Thrale history

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Wheathampstead family.⁴⁰ Harriet herself was known in the family as 'Granny Mardall'. From Harriet's father, quite a few items remain to this day. Already mentioned have been the Bible, the two portraits, the oak cupboard, and also there is a long refectory table at the Waterend Barn in St. Albans which for many years was in the kitchen of No Mans Land house during that period.

Before passing on to the final phase of the No Mans Land family which concerns the last two bachelor brothers, it is worthy of record to relate of other typical work done by the Thrales in Sandridge. It was in 1786 that the church roof of St. Leonards was repaired by the church wardens Ralph Thrale and John Munt of Cheapside. Each year two stone wardens were appointed. The title stonewarden first appeared in 1832, thirteen years after John Macadam had invented the new method of constructing roads. In 1846 the two stonewardens were George Young of Nashs Farm and Ralph Thrale of No Mans Land, each taking an area. Mr. Young employed three roadmen. Some work was paid for by piece rates, the price being sevenpence a yard for stone breaking, and sixpence a yard for digging gravel. Mr. Thrale employed a different gang at similar rates. When Lady Day came around again Mr. Young produced to the Vestry his account for £52 and Mr. Thrale's was for £33.

For some reason, the two brothers Ralph Norman and William Thrale, did not show any desire to marry, and these two bachelor brothers lived at No Mans Land as country gentlemen and with their death the No Mans Land succession came to an end. Other people at the current time can still remember their parents speaking of them, and some of their activities have almost passed into legend. One brother for instance, is reported to have been extremely accurate with a catapult, and the other with a bow and arrow: both were crack shots with the rifle. They were also very keen collectors, and another hearsay legend is that one of the exhibits in their museum was a preserved lady's hand in a black glove! The museum was housed in the large rooms built for the old No Mans Land Harriers, as already related. There is preserved at the County Muniment Room the title page and catalogue of 'Thrales Collection'. A description of 1880 tells of a visit to the museum, there being at that time only one remaining Thrale (William) who was then eighty years old. The collection consisted in the first place of animals and birds killed on the farm, and stuffed by the brothers. 'Every sort of indigenous vermin from the field mouse up to the big dog fox: and at the head of the wild beasts ending their days on the farm, a Bengal Tiger! The second part consisted

Footnotes

40. The Family of Mardall of Wheathampstead by Charles Loch.↩︎