipe for Cumberland Pie! I didn't work at Waterend Barn but I did work at Thrales Cafe in the Market Place, St.Albans when I was a teenager. I worked for John and Richard Thrale who we all called Mr John and Mr Richard.

The cafe was run by an extraordinary lady called Phyllis Barnes, who had a real heart of gold, and there were a variety of staff, lots of teenage Saturday girls, like myself, and some older ladies, many of whom I believe had worked at the Waterend Barn, including a lady who taught me how to do the washing up who was known as Bill (I think because her surname was Sykes).

I worked there from 1987 to 1990, but also used to visit regularly as a young child with my parents to have a currant bun and a glass of coke, always served in a glass on a turquoise/green saucer, which were still in use when I worked there!

Its funny really, because I hadn't thought about it for years and I was talking about it just the other day because that is the only place I know which ever served Welsh Rarebit, and Buck Rarebit too, which I am beginning to think only myself and my Thrales colleagues (along with Mrs Beeton of course) ever know existed!

I loved working there … and even though I now live in Australia, I am a little ashamed to admit that I think a Thrales butter knife is still lurking in my mother's cutlery drawer, back in St.Albans. As I understand it, when they closed the cafe they preserved a whole booth in the local St.Albans museum.

I'd love to hear whether this is part of your family … I am sure it must be! I expect you know all of this already, but thanks for the opportunity to reminisce.

Media

Photos		Norman Thrale Café. 1986. Norman Thrale Café, 31 Market Place, St. Albans. 1986 Street Survey.
		Norman Thrale Café, 31 Market Place, St. Albans.

Documents

Enthralling tales of Thrale family's colourful past Tribute to Richard W Thrale in local paper after his death

Census

Matches 1 to 1 of 1

	Last Name, Given Name(s)	Census		Person ID	Tree
1	Thrale, Ernest Norman	31 Mar 1901	31 Market Place, St Albans, Hertfordshire, England	I263	UK Thrale family

Occupation

Matches 1 to 2 of 2

	Last Name, Given Name(s)	Occupation		Person ID	Tree
1	Thrale, Ernest Norman	31 Mar 1901	31 Market Place, St Albans, Hertfordshire, England	I263	UK Thrale family
2	Thrale, Richard William		31 Market Place, St Albans, Hertfordshire, England	I197	UK Thrale family