ST ALBANS AND ARCHITECTURAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY www.stalbanshistory.org N EWSLETTER No. 172 May 2009 Founded 1845 Registered Charity No. 226912 PRESIDENT’S REPORT

The first recorded expenditure October 2007, the bats' life cycle and a delay in the issue on the 14th-century manorial of a licence allowed pigeons to continue their barn at Kingsbury, St Michael's depredations until work began in October 2008. was by John Moote, abbot of from 1396 to 1401. The owners decided early on to replace as little of the More than six centuries later I original fabric as possible. Seasoned oak was inserted am delighted to report that one into rotting joints and beams. The failed weather-boarding of our members and her was replaced using untreated elm (ironically from Holland) husband have paid for the barn fixed with traditional rose-head nails. Re-roofing was to be transformed from its necessary because the tiles had been re-fixed using nails dilapidated state into a that had corroded so much that very few tiles could be re- magnificent monument to local mediaeval timber used. New hand-made tiles were attached to riven oak craftsmanship. battens by 60,000 hand-made oak pegs. The size of the holes in the tiles varied, sometimes within one tile, so the Adam and Jill Singer, who live in Kingsbury Manor, bought pegs had to be of different sizes to match. The oak pegs, the listed Grade II* barn in 2007 from the developers of riven battens and undersides of the tiles remain visible the site in Branch Road formerly occupied by Express from the inside. An attempt has been made to reproduce Dairy. The barn is once again part of the Kingsbury the original fragmented pattern in the roof using the Manor site. Before work could begin, its owners had to remaining original tiles on the east gable which is visible obtain a licence from English Nature for the temporary to the public from Branch Road. exclusion of bats. Although work could have started in

The barn under wraps The work was overseen by Oxley Conservation during the renovation work, (www.oxleyconservation.com) and the builders were IJP and revealed in its new (www.ijp.co.uk), specialist timber workers who showed state. Left, Roger Miles and great attention to detail and an enthusiasm for the original members of the fabric. All the strapping and ironwork was cleaned and Archaeology Group have restored. The great barn doors had to be remade, but been surveying the barn internal doors were conserved. The window and Roger recently led A&A openings on the north elevation have new oak members on a tour of the shutters because the old ones were decayed. A new renovations The owners are particularly grateful to Roger Miles and his colleagues of the name for our continued on page 2

:1 : Society? see page 2

SAHAAS Newsletter No. 172 May 2009 Society's Archaeology Group for making a meticulous The owners are making plans to secure the barn's future. survey of the barn which will add greatly to our They will be interested to hear from anyone who has an understanding of its development. idea for some sort of ongoing use by the community. Adam and Jill's achievement is highly commendable and a Adam and Jill had no financial help with the conservation great contribution to the fabric of our City. I hope that of the barn, but they are delighted with the way the work members of the Society will come up with some has been carried out and very pleased to have revealed imaginative ideas for making use of it. Please contact the barn's stunning internal structure and its external Adam and Jill by mail (Kingsbury Manor, St Michaels, St appearance. They found a serious anomaly in the VAT Albans AL3 4SE), by email at [email protected], rules: for a nationally listed building VAT is payable on or by telephone (01727 838965). conservation work, but not on new work, such as extensions. This seems to go against common sense and sends the wrong message to anyone thinking of Michael Cooper conserving an existing building.

PROPOSED CHANGE OF SOCIETY NAME As we all know, our Society was founded back in 1845 of our Society should be changed to The St Albans and with the original name of the St Albans Architectural Hertfordshire History Society, for the following reasons: Society, which largely reflected its members' interest in, for ■ Our current name no longer expresses the main example, the preservation of the Abbey. The name, interests of our members. Indeed, as long ago as however, seems to have caused some dissatisfaction even 1863, a lecturer apologised for giving us a paper that in our early years, so that only five years later the name was neither architectural nor archaeological. was changed to include 'archaeology'. ■ Our name should represent what its members do in In the following half century, it became clear that even this order to meet its constitutional objectives and to attract was not adequate, as 'St Albans' was in fact thought new members originally to refer to the archdeaconry (then under the diocese of Rochester) rather than the city. Matters were ■ Our present name is far too unwieldy. rather brought to a head by the establishment of the new ■ Our proposed new name is a more accurate reflection diocese and then that of local government under of our interests and will help us move forward into the Hertfordshire County Council, with the result that the 21st century. name changed again to St Albans and Hertfordshire The change will be proposed at our Annual General Architectural and Archaeological Society. Meeting on 8th September, 7.30 p.m. at Over the intervening years there have been more Museum, where there will be further discussion and a misgivings over the accuracy of the title. At an AGM firm decision on this most important matter. So do come several years ago, it was suggested from the floor that to the AGM and state your views. 'history' should be included, but it was felt that such a Members now have more than three months to consider potentially momentous change should have a far greater and discuss this proposal from Council. To help inform consideration than could be given during that short the debate we are inviting members to send their views meeting, and the matter was referred to Council. and comments in advance to our Secretary Bryan Hanlon However, Council could not come to any positive decision by email or post (contact details on page 12). Extracts (apart from rejecting the proposed 'Historia'), and so it from correspondence received will be circulated to all was rather left for a decision to be made at another time, members with other paperwork in advance of the AGM. at some unknown date in the future. After much discussion, your Council (on a decision of eight votes in favour, none against and four abstentions) BryanSecretary Hanlon has decided to propose to our membership that the name

HERTFORDSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY NEEDS YOUR HELP!

