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Home , History of St Albans, Sopwell Priory, St Albans Cathedral, Verulamium Park

STALBANS AND ARCHITECTURALAND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY www.stalbanshistory.org NEWSLETTER Founded 1845 No. 159 November 2005

Registered Charity No. 226912 Hon. Sec: Bryan Hanlon, 24 Monks Horton Way, AL1 4HA

SAHAAS H O S T S 2005 HALH SY M P O S I U M IN T H I S I S S U E

Each year one of the members of the in stagecoach design, such as new Trifels revisited 2 Hertfordshire Association for Local springs. Improvements at 2 History hosts a symposium on a In the pre-lunch spot we had our very Sopwell selected topic agreed with HALH. own David on ‘St Albans: inns and New Members’ party 2 This year, for the first time since 1996, the thoroughfare town’. Although this Second hand books 2 SAHAAS were asked to act as hosts. will have been familiar material to many The 1996 symposium was highly SAHAAS members he brought alive St Obituary: Anne Kaloczi 3 successful so a hard act to follow. Albans’ history in a very vivid way to Obituary: Dr John Lunn 3 other attendees. Our thanks go to the organising Field names of 4 committee (David Dean, Clare Ellis and After an excellent lunch, most efficiently Park Pat Howe), to Ann Dean and Doreen organised by the caterers assisted by St Pancras Chambers 4 Bratby and their catering our own band of ladies, we heard from team (Margaret Dr Alan Thomson (Lecturer in History Archaeology and Local 5 Amsdon, Diane at the University of Hertfordshire) on History Group Ayerst, Rita ‘Kings, carts and composition: St Shrine 5 Cadish, Gill Charles, the early Stuarts and Symposium Irene Cowan and Hertfordshire roads’. Overdue subscription? 5 Jean Taylor) and It was to Bryan Hanlon, interesting to Tower visitors 6 Gerard discover 17th C Population Group 6 McSweeney, that Archaeology Group 6 Norman Oldknow, John Brodrick and James I tried very hard to keep down his many others who worked so hard to expenditure by requiring Hertfordshire’s Goodbye to Joyce 6 make the event a success. carters to cart for him at rock-bottom This season’s lectures 7 rates! When Charles I brought in Ship The event was hosted jointly by Clare New members 8 Money on top it was the last straw ... Ellis on behalf of SAHAAS and Christine Rule Brittania 8 Shearman, Chairman of HALH. The Alan Ruston (Chairman of Hertfordshire 2005 topic was Transport and Travel Record Society and Vice-chairman of St Albans 1650-1700 8 before the Railway Age and an HALH) followed on the subject of ‘Maps: Special book offer 8 interesting range of speakers was laid did travellers use them?’. Accustomed Members’ publications 9 on for the 2005 event. as we are to detailed maps for almost anything and anywhere, it is perhaps Stocking stuffers 9 Dr Jill Barber (Country Local Studies difficult for us to comprehend just how Librarian) kicked us off with ‘Hidden Library move 9 basic they used to be, e.g. hardly a road talent: journeys through the archives’, Society publications 10 in sight! bringing out a most interesting variety of examples of travel before the age of Our last speaker was Alan Greening steam. (Past Secretary of Hertford and Ware Local History Society) who talked about DO N’T M I S S O U R She was followed by Dorian Gerhold (a ‘Turnpikes of East Hertfordshire’, drawn nationally known author on a number of from his meticulous research on the far NE W YE A R historical topics with a special interest in side of the County. roads and travel) on ‘Goods and PA R T Y passenger transport by road before and We filled the room with almost 200 after the turnpikes’. One facet he people, which was, we believe, 1 3T H JA N U A RY 2 0 0 6 brought out was that it was not turnpikes something of a record for this type of DE TA I L S O N T H E as such that increased the speed of event. We rest on our laurels until it is L A S T PA G E travel, but more the technical innovation our turn again in nine years time. SAHAAS Newsletter No. 159 November 2005

TR I F E L S RE V I S I T E D

As reported in the Spring, a trip was taken to Nevers, our French twin duly made by representatives of the town and then, at some future date to Museum Service, and the St Albans be fixed, it will go to our Hungarian Worms Partnership, to the Burgfest at twin town. Trifels in Germany at the beginning of A highlight of the festival was the August. A handful of SAHAAS lecture by John Gillingham on members were among the party, and Richard Lionheart, competently a jolly good time was had by all. delivered in German language. On Richard Lionheart (alias Simon West) this occasion Professor Gillingham and Archbishop Stephen Langton concentrated on the relationships of (alias Brian Adams) (pictured right) the royal personages: to what extent together with a motley retinue made a was it unacceptable for Richard to be big impact on the locals attending the imprisoned in this way by the festival. The multilingual exhibition St Emperor, given his standing, and was Albans – a city in Europe, which this unreasonable revenge for the depicts the in the slight imposed on the other royal European context, was well received personages by Richard himself? John at the festival. It then moved from the accompanied us on a side trip to castle to the City Museum in Worms. Speyer, where he was able to add There, following the grand opening considerably to our understanding of ceremony during our visit, it will the significance of this Rhineland remain for a month, before moving to area under the Staufer imperial family the Town Hall (Rathaus) and then on in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. to Alzey (the twin town of Harpenden). Next March, it will be

