NEWSLETTER 203 February 2017

ST ALBANS & HERTFORDSHIRE ARCHITECTURAL & ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER 203 February 2017

Last Mail Coach to arrive in St Albans A re-enactment? c.1890

Postcard from the Arthur Allen collection

Included in this issue:

President’s Message Verdun Tree Our new Vice President Visit to the Mary Rose The Six Bells Recent Library Acquisitions www.stalbanshistory.org SAHAAS NEWSLETTER 203 Page 2

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President’s Message 3 Peter Burley – Our new Vice President 5 SAHAAS New Year Party 6

Library 7 Clock Tower 11 Coach Outing to the Mary Rose Museum 3 May 2017 12 J.T. Smith – A Life in Research 13

Church Bell Ringing in St Albans during the First World War 15 The County Societies Symposium 2016 17 Bellmeadow – 137 Fishpool Street 18 The Herts Advertiser is now being digitised 19

The Six Bells in St Michael’s Street 20 Verdun Tree 21 Obituaries 22 Saturday night entertainment in Edwardian St Albans 24

Lecture Programme 25 New Museum and Gallery - Progress 31

MEMBERSHIP

The Society welcomes Mrs June & Mr Keith Spark of Harpenden as new members. David Smith Membership Secretary

While every care has been taken in the preparation of this newsletter the publishers cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information herein or any consequence arising from it

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

2017 began with a very well attended and most enjoyable New Year party at Verulamium Museum. Our guests included: the Deputy Mayor Cllr Gill Clark; Cllr Julian Daly, Leader of the City Council and his wife; Tracy Harvey, Head of Planning, who was deputising for Chief Executive James Blake; Cllr Annie Brewster, Professor Tim Boatswain, Chairman of the Civic Society; Caroline Eldred, Deputy Chairman of the Museums and Galler- ies Trust and her husband; and Cat ways, both as a society and individu- Newley, Audience Development ally, supported this project from the Manager of the Museum, who con- beginning and we continue to raise tributed so much to the success of the funds through the Big Events lectures evening. My thanks go to all who and hopefully through another of our helped. popular quiz evenings at Kingsbury Barn in June. I think the guest list reflects the way in which inter-organisational links As a result of the Old Town Hall build- have developed and strengthened in ing work, the SAHAAS library has now the last few years. Teamwork contin- moved to Sandridge Gate, where it is ues to be important in the develop- flourishing. We have received several ment of the heritage of St Albans and generous bequests of books and its tourist potential. It is good to see papers from respected researchers that work has started on our new (See Library Notes at Page 8). These Museum and Gallery and work on the valuable additions will enable us to Abbey Visitors’ Centre is due to start offer an ever-growing assortment of this spring. Most of the money St Albans and Hertfordshire material needed for the Museum has been for study and general interest. It also raised, only 8% is still to be found. involves the library team in consider- SAHAAS members have in various able work: building new storage,

Photo: John Humphreys

Follow us on Twitter at SAHAAS(@stalbanspast) www.stalbanshistory.org SAHAAS NEWSLETTER 203 Page 4 sorting and cataloguing and, hope- going work at the library should fully, later digitising more of the contact us. collection. I would particularly like to thank: Donald Munro, Jon Mein and We look forward to Kate Harwood’s Tony Cooper who organised the seminars on historic gardens in March move; Frank Iddiols who planned and and early April in the library and hope executed the practicalities of it; Andy that this will be the first of many Lawrence who was generous with his events using the new facilities. time and his van; Ailsa Herbert who liaised with us from the Abbey end; So this year we have much to look Sarah Keeling who was our liaison forward to in addition to our lectures with the Museum; and the fifty or so and outings and I wish you all a happy members who volunteered to move and healthy year. boxes. Any new members who would be interested in helping in the on- Helen Bishop President

Photo: J. Humphreys Another excellent buffet. Val Argue with helpers Sue Mann and Caroline Howkins Many thanks to all who contributed to the buffet and helped arrange the food and serve the drinks. Val Argue

PETER BURLEY OUR NEW VICE PRESIDENT

In the last newsletter, Helen Bishop advertised the need for a Vice President to assist her in her tasks and duties. With so many activities being taken on board, ranging from support for the New Museum and Gallery project, a new focus on research into the social history, as well as archaeology and architecture in the city, and our Peter Burley interface with both the Council and other interest groups and societies, demands the presence and attention of our President. Following Helen’s call for a Vice President, supported by our SAHAAS Council, Peter Burley has offered his services and we welcome him to Council.

The following is a short biographical note to introduce him to our wider membership.