The Hertfordshire Archaeology and records are computerised and the be most welcome. We are also History journal needs volunteers to time involved is approximately 2 hours seeking to encourage more help with the distribution and per month. submissions to the journal from marketing of this professional We also need one or more volunteers archaeology and history oriented publication and journal of record for to maintain the non-subscription organisations. It may be possible to the County. In particular we need outlets for the Journal including create a part-paid position for an help with the maintenance of booksellers, museums, specialist experienced person in this role. institutional and ordinary venues and conferences. Someone Please call or e-mail Prof Bill Martin, subscriptions and the distribution and with creative ideas about other HA&H Journal Coordinator, 01442 billing of the journal to subscribers markets for the Journal, including new 395615, [email protected] and members of the Society. All ways to increase subscriptions, would

:2 : SAHAAS Newsletter No. 172 May 2009

SUBSCRIPTION ST ALBANS CITY VISION:OUR RESPONSE REMINDER The following statement was approved by the Society's Council and sent by the President on 13 March 2009 to local organisations and individuals who are By the time you receive this engaged in various ways with the formation of a long-term development newsletter it will be nearly the end of strategy for St Albans. A further statement was approved by Council and sent the Society's financial year and this in response to the exhibition of options for development held in April. The note is a reminder that subscriptions detailed master-plan is expected to be completed by September. are due and payable on 1st June for the forthcoming financial year. The WHY HAVE A NEW MUSEUM 2. The building houses a museum level of subscriptions currently in OF ST ALBANS? and other cultural resources which force is as follows: all sections of the population as Any citizen who is aware of the Individual member £12 well as tourists want to visit for history of St Albans is likely to be entertainment, leisure and Spouse or partner of interested in the city and care for it. learning. a member, living at the People who know something about member's address £6 the lives of others who walked the 3. The building is equipped throughout with IT for performing, Children of a member under same streets as they do, whether teaching and learning, with high- the age of18, living at the they were rich or poor, youthful or speed data transfer internally and member's address £6 elderly, newcomers or long- established, are likely to have a externally. Students who provide broader understanding of life here 4. It has a raked lecture theatre and evidence that they are in and now than people who have little flexible spaces inside and outside full time further or higher knowledge of the past. The Society's for an art gallery, exhibitions, education £6 vision is a museum that brings to workshops, performances, and Family membership £21 citizens of all ages, ethnicities, meetings of local clubs and Those of you who have direct debits religions and socio-economic classes societies. in place do not need to do anything; an active interest in what we all share 5. It has a public library of paper and your subscription will automatically -- life today in a city with a long digital records, access to the be collected from your bank account recorded history; but the present Society's collection, and facilities on 1st June. If you are not yet museum building in Hatfield Road is for secure storage of archives and signed up to the direct debit system, generally accepted as inadequate. artefacts. please reconsider whether you wish Urban Practitioners Ltd has been 6. A shop and café are open to the to do this. I highly recommended commissioned by St Albans City and public whenever the building is in that you do so and you should District Council to produce a report use, including evenings. complete the form sent out when the for the Council's 20-year development system was introduced, sign it and strategy. We welcome this initiative, 7. The building is promoted and forward it to me. If you have mislaid particularly at a time of economic widely accepted as a welcoming your form I do have some spare recession when it is essential to have place to visit and stay for a while, which I can send to you if you call a clear vision of how St Albans as well as a centre for me on 07711 696 417. should be developed. The Society's entertainment, meetings, learning, teaching and developing new skills. For those who do not pay by direct participation in the polls, surveys and debit, please send a cheque for your workshops organised by Urban 8. The Society is a major stakeholder subscription to our membership Practitioners has convinced us that a in the Museum. It co-operates secretary, Peter Jeffreys. If you still new museum should be a core with other organisations (such as pay by standing order, please ensure element of the development strategy. Hertfordshire County Council, St that you have amended this with your The purpose and function of a new Albans City and District Council, bank to give the correct level of museum should be settled before The University of Hertfordshire, subscription with payment on the deciding where it should be built. If local schools, societies and correct date, 1st June. Please also the process is reversed, the outcome citizens' groups) to publicise the cancel all old standing orders as they could be another inadequate building. museum, contribute to events, will make payments of the wrong The Society's vision of a new mount exhibitions and make it an amount and at the wrong date and Museum of St Albans is set out agreeable place for residents and may lead to a double payment. This below. tourists. will lead to administrative problems THE VISION 9. The Society continues its for us both. association with the Museum of St 1. A landmark building in an attractive Albans which began when the first If you have any concerns you wish to setting; designed by architectural Museum of St Albans was discuss with me, please call me on competition to resonate with the conceived and built more than a the above number. history of St Albans; built using hundred years ago. high quality materials; and worth visiting for its architectural JohnTreasurer Thomson importance.

