Bedfordshire Hostels
Clifton
Bedfordshire Women's Land Army > Bedfordshire Hostels
| Location: |
Clifton House, Church Street, Clifton (adjacent to village church). OS Ref: TL16603915 |
| Description: | Late eighteenth century/early nineteenth century brick house. Before being used by the WLA it was used by the Fleet Air Arm from R.A.F. Henlow and then accommodated WAAFs and was called locally "The Waffery". |
| Opened: | c. June 1947 |
| Closed: | c. December 1949 |
 Clifton Hostel |
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More information about this hostel
- Mrs Irskine was Warden.
- There was a Quiet Room and a Recreation Room with piano, wireless and radiogram.
- It had its own greenhouses and gardens.
- There were five bedrooms, each holding up to eight land girls.
- Each room of the house was decorated in a different colour.
- The hostel housed mainly land girls from London and some from Manchester and Liverpool.
Group photo of Clifton land girls in October 1947
Click on the photo to see an enlargement
- Dances were held in Clifton Village Hall.
- Attended cinema at RAF Henlow Camp.
- Two large Alsatian dogs guarded the hostel.
- Two trucks were used to take the girls out to local farms each day.
- Joy Ellis, followed by Diane Stillwell, were Forewomen.
- Gladys Park was one of the "gangers".
- There were four land girls who could drive trucks.
Land girls guard of honour for a wedding at All Saints Church, Clifton, October 1947.
Front Row (l-r): First,
Dorothy Hart, fourth along Joan Cloran, sixth along
Elsie Mills, eighth along Eileen Elliott,
third from right Margaret Piper
Back Row (l-r): Fourth along Ivy Whitehead, eighth along Gladys Park
Location of Clifton hostel
OS 6" map Bedfordshire XXIII SW (with additions 1947)
More Pictures of Clifton Land Girls
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Stuart Antrobus Historian/Author
Page last updated: 4th March 2020