Peter read history at the University of York and did research into the late French ‘ancien régime’ at University College London. He then pursued a career in local government and in the regulation of health professions until retiring from the Nursing and Midwifery Council in August 2016. He maintained an active interest in history with a book, film season and various media appearances at the bicentenary of the French Revolution in 1989. In 1999 he became involved with the planning inquiry on land on Bernards Heath (site of the second battle of St Albans, Wars of the Roses, 1461) and this led to a commission - together with two colleagues - for a book on the two battles of St Albans in 2007. He has continued to research and present on the battles and has researched other local history topics in St Albans.

He is Honorary Secretary of the St Albans University of the 3�� Age (U3A), a member of the South East Region Committee of the Battlefields Trust, a committee member at the Friends of Bernards Heath and was on the St Albans Museums and Galleries Advisory Group. Peter’s next project is to try to find exactly where the Duke of Somerset (killed in the First Battle of St Albans, 1455) is now buried and give St Albans the credit for a second royal burial at the Cathedral. Bryan Hanlon Hon. Secretary

the Civic Society in keeping the Clock SAHAAS NEW YEAR PARTY Tower open and great visitor attrac- The Society’s New Year Party took tion. She also suggested to our guests place on 6 January – as usual at the that the city’s planners should climb Verulamium Museum. With kind to the top of both the Clock and offerings from many of our members Cathedral towers to look at the diver- (thank you!), Val Argue organised a sity of roofs in the city before making sumptuous finger buffet, whilst liquid decisions about changes to the land- refreshments of the alcoholic, and scape. With both the leader of SADC non-alcoholic, variety were in the Council and Head of Planning present, hands of Bryan Hanlon, Carole we hope they took notice! Oldknow and Robin Green. Bryan also organised one of his quizzes, won The Museum’s Audience and Develop- by John Morewood, and Andy Law- ment Manager, Cat Newley, displayed rence won a bottle of wine for winning the equipment for the ‘talking build- the Museum’s pub quiz version of ings’ (see Newsletter 203 page 27) BBC2’s “Only Connect” programme. that will be used on the hoardings that are now appearing around the old We were pleased to welcome our Town Hall. To demonstrate how it deputy mayor, Cllr Gill Clark. She worked, she played a voice recording in which the tower recounted its addressed members and guests in a Photo by John Humphreys short speech which showed a genuine history (with Caroline Howkins as the appreciation of St Albans and its her- voice). itage and our contribution as a society. She congratulated members In all, a most enjoyable evening – we of our Society for its research and are looking forward to next year! publications as well as working with

Cllr Gill Clark addresses members and guests

Cat Newley winds up the talking buildings machine

Photos: J. Humphreys

LIBRARY in February and March, in time hopefully, for a migration in June. It has been a very busy period for the library dominated latterly by accom- Reorganisation of the Library Room modation planning and bringing in Space. Frank Iddiols drew up a guide SAHAAS materials from the Magenta plan for incorporating SAHAAS store, and the Beardsmore Collection materials held in external store. These from the Cathedral. were moved into the Library room in the week before Christmas. Library computing and hardware. Malcolm Merrick has successfully Beardsmore Collection. This notable established a local Wi-Fi connected gift from the Cathedral was packed up Library network via the SADC Guest on 11 January, shelving dismantled on hub. The second computer and the 13�� and the whole transferred to laptops are able to access SAHAAS Sandridge Gate in barely 2½ hours on files of slides et cetera held on the the morning of Saturday 12��. Jon main computer. Colin Smart has deliv- Mein drew up volunteer working ered a very good scanner kindly party rotas for the several stages, donated by his son. We are still having which all went off very efficiently. problems with printing via Wi-Fi and Particular thanks are due to Tony may have to seek professional advice. Cooper, Frank Iddiols, Andy “The Van” Lawrence, Caroline Howkins, Ailsa Library management system. A Herbert from the Cathedral Library SAHAAS delegation had a very inform- and who is our liaison person at the ative visit to the CILIP Library Manage- Abbey, and to Sarah Keeling of the ment Systems showcase in Museums’ Service and the Cathedral Bloomsbury on 18 November. We saw for their invaluable help in making this a number of prospective replace- such a smooth operation. Thanks are ments for Heritage which should give also due of course to all the volun- us much more, including hosting and teers involved. an OPAC (On-Line Public Access Cat- alogue), at very competitive rates. We It may take a couple of weeks for the will be looking at and testing two or shelving to be erected and the books three of the systems in greater detail and files placed on shelves to be sorted and allocated by SAHAAS and