:3 : SAHAAS Newsletter No. 172 May 2009 LIBRARY NOTES AND QUERIES The library team is delighted to followed in the current renovation and Bradbury. Includes photographs of welcome a new member, Elizabeth conservation project. some of Mauger's buildings, and a list of his known work at Garden Gardner, who has a range of valuable Books added recently to stock experience and skills. Her first City. A Redbourn commoner: a country degree was in history, and she ■ Pp 17-20 Arthur Sebright, a Victorian completed a doctorate in medieval life, by Geoff Webb. Stroud, Amberley ne'er-do-well: the story of a history at Oxford, then working in the Publications, 2008. 127pp, younger son, by Arthur Addington. library, and as an editor, in a current photographs. First published 1982. Arthur Sebright was an aristocratic affairs institute in London. Since she The author's family ran a dairy in black sheep, involved in financial and had her family she has worked in Redbourn for over a hundred years. marital scandals. local schools, mainly with children The reign of King Henry VI, by R A ■ Pp 21-30 More hidden histories: new with special educational needs. She Griffiths. Stroud, Sutton Publishing, evidence relating to Hertfordshire and has been a volunteer for more than 1981. 968pp, bibliogs, index. the slave trade, by Jill Barber. ten years at the Museum of St John Monk of St Michael's: the life Hertfordshire people played a key part Albans, organising and cataloguing in the capture. enslavement, and story of a St Albans Victorian, by John the library, helping with enquiries and transportation of people from west Everett. Oakley Press, 1989[?]. 42pp. carrying out research. She has Africa. The role of eight families is John Monk, born 1802, died 1890, was written a history of Marlborough Road described. a village bootmaker who also served Methodist Church, and was one of the parish, in a variety of capacities. In London Archaeologist vol 12, no 4 the authors of the recent book on This memoir draws on records held in Spring 2008 Marshalswick House and its estate. St Michael's parish chest. ■ Pp 107-113 Red or yellow? The She is currently working with museum changing colour of London's roof-line, staff on a history of Fleetville. The The Peasants' Revolt: 's failed revolution of 1381, by Alastair by Sophie Unger. Reports on an Arc & Arc is very fortunate to have investigation of one of the rural Dunn. Stroud, Tempus Publishing, Elizabeth's assistance in the work of suppliers of roof tiles for later Roman 2004. Includes an account of the its library. Elizabeth's first task has buildings in London. The yellow or revolt in St Albans, and its aftermath. been to index a collection of some orange-brown tiles were transported 600 35mm slides, mostly of local Recent Journal articles from Harrold in Bedfordshire. scenes, donated by Frank Kilvington. In British Archaeology, Jan/Feb 2009 Newly received journals The library team continue the long- ■ Pp 30-33, John Evans, by Susanne London Archaeologist Winter 2008/9 term tasks of cataloguing books and Bangert. The author is one of the Landscape History vol 30 2008/9 pamphlets, and organising other initiators of the Ashmolean Museum's library materials, dealing with Sir John Evans Centenary Project, Conservation Bulletin no 60 Spring enquiries, and talking to visitors, from which has sorted, catalogued and re- 2009 whom we learn a good deal. Other housed his archive. Hertfordshire People no 108 March volunteers have been sorting and In The Alban Link, No 70, Spring 2009 2009 indexing papers, and producing a single index to the Transactions, ■ Pp 4-9 Friends, ancient and modern, The Local Historian vol 39 no 1 Herts Archaeology, and Arc & Arc by Stephen de Silva. An account of the February 2009 medieval fraternity of St Albans Abbey, publications since the 1850s. Local History News no 90 Winter 2009 drawing on the Book of Benefactors of Apropos the slide collection, the St Albans Abbey, compiled about 1380. British Archaeology no 106 May/June indexing has been done without the ■ 2009 use of a slide viewer. If any member Pp 10-14 The forgotten ceiling, by Michael Rose. The ceiling paintings in has a small battery-powered viewer the Abbey choir, re-discovered in 1875, THE LIBRARY TEAM for which they no longer have a use, are described and interpreted. and would be happy to donate it to Gill Harvey, 01727 853415 the library, we would be very grateful. ■ Pp 16-20 The Caen connection of 1909, by Jean Payton. The Entente Anne Wares, 01727 860705 Members who attended the visits to Cordiale of 1904 led to an association Donald Munro 01727 760808 Kingsbury Barn, guided by Roger between St Albans and Caen. Mayor Elizabeth Gardner 01727 861101 Miles (see page 1) (and members who Arthur Faulkner was instrumental in Tony Cooper 01727 865032 missed them) may like to know of an arranging civic exchange visits in 1909 article containing a description of the of dignitaries from each city. Or email via the Society's website, barn and its construction in Herts In Herts Past and Present no 13, www.stalbanshistory.org Archaeology, vol. 3 1973, pp134-138. Spring 2009 The library is open on Wednesday The medieval aisled barns at and Friday mornings from 10 a.m. Kingsbury Manor Farm, St Albans, and ■ Pp 3-10 Hertfordshire children and the First World War, by David Parker. to 12 noon in the former Judge's Croxley Hall Farm, by Stephen A Robing Room at the Old Town Hall. ■ Castle, includes a plan and section of Pp 11-16 Paul Victor Edison Mauger, Access is currently through the FRIBA (1896-1982): Quaker architect of Kingsbury barn, and a photograph of Tourist Information Office. the original roof-tile pattern which is Welwyn Garden City, by Oliver