IM P R O V E M E N T S AT SO P W E L L NE W ME M B E R S’ PA R T Y PR I O RY The New Members’ Party held on 14th October was well attended and seems to have been greatly enjoyed by both In July the Sopwell Residents’ Association opened a old and new members. Sincere thanks are due to those new disabled access bridge into the who provided excellent displays, illustrating the work of the Open Space. The bridge is part of the Greenspace 17th Century, Property and Archaeology Groups. Action Plan (GAP), devised by the Sopwell Residents, Considerable interest was shown and potential members the Countryside Management Service and St Albans were recruited. City and District Council. The GAP is an agreement between the partners to maintain and improve the The need for experienced librarians and assistants, when space, including installing new benches, planting bulbs we move to the Town Hall and can open more regularly, and surfacing the riverside path. Volunteers from the resulted in a good response. Hopefully, Jill’s description of Countryside Management Service built the bridge, the joys of Clockwatching will also lead to a lighter load which allows wheelchair and pushchair users into the next year for the regular stalwarts. area. Our thanks are due to Bryan Hanlon for the splendid food Anne Kaloczi, one of our members, who died tragically and drinks. Definitely a good way to make new members not long after the opening of the bridge (see page 3), feel more involved in our activities: we hope to repeat this worked hard to bring the partnership into existence. event periodically. She said: “This project has brought the community together. People living in the area have been involved and will have an opportunity to continue to be involved in managing and caring for their open space.” SE C O N D-H A N D B O O K S? The plan includes measures to entice more wildlife to use the open space. Uncut areas will offer habitats for David Reidy, who describes himself as ‘an ex-pat’ member watervole and kingfishers. Flowers have been planted of SAHAAS has some books about Herts and St Albans, and will be left uncut to encourage butterflies and bees. including old copies of the Transactions, for sale. The priory ruins themselves make a feature in the open space and future plans will involve better signage and If you are looking for something to complete your collection the planting of appropriate medieval roses nearby. please ring him on 020 8668 2991

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OB I T U A RY: AN N E KA L O C Z I

It is with great sadness that we it was not to announce the death of one of our be, and I younger and most active members, intend to Anne Kaloczi, moth of Civic Society complete the Vice-chairman David. Our book and condolences to David, his father and dedicate it to three other siblings and the whole her memory. family. Anne died on 31st August Anne, you will after a fight against cancer. be sadly Although she had been aware of her missed by all illness for five years, Anne was to be of us: this struck down in the prime of her life, town has few just when she had begun to preen enough her feathers as a local history supporters contributor; indeed, her excellent anyway, and article on foundling children appeared those who in Herts Past and Present in 2004. are prepared Civic Society members celebrating to be active and speak out vigorously, Anne was remarkable lady. I had the after the Oaklands referral meeting. as you did, are a vanishing species. privilege of knowing her for too short You gave great support to David in A well-filled congregation attended a time, scarcely four years. During his Oaklands Action Campaign the funeral service at St Peter’s this time she was working very hard against the proposed redevelopment Church on 8th September. Anne, for St Albans, both as a local issues of the St Albans City Campus site, who arranged and virtually published campaigner and as history and researched the history of Horace the order of service herself, researcher; she was a member not Slade’s house at 23 Hatfield Road. It surprisingly chose verses from Land just of the Arc and Arc but also of the is our duty, in your memory, to do all of Hope and Glory, which were lustily Civic Society and U3A. For the Arc in our power to defeat Fairview sung. A beautiful autumn day for our and Arc, where she was a member of Homes’ plans to demolish it and farewell to her, and one which she Council, she researched the foundling much of the surrounding area. must very much have enjoyed children from 18th century Although it may not fit in with John herself. Those who wish to can make who were fostered in St Albans ad Prescott’s plans for hundreds of new donation to Cancer Research in her buried in St Peter’s churchyard. homes, there is every reason to look memory. Anne also had broader national forward to the campaigners’ saving issues on her agenda. 23 Hatfield Road, recycling it into On independent campaigning issues sympathetic new housing and naming she was highly active, especially in it Anne Kaloczi House. A photo taken Sopwell Ward. At Cllr Robert in March shows Anne and David with Donald’s meetings with the ‘St Albans against Litter Campaign’, she led a vociferous battle where, significantly OB I T U A RY another regular campaign member was our MP-in-waiting, Anne Main. DR JO H N LU N N, 1923-2001 For me personally, the highlight of our friendship was the U3A lectures she When the Society was restarted in 1951, John Lunn, who was then the gave, as recently as October 2004, Director of Verulamium Museum, became our first Director of Excavations. on the Aesthetic Movement in St His guidance in those formative years was greatly appreciated, and before Albans, on behalf of History Group 2, he emigrated to Canada in 1957 he was made an Honorary Vice-President in which she highlighted 23 Hatfield of the Society. Since then our contacts have been increasingly tenuous, but Road as a vitally important local we have at last had confirmation from one of his sons that he died in 2001. building.. This was a timely reminder He had an illustrious career in Canada, and in 1971 received an Honorary that a work I had started in 2000 had Doctorate from the University of Ottawa, in recognition of his restoration of fallen behind because of other the Fortress of Louisbourg in Nova Scotia. At the time of his retirement in pressures. Sadly, far too late really, 1987 he was Director of Museum Services in Alberta. we began a dialogue and I looked forward to a new book bearing both Not many of our present members will have known him, but the late Archie our names, but although Anne Boutwood remembered him well remained full of energy until April, and surpassed herself with very late help,

