Percy Birtchnell (8 April 1910 – 12 March 1986) was a British writer and historian. He was especially noted for his writing about the history of his home town of Berkhamsted in West Hertfordshire. His publications include A History of Berkhamsted and Bygone Berkhamsted, both published by Clunberry.
Birtchnell was born in Highfield Road, Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire in 1910.
After working as a typesetter at Cooper's printing works (later the Clunbury Press), he opened a menswear shop in the parade of shops next to the newly built Rex Cinema. He was one of the founders of the Berkhamsted & District Local History Society in 1950. His menswear shop later moved west along the High Street to new premises.[1][2][3]
From an early age, Birtchnell developed an interest in history, especially local history, and began writing articles for local papers when he was aged fifteen. He had articles published in the Berkhamsted Gazette and the Watford Observer. He also contributed historical articles to the Berkhamsted Review, a local parish magazine, writing under the pen nameBeorcham, which was an archaic name for Berkhamsted.[1][2]
Death and legacy
Percy Birtchnell died from a heart attack on 12 March 1986. Birtchnell's menswear shop continued to trade after his death and closed in 2010. Following structural damage, the building collapsed unexpectedly in January 2011 and was demolished.[1][2]
When Augustus Smith Middle School merged with Thomas Bourne CofE Middle School in 1990 one proposed name for the new school was Percy Birtchnell Middle School,[4][full citation needed] before the name Thomas Coram Middle School was eventually selected.
Bibliography
Birtchnell, Percy (1960). A Short History of Berkhamsted. The Bookstack. p. 127. ISBN1-871372-00-3.
^ abc"Beorcham". Berkhamsted Local History & Museum Society. 18 May 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
^ abcBerkhamsted Local History & Museum Society (2013). "Birtchnell's Shop". Berkhamsted Through Time. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN9781445626864. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
^"Ex-owner tells history of collapsed shop". Berkhamsted & Tring Gazette. 22 February 2011. from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
percy, birtchnell, april, 1910, march, 1986, british, writer, historian, especially, noted, writing, about, history, home, town, berkhamsted, west, hertfordshire, publications, include, history, berkhamsted, bygone, berkhamsted, both, published, clunberry, per. Percy Birtchnell 8 April 1910 12 March 1986 was a British writer and historian He was especially noted for his writing about the history of his home town of Berkhamsted in West Hertfordshire His publications include A History of Berkhamsted and Bygone Berkhamsted both published by Clunberry Percy Charles BirtchnellPercy Birtchnell in 1985Born 1910 04 08 8 April 1910Berkhamsted Hertfordshire UKDied12 March 1986 1986 03 12 aged 75 Pen nameBeorchamOccupationHistorianLanguageEnglishNationalityBritishPeriod20th CenturyGenreLocal historyNotable worksA History of Berkhamsted Bygone Berkhamsted Contents 1 Life and career 2 Death and legacy 3 Bibliography 4 See also 5 ReferencesLife and career EditBirtchnell was born in Highfield Road Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire in 1910 After working as a typesetter at Cooper s printing works later the Clunbury Press he opened a menswear shop in the parade of shops next to the newly built Rex Cinema He was one of the founders of the Berkhamsted amp District Local History Society in 1950 His menswear shop later moved west along the High Street to new premises 1 2 3 From an early age Birtchnell developed an interest in history especially local history and began writing articles for local papers when he was aged fifteen He had articles published in the Berkhamsted Gazette and the Watford Observer He also contributed historical articles to the Berkhamsted Review a local parish magazine writing under the pen name Beorcham which was an archaic name for Berkhamsted 1 2 Death and legacy EditPercy Birtchnell died from a heart attack on 12 March 1986 Birtchnell s menswear shop continued to trade after his death and closed in 2010 Following structural damage the building collapsed unexpectedly in January 2011 and was demolished 1 2 When Augustus Smith Middle School merged with Thomas Bourne CofE Middle School in 1990 one proposed name for the new school was Percy Birtchnell Middle School 4 full citation needed before the name Thomas Coram Middle School was eventually selected Bibliography EditBirtchnell Percy 1960 A Short History of Berkhamsted The Bookstack p 127 ISBN 1 871372 00 3 Birtchnell Percy 1975 Bygone Berkhamsted p 80 ISBN 978 0 900804 13 7 See also EditHistory of Hertfordshire Dacorum Heritage Trust Robert ClutterbuckReferences Edit a b c Beorcham Berkhamsted Local History amp Museum Society 18 May 2015 Retrieved 3 May 2018 a b c Berkhamsted Local History amp Museum Society 2013 Birtchnell s Shop Berkhamsted Through Time Amberley Publishing Limited ISBN 9781445626864 Retrieved 9 May 2018 Ex owner tells history of collapsed shop Berkhamsted amp Tring Gazette 22 February 2011 Archived from the original on 10 May 2018 Retrieved 10 May 2018 Berkhamsted Gazette Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Percy Birtchnell amp oldid 1097710539, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
