Postcards sent from Boreham Wood and Elstree in the early 1900s provide a fascinating account of life in the villages.

And it is not only the pictures on the front that show the villages as they were then, the messages written on the back also provide an insight into the town's history.

A postcard sent from Elstree in 1911 depicts the then Station Road, now Allum Lane.

The postcard was sent from Elstree to East Dulwich and the message on the back of the postcard reads.

"Been over to straw hat bleaching works, nearly overcome by the fumes and was taken out into fresh air.

"Had tea with the manager of the works, he knows every street in Winnipeg and asked me to stay during the evening and catch the 9.15 home."

The Works referred to in the message was known as Cambi's Panama Hat Company based in Shenley Road, Boreham Wood from the early 1900s until about 1925.

Elstree and Boreham Wood Museum volunteer Alan Lawrence said that, to his knowledge, the hat company did not actually make the hats. Instead, they were brought to The Works where they were bleached and shaped.

"The fumes referred to in the post card must have been from the bleach as there were a lot of hats going though the factory.

"Once the hats were bleached and shaped they would be hung out to dry on posts in the field next door."

The works were based near where Marks and Spencers is today and in about 1927 Keystone, a women's underwear manufacturer, took over the buildings.

Another postcard sent from Boreham Wood depicts Drayton Road. Rows of terraced houses, some still there today, can be seen as well as a little girl and a horse and cart.

The message on the back of the postcard, which was sent to Upper Holloway in London, said: "I am having a lovely time down here though every day has not been fine. On Monday night I went for a walk through about six fields.

"Yesterday morning I went mushrooming at 6.15am and got 12lbs. This is the road I am staying in and the little girl you can see is Winnie Peters."

It is interesting that the sender knew the child pictured in the postcard but such knowledge is a good example of how small Boreham Wood was in those days.