During an impromptu discussion by a few members of the Hemel Hempstead Guardians Committee, it was stated that a woman, aged 80 years, was admitted to Hempstead House, from Flamstead. After being given a bath she exclaimed: “Lovely! If only I had known it was so nice I would have had a bath years ago.”

Another woman was not quite so enthusiastic. She was making a return visit to Hempstead House and declared if she were a Duchess she could not be treated better than she was there “but them there baths; I can’t a’bear them,” she added ruefully.

[From the Watford Observer of July 7, 1934]