A History of Preston
in Hertfordshire
Note: This page is an account of Grace Wray’s life as it related to Preston, Herts.
Grace Mills was born in Southsea, Portsmouth on 24 June 1912. She was the only daughter of school master, Charles Henry Mills and Edith (nee Dee) who was the eldest daughter of a councillor and business man from Stoke Newington. The couple had met while studying for their degrees at Hartley College, Southampton.
After she left school, Grace lived with her grandmother at Stoke Newington, London. She worked at ‘St Barts’ hospital.
When she was 21, her life was blighted when she inherited her mother’s deafness. This affliction and World War conspired to bring about her move to Preston.
The land army
World War II cast its shadow over Britain and like many Londoners, Grace slept on underground platforms during the blitz.
As she later put it, ‘you see, the war came along and it meant that you had to do your bit. The forces wouldn’t take me as I jolly well couldn’t hear so the only other alternative was the Land Army’.
That was how she found herself one day in 1940 ‘wearing wellingtons, grading potatoes
in the snow, with a tarpaulin over us in the middle of a field in Hertfordshire -
The Woman’s Land Army was formed during war-
When the world was turned on its head, they learnt the equality which was thrust
upon them. Farmers tested them by assigning them routine, menial and back-
The main challenge was keeping their femininity -
They were issued with a uniform (often the wrong size) which was alien to wear at first: breeches, shirt and tie, long woollen socks and heavy brogue shoes. In some ways the clothes were a blessing in those days of austerity and dwindling wardrobes.
Many found the biggest hurdles were the stench of the farmyard and how to take a
natural break when working in the fields during winter-
Above, Grace aged 18 at Stoke Newington, London
Below, Grace modelling her uniform in her parents garden circa 1940
Above, the Land Girls at Minsden Farm, Preston. Grace is standing far left.
Right, Grace driving a tractor at Minsden Farm
Even getting along with one’s work mates could be challenging as Land Girls were
plucked from all walks of life -
Yet after dwelling on the obstacles, many women have fond memories of their life on the farm: the fresh air, reasonable food (even in wartime), the camaraderie and the local attractions which included....men! Enter Sam Wray, farm labourer, stage right.
Grace and Sam married in Portsmouth on 17 March 1945. Grace commented later, ‘Mum
and Dad were very much against my marrying Sam, of course’. Bearing in mind that
she was thirty-
The couple made their home at Preston Hill Farm Cottage (now ‘Reeves Cottage’). Without the home amenities to which she was accustomed, Grace struggled to come to terms with her new life. Even Sam’s family who could see the unsuitability of their marriage told him, ‘It wasn’t the right place for her...you’ve got no business taking her there.’
The birth of their two children was the catalyst for the family to cut their Hertfordshire ties and move to Portsmouth. After she left Preston for the final time in 1949, Grace never returned to the village.
Grace in 1942