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FI E L D N A M E S O F VE R U L A M I U M PA R K

ST GERMAIN`S FARM St Michael`s Church than St occupiers of Ver Cottage; both it and Michael`s Lodge (the entrance to the farm disappeared from the Perhaps we should all desist from Gorhambury) and consequently was landscape during the 1950s. referring to the length of land demolished when in 1962 Blue House adjacent to Bluehouse Hill and Back to St Michael`s. A well-known Hill was straightened and widened including John O`Conner`s recently character up to the 1950s was Mr and extended to the Road. cleared compost heap as ‘summer Burgess the baker of 29 St Michael`s Jack Knight of Blacksmith`s Lane meadow’; it does have a name after Street. He alternately enjoyed a daily remembers that the cottage had a all, Hutchinson’s Meadow. Benjamin pint at each of the four (existing) deep well. The tenant was Mrs Hutchinson was vicar of St Michael`s locals: Six Bells (Taylor Walker), Rose Shellard, a widow, whose husband for most of Queen Victoria`s reign and Crown (Benskins), Black Lion had been coachman at Gorhambury from 1850 and it bears his name; until (Adey and White) and Blue Anchor and whose son worked for Albanian 1929 this side of the old field path to (McMullen). Mr and Mrs Jack Knight Coaches, alas now also a distant Windridge remained part of the of Blacksmith`s Lane live in a house memory. Jack`s brother, Peter Knight church glebe. with a very interesting plaque on its of Nelson Avenue, spent his working end wall facing Bluehouse Hill. This It is moot to remind ourselves that life with Albanian, but that is another stone tablet bears a coronet, initials other parts of St Germain`s Farm story… E.J.V. (Elizabeth Joanne Verulam) also had proper names whereas they VERULAM HILLS FARM and the date 1877 in which year are now all massed together as Elizabeth was due to unveil the . The fields, part of This stood near the Causeway and its terraced houses in what had whose boundaries still show, were, pastures lay down to the Holywell previously been Back Lane until ascending from the river, Lower, Bridge on what is now the 1871. Unfortunately Elizabeth did not Middle and Upper Darrowfield, the Westminster Lodge part of live to unveil the properties built by name probably being a corruption of Verulamium Park. In living memory it Gorhambury Estate. Deerfield or Darvil. At the top of was tenanted for Lord Verulam by Upper Darrowfield, alongside King Arthur Tingey. It was rumoured that

Harry Lane, was/is Little Hugger- he was ordered by the War Ministry © TONY BILLINGS, February 2005. Mugger and the field running down of Agriculture to put the land to alongside the Causeway was Nether plough but he refused and moved to Darrowfield. (Hugger-Mugger is a property in Waverley Road. In the believed to be of Indian origin, the 1950s it was farmed by Reg and dictionary meanings being `secrecy` George Brown, who had a prize- ST PA N C R A S (it is quite well concealed), and winning Friesian herd and CH A M B E R S `confusion` or `slovenliness`. I am subsequently farmed Salisbury Hall tempted to say that until recently the Farm. A very noisome piggery stood whole park could at times be alongside the Causeway and In late August, prompted by the described as a “Great Hugger- allotments lined both sides of Mud note in the July Newsletter, I Mugger). Lane right down to Holywell Hill. For joined a tour of St. Pancras some now unknown reason Verulam Chambers, the old Grand Midland The farmhouse of St Germain`s, Hills Farm was known as Diddlum Hotel which fronts St.Pancras occupied by tenant farmers of Lord Hall and apparently a halt named as station. Verulam, was taken down to build the such was proposed on the LNWR Roman Museum in 1937/8. Frank Having passed through it twice extension from Station to St Dean, farmer of St Germain`s, and every working day for over 10 Michael`s. Reg and George Brown George Willshin, farmer of Kingsbury years it was a revelation to see were the farmers when the council Farm in Branch Road, combined the interior and hear the history of bought the land to add to the park in earlier than 1929 with Prae Wood the building from the guide. the 1950s. Farm to be managed by Gorhambury Thank you to the author of the Estate with Wilf Curtis as manager. Near Verulam Hills Farm, but not a note. I urge any member who Later Express Dairies ran the part of it, stood Ver Cottage on a might have any similar business and, until shortly before its narrow strip of land now occupied by recommendations or knowledge closure, St Albans milk floats used the so-called fish ladder. The tenant that could be of interest to other the name of the present northern here was Mrs French. During the war members to submit them to the owner, Dale Farms, but customers the adjacent Fighting Cocks pub was Editor. did not recognise this name and run by Jack Knight`s uncle Bill Brown, sales fell, causing the dairy to revert formerly from the Rose and Crown at to the name Express Dairies. . A wartime publicity broadcast from ``s oldest How many remember Meadowside licenced house` took place here. Reg Cottage? This stood a little nearer to and George Brown were the last