:4 : SAHAAS Newsletter No. 172 May 2009

CLOCK TOWER REPORT ROLLER'S RETURN … Sold by St. Albans Corporation in 1958 for £25, their surviving The Clock Tower re-opened for the season on 1913 10-ton Aveling & Porter steam road roller will be making a Easter Friday 10th April, and will be open each return to the City on Tuesday 26th May as part of the lead up to weekend and Bank Holiday until Heritage Open the following weekend's (May 30/31st) Steam and Country Show Weekend, Sept. 12/13th. Easter began well, with at Oaklands (Smallford site). plenty of visitors streaming in. The roller will visit the Museum of St. Albans, Hatfield Road car All the opening dates and times are on the park from 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm, then travel along St. Peter's Street SAHAAS website (Clock Tower page); we are and Victoria Street, pausing briefly for photographs at 96 Victoria responsible for the following dates: Street (which was the Corporation yard where the roller was Saturday/Sunday 30th/31st May based until 1930) and then the Grimston Road depot adjacent to the City railway station. Saturday/Sunday 13th/14th June This photo, dating from about 1920, shows the roller at work in Saturday/Sunday 27th/28th June St. Albans. Today it still proudly displays its original owner’s Saturday/Sunday 11th/12th July plate. Saturday/Sunday 25th/26th July Saturday/Sunday 8th/9th August Saturday/Sunday 22nd/23rd August Sunday 13th September Now the season has started, the current rota moves around between respective Weekend Organisers and is frequently updated. So if you wish to volunteer for a session, the easiest way to sign up is to call into the Clock Tower on one of the above dates and write your name in to a convenient slot. Alternatively, contact me to ask who currently has the rota, and you can ring them. I would like to welcome our four new clockateers this year, and two new Weekend Organisers - existing clockateers who kindly agreed to help.

JillClock Bennett Tower Co-ordinator, Tel: 01727 867685. 29 HALH NEWS Cornwall Rd, St Albans or e-mail: [email protected] This week we learned of the death of the distinguished local historian Lionel Mundy whose contributions throughout Hertfordshire will be remembered for many years to come. He was a former President of HALH. Our thoughts and prayers go OBITUARY out to Diana his wife and their family. JOAN AUSTIN Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies launched their A long time members, Joan died recently in St community archives project in Welwyn Garden City in March and Albans at the age of 91 after a short illness. received several offers of people willing to become involved. Two She was chairman of the Architecture and days later a similar presentation was held at Hertford and more Local History group from 1975 to 1978, people offered help with the setting up of the 'gateway' continued as Vice Chairman until 1981 and as Hertfordshire memories website. In the autumn there will be a Committee member until 1990. During the further launches as new pilot projects come on stream. 1980s she also served on Council. When the HALH's summer event has attracted almost capacity interest for Society became 150 years old in 1995 an the event and speakers are now being event was held in celebration and Joan contracted for the 30th Symposium to be held at the British attended on this occasion. Thanks to Graham Schools Museum in Hitchin. Over £75,000 has been contributed Norman who supplied this information. towards an appeal to purchase the Delme Ratcliffe archives for HALS. Doreen Bratby Planning has already begun for the usual events for 2010 - the Spring Lecture, Garden Party and Symposium.

JohnArc & CoxArc Representative on HALH Committee

:5 :

SAHAAS Newsletter No. 172 May 2009 70 YEARS ON … VERULAMIUM MUSEUM CELEBRATES ITS 70TH BIRTHDAY A brief report on papers presented at a conference at the University of Albans to be well served by Hertfordshire on 9th May 2009 to mark the 70th anniversary of archaeology, but suffered from a lack Verulamium Museum. of good historical research into its late mediaeval and early modern Following a brief introduction by showed histograms of data he had past. He said St Albans was at its Emeritus Professor Martin Biddle, Dr collected from more than 300 peak as an important town in the Isobel Thompson spoke on 'putting excavation reports which all showed a early 16th century when it was by far the pre-Roman archaeology in its highly significant decline in the the most populous centre in county-wide context'. She illustrated occupation of cities and villas after Hertfordshire and a nationally how the urban archaeological around 350 AD, evidence which does important town. Since then, it has database (UAD) linked to a not contradict Neal's conclusion that undergone periods of alternate geographical information system very few mosaics in Verulamium were stagnation and slow decline. Trade (GIS) has given new insights into pre- laid as late as the 4th century. brought by pilgrims declined, but was Roman Hertfordshire. The roads Faulkner then spoke of the difficulties not replaced effectively by new linking the settlements were of finding good evidence of life in the activities. It remained a market town predominantly in a NE/SW direction, aftermath of Roman Britain, a lack and staging post, a description not N/S as was thought; in particular, which encouraged him to make the justified by the book St Albans 1650- an axis between iron-age sites in 'highly speculative' suggestion that 1700; a thoroughfare town and its Folly Lane and King Harry Lane warlords appropriated Romanitas as a people, published by our 17th-century implies a processional way linked to a means to power and used timber with research group in 2003. ritual site at Verlamion where the axis Roman masonry and bricks to build Hertfordshire became a county of crosses the river. Details can be seen fortifications. Faulkner was, however, small towns, of which St Albans is on the historic environment record able to say that he was sure one. Goose went on to describe a (HER) at www.heritagegateway.org.uk 'someone was doing something'. diversity of economic and social functions, with the straw-hat industry Dr David Neal is the author, with Dr Stewart Bryant covered the as the only dominant commercial Stephen Cosh, of a beautifully period 400-1050 AD in Hertfordshire. activity. He said that, by 1900, St illustrated scholarly book Roman He suggested that Beech Bottom Albans had become a city of light Mosaics in Britain, published in four Dyke was an extension in the NE industry and resources, but it was volumes by Oxbow Books for the direction of the ritual path discussed also a city of social contrasts. Society of Antiquaries. David Neal by Thompson in the first paper. He drew on a life-time of study and too stressed the difficulty of finding The final presentation was by meticulous recording to talk about 'the good archaeological evidence of Professor Martin Biddle who spoke mosaics of Verulamium'. He pointed settlements in early Anglo-Saxon on the excavations at the Cathedral out that some mosaics were placed in Hertfordshire through ploughing and and Abbey Church of St Albans and anterooms with the intention that they mainly ephemeral timber buildings. what has (and has not) been learnt would be viewed through portals in He turned instead to place names from them. He began with a adjoining dining rooms. He also and landscape features for evidence. reference to St Jerome who recorded corrected a common He found that there was a fall in the how the people of Ephesus went to misunderstanding about the dates of population of Hertfordshire between the temple on the hill outside the town the mosaics in Verulamium; only 400 and 750 AD. Although this to worship, a practice that was found seven of the 47 recorded date from conclusion is in accord with evidence by archaeology in the 1940s to have the 4th century. This information was presented by Neal and Faulkner, it been repeated in Bonn and other relevant to the conclusions of the raises the question 'Where did all the German cities. Could a Saxon subsequent speaker. people go?'. Perhaps evidence that church for the cult of the martyr Alban have stood on the site of a Dr Neil Faulkner's topic was they remained more-or-less where they were has not yet been found. Roman cemetery above Verulamium? 'Verulamium and the end of Roman Martin and Birthe Biddle have made Britain'. He began by citing three Bryant held out some hope that pollen analyses of the upper three excavations to the south of the opinions on the last days of Norman Abbey in St Albans in order Verulamium as an inhabited city: sequences of excavations could be useful (apparently interest has to try to answer that question. They Wheeler said it had 'some found evidence of a Roman resemblance to a bombarded city' by hitherto been mainly in the lower levels). cemetery, but only hints of a Saxon the late 3rd or early 4th century; church have come from the Shepherd Frere saw 'survival of Professor Nigel Goose's topic was excavations so far. Unable to active life well into the 5th century'; 'population, economy and society in excavate beneath the floor of the and Niblett found evidence of use of St Albans 1300-1900'. He made it nave, the most likely place to timber buildings until the late 4th or clear that speaking as a historian, not early 5th centuries. Faulkner then as an archaeologist, he found St continued on the next page

