Thrale history
31 Market Place, St Albans, Hertfordshire, England
Tree: UK Thrale family
Notes:
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.
Address : Latitude: 51.752288300000004, Longitude: -0.3395031428506724| 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 |
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 |
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 | |