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AR C H A E O L O G Y & LO C A L HI S TO RY GR O U P ST AM P H I B A L U S Our 2005/6 season opened on 6th Vespasian (probably from the SH R I N E SY M P O S I U M September at an unusual venue – St Mendip lead mines) were found, and Saviour’s Church – by courtesy of are now in the museum. Mr PA P E R S Rev Peter Wadsworth. Our lecturer, Watson’s amusing account shed a Peter Collins, traced the history of lot of light on this busy port and life In September 2004 a Symposium organs from the early Roman during the early days of the Roman was held to consider St Albans models to the present day. Peter occupation. Cathedral’s second shrine-base, that Collins received part of his training In October, the lecture by Tony of St Amphibalus, the name given to in Austria, now runs his own Woodhouse was on the architectural the priest to whom Alban gave company, and has over 40 years history of Dunstable Priory, built by shelter. The shrine languishes in a experience in organ building. Early Henry I near his Kingsbury Palace. dark corner of the north presbytery organs had goatskin pumps worked Excellent drawings represented the aisle, and is often passed by by the feet, and by 1500 all the buildings of the Augustinian unnoticed. The Symposium, elements of the modern organ had establishment as they probably however, demonstrated the been invented. The St Saviour’s appeared. Its church of St Peter importance and unique features of organ is an 18th century replica, boasted the shirt of St Hugh as its the surviving structure. built in the 1980s in the French style, main relic and also housed the The Fraternity of the Friends of St with fine decorative wood carving. shrine of St Fremund, attracting Albans Abbey sponsored the Mr Collins completed the evening many pilgrims. A storm in 1222 Symposium and have now made with a short organ recital, ending a brought down the two west towers, papers from this event available for most enjoyable evening. and by 1240 the church was rebuilt, purchase. These include Professor The following week, Mr T C Stevens, although the towers were replaced Martin Biddle’s summary of the keeper of the ruins at by Grimthorpe-like turrets. During history of the cult and shrine of St. Berkhampstead Castle for over 30 the the church was Amphibalus, Dr Richard K. Morris’s years, spoke about the castle built wrecked and the surrounding detailed assessment of the stonework soon after the Conquest, initially of buildings disappeared, leaving just of the shrine-base and Richard wood and then rebuilt in stone in the church and the west front, Lithgow’s study of the painted 1150 with money provided from the as it appears today. Excavations, decoration. Together they present a privy purse by Thomas Beckett. the most recent in 2004, have fascinating picture of the history of Associations with the castle over the revealed very little. The Priory, part the Abbey’s second shrine. years include Piers Gaveston, the Norman, part Early English, must The papers cost £5 and are available Black prince and Cecily Neville, have been a very fine building. by post directly from the Fraternity of mother of both Edward IV and Our next October lecture, by Michael the Friends, , Richard III. The castle was West of international civil engineers Sumpter Yard, St Albans, AL1 3BY. abandoned after 1495 and, in 1600, Oscar Faber, was on the restoration Cheques should be made out to the was stripped of its facing stone by of the Chandlers Cross mansion Fraternity of the Friends of St Albans Sir Edward Carey to build now known as The Grove Hotel. Abbey. Copies are also available Berkhampstead Place. Them in the The original 18th century mansion on the Abbey’s bookstall. 18th century, the springs which once was the country seat of a governor fed the moat were diverted to the of South Africa. Extensions were Bridgewater canal, the moats built in the latter 18th century and themselves having been cut through again in the mid 19th century. Sold by the railway in 1845. Mr Stevens by the family in the 1920s, it was for had many anecdotes collected many years used as the railways OV E R D U E during his tenure at the castle. headquarters and training centre. S U B S C R I P T I O N? Bruce Watson paid us a return visit After years of standing empty and to trace the history of the Roman deteriorating rapidly, it is now a five- If you have not renewed your port of London and described the star hotel with golf course. Mr West subscription (which was due on 1st discoveries mad during the 1995/6 described the remedial work needed October), this will be the last issue excavations. The dock was at its to correct some of the astonishingly of the newsletter that you will zenith between AD 63 and AD 102, poor alterations and additions receive. We hope this is no more and was thought to have been suffered by the buildings: it seemed than an oversight, and that you will constructed by the Roman army. a miracle that the structure remained continue as a member. Wooden components of the dock upright in that condition for so long; were in excellent condition, as was a now it is an impressive and Pleas send your cheque as a matter mud brick wall. Pieces or armour, extensive structure. of urgency to the Membership broken pottery and some fine lead Secretary, SAHAAS, 29 Bury Green, ‘pigs’ bearing the stamp of Wheathampstead AL4 8DB