Follow us on Twitter at SAHAAS(@stalbanspast) www.stalbanshistory.org SAHAAS NEWSLETTER 203 Page 8 the St Albans Museum. But the Library that would appear to have been will hopefully have returned to normal defined in part by the line of Roman by the time you are reading this. roads. (Note: Wording quoted from the title-page.) Gifts and donations. Early in December Dan Smith, son of J.T. Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire: Smith, helped us transfer to Sandridge transfer of ownership 1060. Compiled Gate some 12-15 box files of his by V S White. Wheathampstead: V S father’s meticulously arranged mate- White, 2012. 238pp, tables, maps, rials relating to lay properties in St appendices, index. Albans, plus some books and journals. Gerard McSweeney's papers arrived This volume examines the transfer of in the library on 30 November. There ten hides of land in Wheathampstead have been smaller separate donations from the ownership of King Edward of interesting prints and ephemera the Confessor to that of Westminster from the Cathedral and from HALS. Monastery. The compiler draws on Tony Cooper and I will be going to three translations from the Latin orig- view Eileen Roberts' material in inal to provide a reading of the text February. and translations, and interpretations Donald Muno of the bounds of the land. The study Librarian aims to stimulate discussions of Wheathampstead’s Saxon origins. Library Notes February 2017 Appendix 3, “Background material” Recent Acquisitions contains facsimiles of papers about Wheathampstead history. Hertfordshire: Domesday and Old English 10-hide groups. Compiled by Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire: V S White. Wheathampstead: V S details of the fallen, researched and White, 2016. 558pp. maps, tables. compiled by Margaret and Tony A reading of the Domeday Book and Pankhurst. Wheathampstead: V S a summary of the contents by hun- White, 2014. 248pp, illus. dred, with a reconstruction of Old Records the names and details availa- English 10-hide groups and 120-hide ble of the servicemen killed as a result hundreds, 1065-1086 A.D. A set of of action in the First World War, proposed Old English half-hundreds remembered on war memorials and synthesised for a Hertfordshire pro- the Roll of Honour, and others with a posed to be south of the Icknield Way Wheathampstead connection.

Plans of the Fishpool Street area Articles from recent journals We have recently acquired for use in In: The Local Historian, vol 46, no 4, the Library copies of three plans of the October 2016 Fishpool Street area to the east of and Pp 315-326 ‘John Pierpoint Morgan including St Michael’s Manor. They and the Wall Hall estate during two date to the early 17th century, c.1790 world wars’, by Marie-France Wiener and 1841 respectively. The source for and John Russell Silver. these is surprising, namely the The fortunes of the British country archives of St Bartholomew’s Hospital estate in the first half of the 20�� in London. It appears from the century are explored, as exemplified research of the late Alan Pickles that by the Wall Hall estate near Alden- the Hospital (in the guise of the pre- ham. In WW1 it served as a centre for Dissolution Priory) owned a thin strip care of the wounded, and its garage of land here from 1319 to the 19th was converted to a Voluntary Aid century. Detachment (VAD) hospital. In WW2 a British Red Cross hospital was set up The earliest plan is perhaps the most at a model farm on the estate, and the interesting. It is based on a main house accommodated Army south/north orientation with the Ver administration staff, including the at the top. This extract (see page 10) Army Selection Board. shows the property abutting the Hospital’s land to the west; this is now In: Harpenden and District Local St Michael’s Manor but was then the History Society Newsletter, no 130, Gape family’s property. As tanning is December 2016. said to be the source of the Gapes’ Pp 17-22 ‘Traces of rabbits in wealth, the presence of what appears Harpenden and Wheathampstead’, by to be a tan-yard to the south of the John Wassell. house is significant. Perhaps those This article discusses the surviving members with an interest in industrial evidence for the breeding of rabbits archaeology can advise whether early in the district in late medieval times modern tan-yards were open to the as reflected in field names. elements and what the purpose was of the building immediately to the Tony Cooper east.

These are important maps for those Tannery in St Albans’ (Hertfordshire’s interested in the development of this Past, no. 3, Autumn 1977). There is part of Fishpool Street and should be plenty of scope for a review of their considered in conjunction with Alan findings. Pickles’ notes as well as Chris Saun- Jonathan Mein ders’ article ‘A Sixteenth Century

E W

Early 17th century plan of what is now St Michael’s Manor

CLOCK TOWER

Usually at this time of year we would be preparing to open up the Clock Tower for Residents: Enjoy St Albans at the end of January. However, St Albans District Council have decided not to support this event any more. Instead SADC will be supporting the Big Weekend (1-2 April), which is all Photo courtesy of Andy Lawrence about giving Hertfordshire residents Preparations are in progress for the the chance to discover – or rediscover Clockateers’ Party to be held in the – the array of fantastic things to see Museum on Friday, 31�� March 2017 and do on their doorstep. Encouraging at 7.30pm. Invitations will be posted them to spread the word about their in February to all our Clockateers but county – be a tourist in your own anyone thinking of becoming a Clock- home town. The Clock Tower will ateer is welcome to come along too be joining in by opening up for both and find out more about helping to days and offering tickets in the keep this iconic building open to the Big Weekend prize draw. public. (www.hertsbigweekend.co.uk). The Clock Tower will be opened by The opening of the Clock Tower for SAHAAS on Good Friday, 14�� April the switching on of the Christmas 2017 for the start of the summer lights on Sunday, 27�� November, season and then will be manned on went well – 287 visitors for the 4½ alternate weekends by SAHAAS volun- hours we were open. This year the St teers and Civic Society volunteers until Albans Christmas lights were switched the close on Sunday, 1�� October 2017. on in four different places – St Peter’s Street, outside the Arena, the Vintry As always, Mike and I would like to Gardens and in front of the Clock thank all the Clockateers for giving Tower. A selection of Christmas Carols their time to keep the Clock Tower was played by St Albans City brass open for the public to enjoy and we band outside the Clock Tower before hope to see you all at the Clockateers the lights were officially turned on by Party on Friday, 31�� March 2017. the Mayor, Cllr Frances Leonard. Caroline Howkins Mike Carey