:6 : SAHAAS Newsletter No. 172 May 2009 investigate next lies further down response was positive, with the hill, south of the present some specific ideas for members AND BRYAN WENT TO THE Abbey. The date and place of to participate in projects that are Alban's execution have been being planned. Please keep PARTY ... much debated, but Biddle thinks your eyes and ears open for Yes, our much loved Museum was 70 years that a date around 290 AD is further information. old and on 8th May (70 years exactly to the likely and that it is highly Chris Green and the Museum day after its original official opening), the improbable that the execution staff are to be congratulated for “great and good” of St Albans assembled to would have taken place in a the organisation and running of celebrate the occasion. We had speeches cemetery. A more likely place is such an interesting conference. from Chris Green (of course), followed by the the Folly Lane site that The speakers deserve the Mayor, Cllr Bert Pawle and then Lord (Tom) Thompson suggested was of gratitude of everyone in the 100- McNally. Our MP,Anne Main, was also in pre-Roman ritual importance. plus audience for well-prepared attendance. In the final plenary session, your lectures, authoritative deliveries After the drinks and nibbles - plus birthday President asked the speakers for and exceptionally careful cake! - we moved to the Hypocaust, where a their views on whether a Society timekeeping. If in my haste to new signboard illustrating the various insulae like ours in a time of rapid social, meet the Society's Newsletter of the Roman city was unveiled, before we legal, economic and deadline I have misrepresented moved again to the London Gate where technological change could their views, I apologise and hope several of us tried out the new hand held “Veni continue to contribute to solving that they will let me know so I Vidi Verulamium” mobile media tours. These some of the interesting local can make amends. were literally “hot off the press” (if that can archaeological and historical happen with computers) - although I think it problems that remain. Their fair to say that one or two gremlins still need to Michael Cooper be sorted out in the software! All of this under a beautiful blue sky - what a OXFORD, WITH OPTIONAL VISIT TO nice way to spend an afternoon! THE BODLEIAN LIBRARY Bryan Hanlon 23RD SEPTEMBER 2009 Depart by coach at 9 a.m. prompt from Westminster Lodge Car Park. Leave Oxford at 4.30 p.m. Other 2009 Outings Standard tours cost £6 and last one hour. Book and pay in Oxford. Tuesday 9th June Tours take place at 10.30, 11.30, 14.00 and 15.00 and visit Duke Evening visit and walk around Tring Humfrey's medieval library and the 17th century Convocation House This walk will be led by Pat Howe: contact and Court where Parliament was held in the Civil War. her for more details an to book your place Extended tours, which need to be pre-booked, take place at 11.30, (contact details on page 12 14.00 and possibly 15.00. State your preference. These cost £12 Tuesday 23rd June and last 90 minutes. You will see everything included in the standard All-day 'Church Crawl' by coach tour, plus the Upper Reading Room, underground book stacks and the Radcliffe Camera. To be led by Jane Kelsall. Currently fully booked. To be on the waiting list contact Gill Both tours apparently involve a large number of stairs and the Charles (01727 840860; Extended Tour especially includes some steep stairs and a [email protected]; 9 Tilsworth Walk, substantial amount of walking. St Albans AL4 9JT BOOKING Thursday 16th July The coach fare is £12 per person. Morning visit and walk around If you wish to do the extended tour please send a cheque for £24 per Old Amersham person. There is a limit on numbers, so bookings will be first-come Led by Jennifer Clark. For more details and first-served. to book a place contact Ray and Wendy If you wish to do the standard tour send £12 per person and pay on Shaw (01582 832510; the day in Oxford. No forward booking is available. [email protected];Ivory Cottage, Rose Lane, Wheathampstead AL4 8RD If you wish to just use the coach and make your own plans in Oxford the cost is also £12 per person. Tuesday 4th August Evening visit to Rothamsted Please state the names of the people for whom you are booking and which option you wish to take. This walk will be led by Kate Morris: contact her for more details an to book your place Cheques should be made payable to SAHAAS and sent to Gill (contact details on page 12 Charles, 9 Tilsworth Walk, St Albans AL4 9JT. Please include an SAE so we can acknowledge your booking.