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CL O C K TO W E R 1 7T H CE N T U RY PO P U L AT I O N VI S I TO R S 2 0 0 5 RE S E A R C H GR O U P

The 2005 'open season' for Research from previous centuries yields many odd names the Clock Tower ended with a that prompt much speculation about their owners. Here are bang. We opened for two of a few from the 17th C Population Research Group’s the Heritage Open Days (10- database. Would Afradosia and Pataian think our names 11th September) when 842 today equally strange, I wonder? people visited the Tower over two days. Since we usually see between 100 and 180 per Gordy Adams Origen Burton day, 400 or so people in one Abilend Tweeday Patatian Meadcafe day was rather a squeeze! It Affradosa Williams Peregrina Onge unfortunately prevented some people getting to the top, Afliction Roase Salvances Gutteridg because of the numbers of Belknapp Tibbals Sence Ainge people making their way Blastus Godley Stonehall Ashby down, and the absence of Charvell Woolley Theadocia Roase 'passing places'. Some Emblem Tarbox Troth Bankes visitors are blithely unaware of the restraints of the building Fromabove Dove Twiford Wath and ask ‘Is there another way Harbottle Grimston Virtue Ruth down?’ (Apart from abseiling, Jeningsdobyns Hall Wheeler Budd no!) Luckily we had no extreme problems during the two days, but we need to have a system of time-controlled admission in future, AR C H A E O L O G Y GR O U P RE P O R T and perhaps retain our modest admission charge. We had been told that the Mayor wished to visit on the This autumn it became apparent that our villa site at Amwell Saturday morning, so Clare Ellis and I were at the is more extensive than just the building confirmed in the last Clock Tower to greet him and I accompanied him up to two seasons work. In order to improve drainage in the field the roof. it was deeper ploughed this year, with the exception of the Apart from this final weekend, the rest of the season area containing the building. Anticipating that this might brought a total of 6185 paying visitors (5041 adults and throw up evidence of so far undiscovered features, the field 1144 children) which is an increase over the previous was re-fieldwalked with the result that a fresh area of large two years. But we had considerable problems in flints, brick, tile and pottery was quite clear. As before, a finding sufficient volunteers to fill the rota, and it meant ground resistivity survey was then carried out in the area of making perhaps 20 telephone calls before getting interest some 60 to 70 metres from what we can now refer enough cover for a weekend opening. A number of to as Site 1. It showed that there was indeed another regular 'clockateers' have had to drop out, for building and that it appears to have been at least as large in understandable reasons, so we urgently need to recruit plan as the first, if not larger. This is somewhat surprising as more help for next year. Even more worrying is the Site 1 is itself fairly large by villa standards. What it all decrease in numbers of those of us acting as means can only be explained by excavation. The Group is Weekend Organisers. Having lost a few stalwarts this now turning attention to another Roman site on Cross Farm season, there were just 8 of us to cover 13 weekend which has similarly been located by fieldwalking in the past. openings - of which Mike and I did three. For the coming year the field where the site is located is in set-aside so that we have maximum accessibilty for There are benefits to SAHAAS from opening the Clock investigation. One of the benefits of the CAP! Tower, as we receive part of the 'takings' each year. Last time it was £500 – could be more next year – so it represents a useful income to the Society. I am sure there must be many of you who could spare 90 minutes during a weekend to sit in the Clock Tower, GO O D B Y E TO JO Y C E greeting visitors, handing out leaflets and taking the money? It is actually fun chatting to overseas tourists, Our November Council meeting saw us saying goodbye to a and locals who have only just discovered it – you'll stalwart of the team, as Joyce Winn finally retired as wonder why you never did it before! Don't wait for next Minutes Secretary after 17 years. Her contribution to the year to offer, contact me now if you'd like to join us. efficient management of Society business has been enormous and we hope she will give the benefit of her years of experience to her successor, Wendy Klein Clock Tower Co-ordinator; Tel: 01727 867685