Follow us on Twitter at SAHAAS(@stalbanspast) www.stalbanshistory.org SAHAAS NEWSLETTER 203 Page 12 COACH OUTING TO THE MARY ROSE MUSEUM 3 MAY 2017

A coach outing is being arranged to visit the award-winning Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth on Wednesday 3 May 2017. The Mary Rose captured the world’s imagination when she was raised from the Solent in 1982. Her dramatic story is now revealed in full inside the new purpose-built, £27 million museum. Entry to the museum for seniors is £13.50 which includes a harbour cruise. They do not do guided tours of the museum but they offer some interesting adult learning packages at an additional £10.00 per head. The title chosen for our visit is:

Lost and Found: The Archaeology of the Mary Rose. The Curator explains the content of the workshop thus:

Discover the archaeological story from seabed to showcase. The Mary Rose project has transformed our understanding of Tudor history, maritime archaeology and conservation science. Use microscopes to discover the conservation process and handle real rope and wood from the wreck.

I hope some of you will sign up for this workshop – it coincides well with the objectives of our Society.

The coach will leave Westminster Lodge car park at 8.45 a.m. and Portsmouth at 4 p.m. If private car parking is required at Westminster Lodge, bring enough change to pay the parking fee of £5.30. Traffic permitting the journey should take 2 hours and cost £17.50 per person. We hope to arrive at 10.45 a.m. Once tickets have been distributed, members will be free to view the displays in the Museum and take a Harbour Cruise. There are four different eating establishments and also picnic areas for those taking their own lunch. The workshop will take place in the afternoon and last for one hour.

Please contact Pat Howe preferably by email [email protected]. Telephone 01727 857274.

The basic cost will therefore be £31.00 plus £10.00 for those attending the interactive workshop. Please send cheques made payable to SAHAAS to Pat Howe, 7 Cranmore Court, Avenue Road, St Albans, AL1 3QS by 24 February 2017.

Pat Howe Follow us on Twitter at SAHAAS(@stalbanspast) www.stalbanshistory.org SAHAAS NEWSLETTER 203 Page 13

J.T. SMITH FSA MA Smith, moved from Potters A LIFE IN RESEARCH Bar to St John Thomas Smith [J.T.] died on his Albans and ninety-fourth birthday on 23 August created a col- 2016. He was born and educated in laborative Birmingham. In 1942, at the end of his project on second year at the University, he was 17th century St Albans under the aegis called up and served five years in the of this Society. Over 70 members were Royal Engineers, crossing to France on involved. ‘D’ day and saw service in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. On his He chaired a packed meeting at St demobilisation he returned to com- Albans School at which he outlined plete his degree in English and History. the objectives. Much hard research In 1949 he joined the Royal Commis- followed, undertaken by individuals, sion on Historical Monuments of couples and groups and the results England (RCHME) where he remained were printed in 2003 in a book pub- throughout his working life. lished by the University of Hertford- shire Press entitled: St Albans Initially working in Dorset and 1650-1700 a thoroughfare town and Wiltshire, which involved some its people edited by J.T. and Mike archaeology, he went on to Shrews- North. Five of those listed in the book bury where he investigated, with dis- as contributors were present at his tinction, its 17th century historic funeral on 7 October 2016 at West buildings as well as researching timber Herts Crematorium. buildings in Breconshire. For ten years he surveyed threatened buildings The work by so many individuals was throughout England and finally nurtured by J.T. and his wife who became Head of Architectural Investi- acted as the group’s secretary and gation at the RCHME. who provided everyone with regular up-dates and, each summer, organ- Retirement for many gives them the ised a social gathering at their home. opportunity to explore different At the reception held following J.T.’s objectives from those that they expe- funeral, two of his former colleagues rienced previously. J.T. and Heather from Keele University explained to me

