Loosley’s High Street shop is easily recognisable where Oxfam now stands. He produced a range of local postcards which form part of the Society’s collection.
George Loosley ran the local servants’ registry for which advertisements appear in local papers. For example in the Bucks Herald in 1917, “House-Parlourmaid wanted; small family; very convenient house; good wages. ‘H.,’ c/o Loosley’s Registry Office, Berkhamsted.” He was also a prolific writer of letters (often of complaint) to local and national newspapers. Here is a complimentary one in the Bucks Herald in 1916: “Anyone who has seen the ‘butter tent’ at the Tring Agricultural Show can have no doubt about the value of woman labour in connection with agriculture. Yours truly, G. Loosley.”
Loosley also produced a Local Almanac. From the Bucks Herald, Dec 1895, “Berkhampstead is an exceptionally lucky town… the rates have been low! Mr. Loosley [in his Local Almanac] attributes this never-too-much-to-be-extolled fact – shall we say virtue? – to the comparatively small population requiring aid from the rates ‘in consequence of good work being afforded by the several industries and the operation of various charities.’ He adds, ‘Although houses for the working classes and others are being constantly built, there is a demand for more, and with the recently carried out system of sewerage for the town and district, great expectations of future prosperity and progress are entertained.’ Happy Berkhampstead!”
In Bucks Herald, Jan 1902, Messrs. G. Loosley and Sons’ “Local Almanack.—As usual… replete with useful and interesting information. A history of Berkhampstead School is included this year, and the ‘suburb,’ Northchurch, is not forgotten. The local directory appears to have been very carefully compiled; and the general matter is excellent, including several portraits of royalties. The whole forms a very good pennyworth.”
Travels Through Time 