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T H I S S E A S O N ’ S L E C T U R E S

Tuesday 29th November 2005 on American topics. the Civil War, and the American South. Her Jim Forrester, A.K.A. 5th Earl of Verulam current research project explores changing attitudes toward John Cox death in warfare in the nineteenth century. Gorhambury archivist for many years Tuesday 28th February 2006 In Search of the Druids: The Realities of Religion in Tuesday 6th December 2005 Iron Age Britain Gothic Revival - It Started Much Earlier Dr J.D. Hill Than You Think British Museum Archaeologist Jane Kelsall Local historian and church enthusiast Tuesday 7th March 2006 The Great Train Robbery Tuesday 17th January 2006 John Wooley Victorian Garden History The policeman who was first on the scene Isobel Leek Garden enthusiast Friday 24th March 2006 Restoration of Windsor Castle ... After the Fire Friday 27th January 2006 Mr Alan Frost Prisoners of War in Britain 1793-1815 Mr Paul Chamberlain Tuesday 28th March 2006 During the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, this country was The A&LH Group AGM, followed by home to over 200,000 prisoners of war held in the Land Prisons Rule and Reality - Life in a Great Medieval Abbey or incarcerated on the infamous hulks. Paul Chamberlain is a Rev. Peter Wadsworth scientist by profession, but an historian by nature. He writes for Vicar of St Saviour Church, Sandpit Lane many specialised publications and his research has resulted in TV and film work. Tuesday 4th April 2006 St Albans Historic Landscape: Post 1250 AD Tuesday 31st January 2006 David Dean A Silk Purse from a Pigs Nose St Albans City Guide and local historian Robin Webb Aviation engineer who recounts the many years spent coping Tuesday 11th April 2006 with a medieval cottage St Pancras Station, Midland Link-Thames Link- Euro Link Tuesday 7th February 2006 George Atkinson 2000 Years of St. Michaels Street Well known local architect Ann Dean Local historian Friday 28th April 2006 Inexhaustible Fancy and Solid Judgement: The Life Tuesday 14th February 2006 and Works of Nicholas Hawksmoor (1661–1736) The at the Abbey Mr William Palin Deryck Hannaford The engineer who has re-built the carillon Tuesday 9th May 2006 Romans in the Bulbourne Valley Friday 24th February 2006 Alex Thompson New Light on the Lady with the Lamp Local historian Dr Susan Mary Grant Florence Nightingale holds a secure but restricted position in Tuesday 16th May 2006 British history as the 'lady with the lamp' who nursed troops in SAHAAS AGM the Crimea, but remains both elusive and exclusive (rather than followed by part of a process that drew women into the traditionally 'male' business of warfare). In the broader context of nineteenth- 2000 Years of Coinage century warfare, her activities and the public response to them At Verulamium Museum highlights a clear shift in attitudes toward warfare, to civilian Mr David Thorold involvement in war and toward the function of war as an expression of national will, power, and sacrifice. Friday 26th May 2006 Susan-Mary Grant is Reader in American History at the Lost Gardens of Hertfordshire University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and author of numerous title Mrs Anne Rowe

Tuesday meetings are held at St Albans School and start at 8.00 p.m. Friday meetings are at the College of Law, Hatfield Road, and start at 7.45 p.m. They are open to all members of the Society. Non-members may attend two meetings as guests.