that the St Albans collaborative opment of Ivy House and ‘Bleak project was part two of a project that House’. Again working with Gerard he he began in the early 1950s when he produced for vol. 16 A 17th century carried out an examination of mid- Butcher’s shop: 30-32 Market Place, 17th century Shrewsbury’s historic St. Albans. Few individuals have con- buildings for his Master of Arts disser- tributed so much to our understand- tation! ing of the city’s history and for this reason he was elected an Honorary Not content with one project he Member of the Society to great accla- became chairman of Hertfordshire mation. Archaeology’s Editorial Committee and created a constitution which set J.T.’s major Hertfordshire contribution out its aims and objects. In the 1990s was his survey entitled English two societies, East Herts Archaeolog- Houses, 1200-1800: the Hertfordshire ical Society and SAHAAS held 80 per Evidence (1992) supported by Hert- cent of the equity equally whilst the fordshire Houses: selective inventory. former Herts Archaeological Trust It is perhaps too easy to forget that held the balance. Unfortunately J.T. is recognised not just locally but neither society ratified the proposed nationally and internationally for his constitution. work on the development of medieval timber-framed buildings as his many Four volumes of Herts Archaeology publications indicate. A founder between 1991 and 2009 contained member of the Vernacular Architec- articles that he wrote on St Albans’ ture Group in 1954, he was President history. These were: Nine Hundred from 1969-72 and became an honor- Years of St. Albans: architecture and ary member in 2001. Its annual social history (vol. 11); A Tudor official journal has become an authoritative and his house in collaboration with British source. Frank Kilvington and A Builder’s Esti- mate of 1722 and its implications Heather (who died earlier in 2016) (both in vol. 12). In vol. 14 he pub- and J.T. Smith had three sons – Dan, lished two articles written with Gerard Martin and Tim. He was always cour- McSweeney: one investigating the teous, approachable and willing to history and architecture of Hall Place, discuss problems wherever and when- the mansion immediately to the north ever he met members. He was a real of St Peter’s church demolished in gentle-man. One commodity he loved 1904; the other assessing the devel- was red wine and visits to French Follow us on Twitter at SAHAAS(@stalbanspast) www.stalbanshistory.org SAHAAS NEWSLETTER 203 Page 15 vineyards for fresh supplies were a Websites: regular occurrence. It was fitting that Shrewsbury: topography and domestic architecture to the middle of the 17th century. his favourite red wine was offered to http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/5658/ those who attended the reception at Obituary, by Bob Meeson and Nat Alcock Freddie’s Restaurant on Friday, 7th with Martin Millet. Salon 369, 6 September October 2016. 2016http://us6.campaign- archive1.com/?u=5557bc147d34993782f185 bde&id=e4f75369dd John G E Cox Guardian Obituaries https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/ 2016/dec/14/john-smith-obituary-other-lives

CHURCH BELL RINGING IN ST The first one during the war took place in April 1915 and there was a detailed ALBANS DURING THE FIRST write up in the Herts Advertiser. At the WORLD WAR accompanying AGM the secretary Contrary to popular belief, church read out a Roll of Honour of those bell-ringing continued throughout the who had enlisted which he said would war. There were restrictions however be added to the Peal Book when it was and this note considers how the complete. Almost a third of the teams at the Cathedral, St Michael’s, members had joined up by this stage. St Peter’s and St Stephen’s responded This obviously curtailed ringing which, to them. apart from at the annual festival, was almost entirely restricted to Sunday Almost the first time they rang after services. Even this was often impossi- the outbreak of war on 4 August was ble both because of lighting restric- with the bells half-muffled to honour tions and a ruling which forbade loud Dean Lawrance who died on 12 bells during the same hours to avoid August – the Hertford County Associ- alerting enemy aircraft. At least the ation of Change Ringers had been latter meant there was no point in started in his sitting room in 1884. He trying to black out church towers. remained a staunch supporter until his death frequently preaching at The secretary of the Association, who evensong for their annual festival. was in the Cathedral team, stressed in celebrated in St Albans on Easter his annual reports that bell ringers Monday. were church workers and asked retired ringers to return to help out.

Tommy Conley, of the St Peter’s team, In St Albans the death toll among ringers continued ringing there and tolling at was fairly low with two from the St the cathedral throughout the war Michael’s team and Bob Kirby, who had although he was in his eighties. been the Association’s librarian, from St Peter’s. The Association’s secretary Before the Association’s AGM on 1 April wanted to have a marble plaque put in 1918 the secretary had requested infor- the cathedral in memory of the ringers mation about what ringing was possible in the county who had been killed but and how many ringers had enlisted. At this was not possible. the start of the war there were 44 ringers in the St Albans teams; by 1918 The first full peal in St Albans after the three of these had been killed and a war was rung in the cathedral on New further 25 had enlisted making a total Year’s Eve 1918 and took three hours of over 60%. Ten ringers had gone from and eighteen minutes. The bells were the Cathedral team and they could no half muffled in memory of the fallen in longer manage even to ring for Sunday the war. services as there were only two left. The teams from St Michael’s and St More or less all the information included Stephen’s had to combine and rang once here came from the Hertford County a Sunday at each of the churches. St Association of Change Ringers Annual Peter’s still had eight and could ring for Reports for 1913-1934, which are bound services together in one volume, and the Herts Advertiser.