:7 : SAHAAS Newsletter No. 172 May 2009

THE FUTURE OF HISTORIC CITIES UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY 10TH HERITAGE SEMINAR

This was a 'high-powered' gathering ● There is a British Standard that is ● When protecting an historic site, it of 70-80 academics and others. far more helpful than its English is important to consider not only Apart from the Cambridge University Heritage equivalent when whether this is desirable, but also staff (American, Danish, Greek, considering the interaction of whether it is feasible in a possibly Sudanese and Swedish), we had heritage within the wider problems changing future speakers/attendees from (at least) of the environment ● Since the urban buildings of today Australia, Belgium, Brazil, China, ● 'Heritage people' are usually will be the heritage of tomorrow, Cyprus, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, brought into the equation far too every effort must be made to Sri Lanka and USA. These included late down the road of any ensure they are of the highest the president of the International development. quality (as per the Declaration of Society of City and Regional Amsterdam in 1970). Planners, and representatives from ● There is apparently a UK National the World Heritage Centre (UNESCO) Planning Guideline concerning tall ● The future of historic towns lies in and English Heritage. buildings within a town the protection of what we have inherited from the past but also in The seminar's website stated: “The ● World Heritage Site status is not necessarily for ever: the the production of our own creative 10th Cambridge Heritage Seminar layer (CHS10) focuses on the preservation Kathmandu Valley has lost its of historic cities and the built classification due to its failure to ● 90% of the remaining Aztec environment. It asks: how can cultural follow its own age-old principle of archaeology in Mexico City has and natural landscapes be sustained having no building taller than the been destroyed within the last 20 in a rapidly globalising world? How home of the gods (i.e. the temple) years can professionals involved in heritage and building right up to the historic ● Xian (the ancient capital of China, practice deal with the challenges of site, rather than leaving it in its formerly known as Chang'an) has modernity without the risk of losing original special setting) a 45 year master plan (from 2005 cultural uniqueness and diversity?” ● The linking of monuments and to 2050 to take the ancient city We therefore thought that we would green areas by pedestrian routes within the city walls back to a gather some ideas on how we could is considered to be a practical way recreation of the city during the help to preserve historic St Albans, of improving the historic Tang dynasty of 1000 years ago although it is perhaps significant that environment: the case in the ● In the UK local government has St Albans, Edinburgh, Cambridge and Athens archaeological park was been left by national government Leicester were the only British historic presented with the responsibility of towns represented: four of us from St ● People are attracted to a quality of preserving the historic heritage, Albans out of a probable maximum of life, not to romantic facades but not the capacity to carry out 80 attendees! Whereas Arc & Arc ● Heritage is both tangible and this task. representatives had expected some intangible - not just one or the practical sessions on how to protect other our historic heritage, the two days Bryan Hanlon were really a succession of papers given by academics, for academics. NEW MEMBERS You may, however, find the following We are delighted to welcome the following, and hope they will enjoy points made of some interest (not in becoming involved with A&A activities. any particular order of priority). Mr & Mrs Graham Appleby Great Shelford ● Importance must be given to the Mrs & Mrs Banfield-Taylor Bricket Wood immaterial elements as it is often Susan Bellamy Robert Avenue, St Albans these where people find their Colin Donald Marshal's Drive, St Albans quality of life Jennifer Faldon Bridle Close, St Albans ● CAD (Computer Aided Design) Mr & Mrs David Fletcher Windmill Avenue, St Albans may help architects to design the Sandra Harper most advanced buildings, but Mrs J Halse and family Deva Close, St Albans nothing can replace the imperative Dr & Mrs BF Hutton Harpenden need actually to visit the site in Teresa Jones Highview Gardens, St Albans question to appreciate its Nicholas Mein Avenue Road, St Albans surroundings, sounds, smells etc. Mr & Mrs J Parks Welwyn Garden City ● Many planners seem to be Alison Metcalfe Barncroft Way, St Albans unaware of the historic Rosalind Trent Claudian Place, St Albans environment in which they are Peter Wilson Harpenden operating. Teresa Wood Seymour Road, St Albans

:8 :

SAHAAS Newsletter No. 172 May 2009

ENGLISH HERITAGE RESCUES HERITAGE OPEN DAYS

In May English Heritage announced Steven Bee, Director of Planning and the 15th edition of Heritage Open that it would take ownership of Development at English Heritage, Days another success. Heritage Open Days, securing the said: “English Heritage can reassure “We have been working very closely future of the popular cultural event all those who like to take part in with English Heritage for many years, and reassuring one million Heritage Open Days that it will and they proved a friend when we participants and 35,000 volunteer happen this and every year – and we needed them most. The transfer of organisers by guaranteeing that it will look forward to an excellent weekend Heritage Open Days to English take place this year. English Heritage of events on the 10th-13th Heritage will build on this long- previously helped the Civic Trust to September. Heritage Open Days is established partnership. We see it as fund and operate Heritage Open an important cultural event and we a fantastic opportunity for both Days, but concern had been raised are very grateful for the continued England's largest grassroots heritage over the event's future since the Civic support of all the volunteers across event and the Government's lead Trust in England announced that it England, on which the success of the body for the historic environment.” had gone into administration. event depends.” No information is yet available about Heritage Open Days is England's Katja Condy, Heritage Open Days the future of the Civic Trust's other biggest voluntary cultural event. More Manager, said: “When the news of responsibilities. than 3,500 historic and unusual the Civic Trust's demise broke a buildings – including many in St month ago, it came as a shock to For details of open buildings visit Albans and the surrounding area – thousands of volunteers across the www.heritageopendays.org.uk open their doors to the public for free country who were already gearing up and put on tours and events during for another celebration of their local the second weekend in September. heritage in September. It put a huge 90% of the population live within 30 question mark over the future of the minutes of a Heritage Open Days event. We are greatly relieved that the event. programme has found a new home and that we can now focus on making