: 7 : SAHAAS Newsletter No. 159 November 2005 NE W M E M B E R S ST AL B A N S 1 6 5 0 - 1 7 0 0 R E V I E W E D We welcome the following new members who have joined since our last newsletter and hope they will A lengthy review of St Albans 1650-1700 has appeared ‘on- enjoy taking an active role in Society activities. line’ (www.h-net.org/reviews/) [Michigan State University]. Stuart Crawley Goldsmith Way, St Albans After a detailed and analytical description of the contents of Emma Cotton Lower Paxton Road, St Albans each chapter, the reviewer includes the following: Maggie Davidson Sutton Road, St Albans “This is a welcome and useful addition to the collection of Jean Eaton Crouch Hall Lane, Redbourn urban studies of the second half of the seventeenth century Mrs J Evans Fishpool Street, St Albans and much research has gone into its preparation. With the Gillian Harvey Bellamy Close, data available the authors achieve some impressive results and there is a quantitative as well as qualitative dimension Ms Sally Hickman Claudian Place, St Albans to the book. One of its chief strengths is that, in Jenny Lee The Avenue, Potters Bar documenting the history of this relatively low-ranking town, Mr & Mrs J Little Prospect Road, St Albans the routines and rhythms of everyday economic and social Martin Mylott Tilsworth Walk, St Albans life come into view. Team effort among the researchers and Cliff Norris & Newmarket Court, St Albans authors of this project has clearly paid off. It is a model of its Mrs KA Boak kind, beautifully produced and moderately priced.” Rilla Patterson Rousebarn Lane, Jessica Pountney Ellis Fields, St Albans Tom Steenvoorden Lullington Garth, Borehamwood Michael Western The Dell, Sandpit Lane, A S P E C I A L O F F E R F O R ME M B E R S St Albans Valerie Wills Goldsmith Way, St Albans THE CHRONICA MAIORA OF Judith Young Orchard Avenue, Berkhamsted (1376-1422). TRANSLATED BY DAVID PREEST WITH INTRODUCTION AND NOTES BY JAMES G. CLARK RU L E BR I TA N N I A Thomas Walsingham's Chronica maiora is one of the most This famous song, composed in the middle of the 18th comprehensive and colourful century, has become almost a second national chronicles to survive from medieval anthem. The claim that ‘Brittania rules the waves’ England. Walsingham was a monk at was literally true then and remained so during the St Albans Abbey, a royal monastery 19th century. This powerful position was not achieved and the premier repository of public by accident. The development of vast British records, and therefore well placed to merchant fleets, carrying a very high proportion of observe the political machinations of cargoes worldwide, was encouraged by the protection this period at close hand. Moreover, of a well-trained Royal Navy, by the provision of he knew the monarchs and many of reliable charts and by developments in ship design, the nobles personally and is able to navigation and time-keeping. It depended not only on offer insights into their actions Admiral Lord Nelson but also on Captain Cook and unmatched by any other authority. It is this narrative, John Harrison. transmitted through the popular Tudor histories of Hall, Stow and Holinshed, which provides the principle source for Probably there is no better place to study these and Shakespeare's sequence of history plays. subsequent developments that the National Maritime Covering almost fifty years, the narrative provides the most Museum, now part of a World Heritage Site at authoritative account of one of the most turbulent periods in Greenwich. English history, from the last years of Edward III (1376-77) to The British Association For Local History has the premature death of Henry V (1422). Walsingham organised a visit on 26th January 2006, when the describes the many dramas of this period in vivid detail, Caird Library and Manuscripts Collection will be including the Peasants' Revolt (1381), the deposition and introduced by Daphne Knott, the Manuscripts murder of Richard II (c.1399-1400), The Welsh revolt of Manager. Owain Glyn Dwr [1403] and Henry V's victory at Agincourt Further details and application forms are available on (1415); they are brought to life here in this new translation. www.balh.co.uk or from BALH(V), PO Box 6549, Members can save 30% on the published price and order Somersal Herbert, Ashbourne DE6 5WH, tel. 01283 for just £52.50 including P&P from the publisher, Boydell 585947; e-mail [email protected] & Brewer, PO Box 9, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 3DF, tel 01394 610600; email [email protected]

: 8 : SAHAAS Newsletter No. 159 November 2005

ME M B E R S’ PU B L I C AT I O N S

Many of our members regularly publish in other books or journals and we are keen to compile a list of such publications and to draw them to the attention of other members. If you are aware of any other articles we should include please let the editor know at the address on the back page. We will include lists periodically in the newsletter

Alvey, Norman. Estimating Population Growth in St Present (3rd Series), No.3, Spring 2004, pp. 17-21. Albans: 17th to 19th Centuries. The Local Historian, Vol. The remarkable story of a well-known family who lived in and 30, No. 3, Aug. 2000, pp. 150-59 around St Albans for almost 400 years from c. 1616 Includes a description of the methodology used for the relevant Koloczi, Anne. The St Albans Foundling Hospital Babies. chapter in St Albans 1650-1700, SAHAAS (2003) Herts Past & Present (3rd Series), No. 4, Autumn 2004, Burr, Brenda. The Combe Family of Hemel Hempstead. pp. 3-7 Herts Past & Present (3rd Series), No. 5, Spring 2005, pp. An account of the wet-nursing of children sent from Thomas 20-25. Coram’s London Foundling Hospital to St Albans and the The story of a 16th century family, their bequests and what can philanthropically-motivated organisation that dealt with them still be seen of their property. McSweeney, Gerard. The St Albans Bread Riot. Herts Howe, Pat. Identifying Non-Conformity in Late- Past & Present (3rd Series), No.3, Spring 2004, pp. 22-3. Seventeenth Century St Albans. Local Population Studies, A description of one of the 18th Century food riots, the only one 68, Spring 2002, pp.9-25 so far reported as occurring in St Albans. The number and characteristics of dissenters in St Albans from McSweeney, Gerard. Admiral Killigrew, c. 1652-1712. 1650-1700 have been compiled from a multi-source computer database. It is shown that dissent was much more common than Herts Past & Present, (3rd Series), No. 5, Spring 2005, in England as a whole and included most ranks and pp.20-25 occupations. Described as ‘the Unlucky Hero’, this landowner and MP for St Howe, Pat and Beere, Sylvia. Francis Combe of Hemel Albans had a distinguished naval career, thwarted by ill-luck and Hempstead. New light on a man of learning. Herts Past & political enemies. Present (3rd Series), No 6, Autumn 2005, pp 17-2 McSweeney, Gerard. Hall Place and the 1st Battle of St Research on his will (1641), especially his preaching charity in Albans. Herts Past & Present, (3rd Series), No. 6, Autumn St Albans Abbey during of Oliver Cromwell. 2005, pp. 12-15 Kilvington, Frank. A Gentleman’s Life in Soho and St An attempt to dispel some of the myths that have arisen Albans 1660-1689. Herts Past & Present (3rd Series), regarding the movements of Henry VI during and after the battle. No.1, Spring 2003, pp.19-24. Wares, Ann. A History of Priory Park, St Albans, A fascinating glimpse of 17th century domestic life in town and (Approach, Cornwall, Ramsbury & Riverside Roads). country households, from the account books of Sir Harbottle Published 2005, 35 Ramsbury Rd. Grimston and Sir Samuel Grimston. The building of a Victorian housing estate and its development Kilvington, Frank. The Kent Family. Herts Past & in the 20th century.