Sheila Green

The Ringing Chamber St Albans Abbey Photo courtesy of St Albans Abbey

THE COUNTY SOCIETIES Historic England has now launched a service for publishing books in associ- SYMPOSIUM 2016 ation with heritage bodies, with Last September, I attended the latest crowd-funding accounting for all or biennial County Societies Symposium, part of the costs. It is aimed at ‘sub- organised by Victoria County History stantial’ books, rather than for the (VCH), the British Association for Local souvenir guide market. History (BALH) and the Royal Histori- cal Society. The theme for the day was Challenge of Relaunching VCH ‘Responding to 21�� Century Chal- Shropshire lenges’. The Institute for Historical James Bowen spoke about the Research, Senate House, London relaunch in October 2015 of the VCH hosted the symposium, which was Shropshire publication. Inactive since attended by over fifty delegates, rep- 2002 in Shropshire, VCH had returned resenting some forty organisations. It to the county as a voluntary society. was a stimulating day, with five main It needed to find new sources of speakers and lively discussion. funding since the County Council was no longer able to support them. They Historic England and Crowd-funding required £37,000 for the new edition. First up was John Hudson, head of They also needed to recruit volunteers publishing at Historic England. His for what was to be a collaborative subject was crowd-funding, which he community project aimed at research- described as the Internet equivalent ing and writing the history of all parts of subscription publishing. He told us of Shropshire. about a successful crowd-funding campaign that Historic England had The strategy for the relaunch was to run for their book Place-making, the start by doing single-parish studies Art of Capability Brown. The technol- that would allow local research to be ogy partner used was a company published quickly. Breaking the work called Unbound that specialises in down in this way made funding a crowd-funding for book publishing. more manageable task than a full Red The campaign achieved 88 per cent of Book. The products are known as the target fund in one year, with ‘Shorts’. The first Short was for the pledges from 213 people. parish of Wem and was crucial to the successful re-establishment of the VCH for Shropshire. Continued on Page 32 Follow us on Twitter at SAHAAS(@stalbanspast) www.stalbanshistory.org SAHAAS NEWSLETTER 203 Page 18

BELLMEADOW 137 FISHPOOL STREET Bellmeadow was our home for almost 26 years and during that time we came to love the house with its exten- sive garden which extends to the river Ver. J.T. Smith in his catalogue of English Houses 1200-1800 describes Postcard courtesy St Albans Museums it as having been built c1500 as a small Bellmeadow timber framed Wealden house but it has undergone considerable changes which served as the kitchen, were over the centuries. The present added on the ground floor to the rear entrance hall is the site of the original of the house. open hall and there were two rooms one on each side of the hall. Initially The house was originally owned by the house was single-storey and the family at the Manor house, now St rafters in the present attic roof shows Michael’s Manor hotel, and it is signs of smoke blackening from the assumed that it was always occupied fires in the open hall. At some time, by employees of the family. However probably in the middle of the 17�� in 1932 the tenancy was given to century, the hall was divided into two Joseph (Bertie) Brett and his family stories and the fireplace was moved who were not employees of the Gape to the rear of the hall with the family at the Manor. Bertie Brett was chimney stack added above it. an engineer, councillor, and one-time mayor of St Albans. There are signs in one of the first floor rooms that both ends bays on this At this time the house was connected floor were jetted from the front of the by three cottages to the building house. Sometime in the 18�� century (which was until recently the Blue the front of the house was rebuilt in Anchor) and a small garden back of brick to form a flat wall defining the the house was separated from the windows and the front entrance, a river by a field which belonged to parapet in front of the now tiled roof the Manor. The Brett children were was also added. At about the same only allowed to play in the field with time two additional rooms, one of on Sunday afternoons with permission

Follow us on Twitter at SAHAAS(@stalbanspast) www.stalbanshistory.org SAHAAS NEWSLETTER 203 Page 19 of the Gape family. Shortly after the war the cottages were demolished Mary has family connections with the and Brett was able to purchase the Everetts and in 1987 we were offered house, the land where the cottages first refusal on the sale of the house – had stood and the field behind the something we didn’t hesitate to take house thus forming a huge garden up as we had visited the house on extending down to the river. many occasion and realise that it was a very special case. We were very In 1971 the Bretts sold the house and happy in Bellmeadow but eventually land to friends, John and Nancy Ever- we felt that age was stopping us from ett. John Everett was keenly inter- giving the house and the garden the ested in the local area and wrote a love they deserved and so we sold it book on the history of St Michael’s to a younger family in 2013. village. Subsequently the Everetts sold off the land where the cottages had Mary and Geoff Kirk been and a house was built on it in 1994.