VISIT TO

Following in the footsteps of our predecessors, some 116 years ago when in June 1893 they drove from St Albans Town Hall through the 'leafy lanes' to Tyttenhanger House, a large party from the Society visited Tyttenhanger on 28th April. There are not too many lanes anymore, but the house, built in 1654, is very much still there, and we were taken round by Mr Paul Bonnington, son of the present owner. First we had an opportunity to admire it from the outside, looking at the fine brickwork, and somewhat eccentric arrangement of windows, work of a bricklayer, rather than an established architect! We debated about the bricked- up windows - window tax or decoration? We then moved inside for a welcome hot drink: early evening even on a fine April day can be chilly! We were able to look at part of the interior - much of the house is presumably brought from an earlier house now given over to offices. We admired in as there were several houses on the site particular the fine carved decoration on before the present one -- and triptych of the the staircase -- truly a notable feature -- Lords Prayer, Apostles Creed, and Ten the carved wooden door cases and the Commandments. collection of portraits of previous owners, A fascinating evening and thanks are due to Popes, Freemans and Blounts. The the Bonningtons, and to the Bratbys for chapel on the second floor is a very making the arrangements. interesting feature, with its large two- decker pulpit, linenfold paneling -- The facade of the house and our host Gill Harvey Paul Bonnington

:9 : SAHAAS Newsletter No. 172 May 2009 TUESDAY LECTURE REPORTS On Tuesday 10th February our estate, close to St Albans and so lecturer was Ann Dean, whose well known to most of us, was very AN APOLOGY lecture on the Church of St enjoyable and of much interest. Some twenty or so of our members Michael: A Hidden Treasure drew In what was to be our final lecture deserve a profound apology, for when her usual packed audience. She in April, David Pearce spoke on they arrived at the lecture theatre on described how the church was built Hertfordshire you may have Tuesday 12th May, they found the lights over the pagan site and was one of missed, illustrated by his own etc in full operation, but no sign of the 'foundation' churches placed at photos. He described some of the lecturer or indeed any of our usual team. the main accesses to St Albans for unusual features tucked away in The facts behind this rather sorry state the many pilgrims to the Abbey. Its our villages, mostly in East Herts. walls contain Roman tiles salvaged of affairs are that the School informed Hunsdon church spire was us in early March that they were from the ruins of Verulamium and originally on St Albans Abbey tower, there are remains of Saxon withdrawing availability of the lecture while at Clothall there are traces of room and this was announced at all windows. Inevitably, alterations a 15th century window from a leper were made over the centuries, such subsequent Tuesday and Friday lectures, hospital. The large number of withdrawn from the Herts Ad billboard, as the aisles added in the 12th puddingstones in Standon are century through to the energetic and promulgated via the website and thought to be part of a series of email. (Gerard also told the Kings restorations of Lord Grimthorpe. markers leading to the Neolithic flint However, St Michaels remains a Langley Local History Society, in the mines at Grimes Graves. He also hope that they could also inform their charming little Hertfordshire church, described the fine angel roof at full of interest, well displayed in members). Unfortunately – perhaps Furneaux Pelham church and the inevitably – this message did not get Anne's excellent illustrations, and lovely single angel at Braughing. her lecture provided a most through to those members who did not David's talk provided many attend the March and April lectures or interesting and entertaining interesting examples of interest evening. who are not in frequent contact with the throughout the county and provided wonders of “the web”. The School’s In March Christine Aitken gave a a very enjoyable evening. other client then cancelled its booking, lecture on Childwickbury. She A correction: In our previous issue but this message was not passed on to has a long association with the we reported on '200 years of us, or even to the caretaker who opened estate, where her father was farm history at Ashwell', which should, of up the room. manager. The name Childwickbury course, have been 2000 years, as is thought to have come from That is the background. It does not, our speaker referred to the however, excuse the fact that no one 'dwellings by the well', and was one prehistoric barrows and the iron of the Abbey's many holdings. It was in attendance at the School in case age fort, as well as Roman remains members did arrive. For this, we offer has passed through a number of near the village. owners during its history, including our full apologies. Sir Geoffrey de Childwickbury in the And a farewell. With our April This occurrence has taught us a lesson 14th century, the Toulmins, Sir John lecture we see the demise of the in that, until we have – somehow -– a Maple and the Joels, to name but a Architecture and Local History means of contacting the entire few. She described the amenities Group, which passes its lecture membership should any similar added through the years for the responsibilities to the Programme occurrence happen in the future, then at benefit of the tiny population. John Committee. The ALH Group, least we must have a Society Blundell Maple was a horse racing formed in the 1960s, has put representative on hand to explain and figure and established what was the together hundreds of talks and its apologise. We fervently hope, however, largest stud in the country at the officers deserve our thanks for their that this will not happen again! time. This activity was continued by hard work. the Joels and the stud (sold in BryanSecretary Hanlon 1993) is still in existence. Betty Ewens Christine's lecture on this surviving

: 10 :

SAHAAS Newsletter No. 172 May 2009 CURRENT SOCIETY PUBLICATIONS

Please contact me if you would like copies from our list at special prices for members of SAHAAS. Copies of books are usually available at Society events. If you are out of town I can quote you the cost of delivering copies.