LI B R A RY M O V E DO N’T F O R G E T Y O U R S TO C K I N G S T U F F E R S! SAHAAS publications make excellent The Pemberton Alms Houses (£3) is an At long last we have a date small Christmas presents for your family easy read giving interesting history on for the closure of Kyngston or friends who have an interest in St. the founding of the alms houses and House. Our library will cease Albans or history! takes us through to the present day. operations in its present location at Christmas. The Abbey School (£4) says as much The Light of Other Days (£1) and A about the problems of education today History in All Men’s Lives (£2) give us Volunteers to help the moving as it does about education in Victorian the history of our Society since its process will be needed (first times. founding in 1845. week in January), and could phone Kate Morris (01727 The Abbey War Memorials (£4) is For an alternative book on the subject of 868434). a good supplement to the articles and Education why not try Education by television programmes that we have Election (£4). the story of Reed’s We shall have a new home in seen recently concerning the First World Schools? the Town Hall, which will be War. It adds a telling local element to our If you want any or all of these in time for fitted out to our specifications, families experiences at that time. and we will advise all Christmas give me, Paul Harding, a call members as soon as we are The 1553 Charter (£2) is a must for on 01727 839577 or e-mail operational once again. those who are proud of our St. Albans [email protected]. Happy heritage. Christmas!

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CU R R E N T SO C I E T Y PU B L I C AT I O N S After many valuable years looking after distribution of our publications, Norman Kent has passed that duty on to me. Please contact me if you would like copies from our list at special prices for members of SAHAAS. In future when I attend Tuesday meetings I will have two copies of each publication with me; however, I do not attend every Tuesday so a telephone call in advance will be useful. If you do not attend Tuesdays please call me with your requests. If you live in St.Albans I will deliver; If you are out of town I can quote you the cost of delivering the copies you would like. I will be pleased to hear from you at 57 Camlet Way, St.Albans, Herts. AL3 4TL Tel. (01727) 839577

The Street Memorials of St Albans 1553 St Albans Abbey Parish by David Dean, Pat Howe, Betty by Alice Goodman, 1987 Masters & Kate Morris, 2003 Describes St Albans during the 1914- Celebrates the granting of a Charter 18 War, and the unique street to St Albans by the boy king Edward memorials erected to the fallen. VI in 1553, and explains its importance in providing the £4 foundations for our local government, establishing the Education by Election, Reed's Mayoralty and authorising the town's School, Clapton and Watford markets. by Norman Alvey, 1990 £3 Orphans were selected for admission The Pemberton by votes from subscribers to a charity Almshouses between 1813 and 1940. By Clare Ellis and Pat Howe, 2005 £4 A commemorative booklet to The Story of the Abbey celebrate the founding of the School Pemberton Almshouses in St by Alice Goodman, 1991 £3 Peter’s Street, resulting from the ongoing work of the History of the National School Seventeenth Century founded by the Abbey Parish in 1848. Population Research Group.

ALSO AVAILABLE £4 The St Albans 1650-1700, a thoroughfare town Light of Other Days and its people 1995, by Brian Moody Ed. J T Smith & M A North, 2003 A short history of the Society's first 150 The result of twelve years of work by the Society's years. Research Group, with ten authors. Copies may be obtained by Society members from Half-price offer, £1 Hertfordshire Publications, an imprint of the University of Hertfordshire Press, for £13 including post and packing. Apply to University of Hertfordshire Press, Learning & A History in All Men's Lives Information Services, College Lane, Hatfield AL10 9AD. Ed. Brian Moody, 1999 Papers on notable past members of the Society and events from the first 150 years. Authors F Kilvington, R Busby, J Brodrick, B Moody, D Aubrey and J T Smith.

Half-price offer, £2

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

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