THE HERTS ADVERTISER IS NOW BEING DIGITISED

A 10-year project to digitise up to 40 million pages from the British Library’s newspaper collection has almost reached its half-way point. At long last copies of the Herts Advertiser newspaper are being scanned and made available on the web. (see www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk).

While this is good news for those interested in the history of the city and surrounding district, there are limitations. Firstly, although the paper was first published in 1855 the project will only digitise editions from 1858 onwards until 1927. Later editions are available on microfilm in St Albans Central Library. The earliest three years (1855-57) can be viewed only at the British Library at St Pancras. The second limitation is that, at the time of writing, just 25 years are on line with more to follow in due course.

Lastly, it does come at a cost. You have pay a subscription to view the digital copies. The current rates are £12.95 for a month or £80 for a year. Subscribers to Findmypast also have access to the Herts Advertiser.

Jonathan Mein

THE SIX BELLS IN ST MICHAEL’S maltings in which trade it remained for another 80 years at least. STREET A recent discovery in Kingsbury manor Why the Bell Inn shut is not clear. Due records changes the accepted view to technical innovations and increas- that the Six Bells has a continuous ing efficiencies in the transport net- history as an inn and public house work, there was a marked decline in dating back over 400 years. The image the number and overall capacity of of continuity is illusory, the result of the town’s inns in the 1700s. One of the conflation of the Six Bells with a these efficiencies was the completion similarly-named but separate estab- in 1765 of the new bridge over the Ver lishment. to replace what appears to have been a simple packhorse bridge and ford. This is the long-closed Bell Inn. It was We will likely never know whether the located 50 metres to the north of the proximity of the closure of the inn and Six Bells, close to the bridge (see map) the opening of the bridge was just and on a site now occupied by St coincidence. Michael’s ‘Lower’ School. There is good evidence to show that it was The smaller Six Bells public house was trading in the 17th century and into perhaps licensed in the 1750s, proba- the 18th when it was operating on a bly in the 1770s and definitely so by significant scale with stabling for 50 1786. It remains a venerable pub, just horses. The manorial papers (HALS, not as venerable as we thought. Gorhambury xi/57) indicate that the inn was still open in 1764 but shut by Jonathan Mein 1768, the building converted to a

St Michael’s tithe map, 1843 (HALS, ref. DSA/4/87/2)

VERDUN TREE

Members who have not recently walked up from the Abbey through Waxhouse Gate will not be aware that a new ‘interpretation panel’ has been installed (courtesy of the Civic Society) near the Verdun Tree. With text in French and German as well as English, the panel explains the significance of the Battle of Verdun during the First World War. Far longer than the Battle of the Somme, the battle for the French to maintain control of the ancient fortress city of Verdun is considered to be the longest fought in recorded history. The tree itself, close to the path leading to the Village Arcade, has grown from a conker taken from one of the last trees left standing on the battlefield. Bryan Hanlon

Photographs J Humphreys

OBITUARIES

The recent months have seen the loss of six of our members, two of them Honorary. The obituary of J.T. Smith appeared in our last Newsletter and biographical essay is at Page 13. Below are obituaries for the five other members and, on behalf of the Society, I offer our condolences and sympathy to all their families. Helen Bishop

Dr. Eileen Roberts MA PhD FSA Her most important publications Eileen was a member include The Wall Paintings of St Albans of the Arc and Arc for Abbey (1993), The Hill of the Martyr many years before (1993) and Images of Alban (1999). being elected an Hon- orary Member. She She was meticulous in all her died in October 2016 researches on the architectural history aged 88. of St Albans and Hertfordshire and was also an expert calligrapher and Born in Canada, and able to trace her embroiderer. ancestry back to the voyage of the Mayflower, she became a teacher in Norman Alvey oriental art but moved to St Albans in Norman joined the Arc & Arc in Febru- 1960 with Basil, an architect. Deter- ary 1978. By 1982 he had taken on mined to obtain a London University an active role in the Architecture and Doctorate she studied the mouldings Local History Group which, in those of Perpendicular windows in over 100 days, organised the Tuesday lectures. north Hertfordshire churches. A copy He was later Chairman of that group of her thesis is kept in the Local for four years up until 1995. Studies Library at Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies at Hertford. In parallel, he joined the British Asso- ciation for Local History and was Sec- Well-known locally as a city and Abbey retary and later Treasurer of that guide she compiled an inventory of organisation. He shared with our the buildings on and around the site Society the activities of the Associa- of the future Maltings shopping centre tion by giving news in our Newsletter whilst employed by Herts Planning and also inviting us to join their Dept. outings. He also made a significant contribution to the 17�� Century