91Clare Sandpit Ellis Lane, St Albans AL1 4BJ. Tel 01727 856250 [email protected] The Street Memorials of St The Story of the Albans Abbey Parish Abbey School Alice Goodman, 1987 Alice Goodman, 1991

Describes St Albans during the History of the National School 1914-18 War, and the unique street founded by the Abbey Parish in memorials erected to the fallen. 1848. £4 £4

The Light of Other Days St Albans 1553 Brian Moody, 1995 by David Dean, Pat Howe, Betty Masters & Kate Morris, 2003 A short history of the Society's first 150 years. Celebrates the granting of a Charter to St Albans by the boy king Edward VI in 1553, and explains its importance in £1 providing the foundations for our local government, establishing the Mayoralty and authorising the A History in All Men's Lives town's markets. Ed. Brian Moody, 1999 £4

Papers on notable past members of AVAILABLE AT WATERSTONE’S,ST ALBANS the Society and events from the first 150 years. Authors F Kilvington, R St Albans 1650-1700, a thoroughfare town Busby, J Brodrick, B Moody, D and its people Aubrey and J T Smith. £2 Ed. J T Smith & M A North, 2003 The result of twelve years of work by the Society's Research Group, with ten authors.

S OCIETY L ECTURES 2008/9 Friday 29th May 2009 glory. This talk charts some of the fascinating discoveries The Restoration of Kew Palace and that were made, and the long road back to life. Queen Charlotte's Cottage Lee Prosser is Curator - Historic Buildings at Historic Lee Prosser Royal Palaces, the charitable trust which cares for five of Kew Palace is a jewel set in the Royal Botanic Gardens. It our most important royal residences: the Tower of remains Britain's smallest royal residence, and was the London, Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace, Kew place where King George III was sent to be shielded from Palace and the Banqueting House in Whitehall. He is an the public eye, when the world considered him mad. The archaeologist by training, and was part of the team which actual house was built in 1631, and is a rare survivor of a led the restoration of Kew. London merchant's residence. For ten years it was closed Details of the 2009-10 programme will be published in to the public before being the subject of a multi-million our September newsletter pound conservation project, which restored it to its former

Friday Lectures start at 7.45pm at the College of Law, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield Road Campus St Albans Tuesday Lectures start at 8.00pm at St Albans Boys' School, Romeland, St Albans They are open to all members of the Society. Non-members may attend two meetings as guests.

: 11 :

COUNCIL MEMBERS 2008-9

PRESIDENT 19TH CENTURY RESEARCH Michael Cooper Judy Faraday 85 Lancaster Road, St Albans AL1 4ER 48 Midway, St Albans AL3 4BQ 01727 841480 01727-850834 [email protected] [email protected]

PAST PRESIDENT LIBRARY REPRESENTATIVE Clare Ellis Gill Harvey 91 Sandpit Lane, St Albans AL1 4BJ 18a Gainsborough Avenue, St Albans AL1 4NL 01727-856250 [email protected] 01727 853415 [email protected]

SECRETARY 17TH CENTURY POPULATION RESEARCH Bryan Hanlon Pat Howe 24 Monks Horton Way, St Albans AL1 4HA 7 Cranmore Court, Avenue Road, St Albans AL1 3QS 01727-851734 [email protected] 01727-857274 [email protected]

TREASURER MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY John Thomson Peter Jeffreys 9 Upper Lattimore Road, St Albans AL1 3UD 29 Bury Green, Wheathampstead, St Albans AL4 8DB 07711-696417 [email protected] 01582-832971 [email protected]

WEBSITE MANAGER HERTS ARCHAEOLOGY & HISTORY Brian Bending Bill Martin 4 Abbey View Road, St Albans AL3 4QL 18 , Hemel Hempstead, HP4 0DY 01727-862689 [email protected] 01442-242614 [email protected]

CLOCK TOWER ARCHITECTURE AND LOCAL HISTORY Jill Bennett REPRESENTATIVE 29 Cornwall Road, St Albans AL1 1SQ Gerard McSweeney 01727-867685 [email protected] 52 Jennings Road, St Albans AL1 4NZ 01727-857958 [email protected] LECTURE SECRETARY Doreen Bratby PRESS AND PUBLICITY OFFICER 26 The Park,St Albans AL1 4RY vacant 01727-858050 [email protected] ARCHAEOLOGY GROUP REPRESENTATIVE CHAIRMAN,PROGRAMME COMMITTEE Roger Miles Roy Bratby 21 Upper Culver Road, St Albans AL1 4EE 26 The Park, St Albans AL1 4RY 01727-865735 [email protected] 01727 858050 [email protected] PROPERTY RESEARCH REPRESENTATIVE NEWSLETTER EDITOR Kate Morris Dee Drinkwater 74 St Peter's Street, St Albans AL1 3HG 9 Samian Gate, St Albans AL3 4JW 01727-868434 [email protected] 01727-868765 [email protected]

MUSEUMS & HERITAGE OFFICER Chris Green St Albans District Council, Verulamium Museum, St Michael's Street, St Albans AL3 4SW 07931 598014 [email protected]

The SAHAAS Newsletter welcomes your comments, ideas or contributions, which may be edited; please send to [email protected] or to 9 Samian Gate, St Albans, Herts AL3 4JW 01727 868765

: 12 :