Research Group. It was decided to Mike Adams create a database on computer, quite Mike’s membership began in Novem- a novelty at the time. One of the few ber 1995. He died on 10�� November members familiar with computers 2016. He was an active member of then, Norman assisted with patience the Society and a Clockateer. He will and encouragement and miraculously be particularly remembered by the solved the difficulties that we encoun- many visitors to the tower both for his tered. friendly welcome and the information he was able to offer. He published a book on Reeds School, and a number of articles with titles David Kelsall MB BS ranging from ‘History of Computers’, David joined the Society in November to the intriguing title ‘From Ramryge 1995. He practised as a GP but was Chantry to Oxfam’. He also gave a also known as an artist, potter, book- number of interesting lectures to the binder, goldsmith, IT expert, in fact ‘a Arc & Arc. true renaissance man’. David played an important role as the Honorary Although members knew Norman Archivist at St Albans Cathedral for 22 quite well it was a surprise to read an years. Many researchers benefited article in the Herts Advertiser in 2014 from his knowledge and skills, partic- which announced ularly with a camera, as frequent that Norman had acknowledgements in local history been awarded a publications pay testament. David medal from the died suddenly at home on 23 Decem- Russian state in ber 2016, aged 87, and his funeral was recognition of his held at the Cathedral on 31 January. involvement in the Arctic convoys of Mary Baker 1944. He had Mary and her husband, Anthony served on HMS joined the Arc and Arc in February Chaser, an escort carrier, which was 1980 and their membership has con- charged with protecting an unusually tinued unbroken. She died on 1st large convoy of about 40 merchant November after a short illness. Her ships carrying vital military supplies funeral was held at St Stephen’s from the UK to Murmansk. church on Friday 18th November where she regularly worshipped and she is buried in the churchyard. Follow us on Twitter at SAHAAS(@stalbanspast) www.stalbanshistory.org SAHAAS NEWSLETTER 203 Page 24

SATURDAY NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT IN EDWARDIAN ST ALBANS

In writing up our research for the Home Front book, there was plenty of material that had to be left on the ‘cutting room floor’. One such item was an interesting snippet from an oral history tape held in the Imperial War Museum’s collection. It was a recording of Thomas Russell talking about his childhood in the city in the early 1900s (ref. IWM 656, Reel 3). As you will see, he described the highlight of a night out in St Albans, in the process casting a different explanation as to why contemporary photos show a policeman directing traffic at the top of Holywell Hill.

‘The chief entertainment was for the people to stand on the pavement watching the policemen directing the traffic because in those days motor cars could not get up that hill if they were stopped so he had to see that any car coming [along the High Street or London Road] had to stop to let this one [cross] … he’d go back if stopped. This was all there was’.

Home Front Research Group

Postcard courtesy of Andy Lawrence

The Peahen Crossroads c.1912

LECTURE PROGRAMME protection. Protection from what, to others, was considered normal life. 14 February - 19 May 2017 The lecture will attempt to answer the question Why did Hill End close? All lectures begin at 7.45pm Albanian Mike Neighbour has spent nearly All lectures will be held at half of his life in St Albans – having been St Albans School except those born here and brought up on the Beau- marked VM – which will be held at monts Estate before the days of made up Verulamium Museum. roads and street lighting. He was edu- Those marked PP advise that park- cated at Fleetville, Beaumont and Mar- ing at the school may be limited - shalswick schools. Now retired, Mike's Use Gombards Car Park career was spent teaching in many of the county's schools, both secondary and Late changes of venue will be noti- fied on our web site and via e- primary. Having a close and detailed news attachment to the eastern districts of St Albans, he began to explore the history which pre-dated his parents' recollections. Tuesday 14 February 2017 He has written two books under the What Lies Beneath banner St Albans’ Own East End, and he Mike Neighbour continues to research more of the undis- covered story of the eastern districts. Today, very little is left to remind us that until recently there was not one, Friday 24 February 2017 but two, major mental hospitals on War Among the Ruins: Medieval the site which we now call Highfield Heritage and the First World War and Highfield Park. Among the 19�� Professor James G Clark century farms, Hill End Farm gave its name to the huge late Victorian struc- The First World War is frequently tures which became Hill End Asylum. represented as the first truly ‘indus- The later hospital, Cell Barnes Colony, trial’ conflict, which starkly focused is the subject of a separate lecture. the terrifying power of machines. It is The lecture will begin with the frac- often overlooked that this mecha- tured early 19th century society which nised warfare was wrought in a largely gave rise to private, and later, public pre-industrial landscape, indeed in an institutions caring for those requiring environment marked above all by

Follow us on Twitter at SAHAAS(@stalbanspast) www.stalbanshistory.org SAHAAS NEWSLETTER 203 Page 26 monuments to the artistry and piety Tuesday 7 March 2017 of a medieval world. The disjunction Wind, Water and Steam -The Story of between tank manoeuvres and the Hertfordshire’s Mills tracery of a rose window was not lost Hugh Howes on the fighting men who were moved to save a shard of stained glass as they Hertfordshire has an unusually rich passed up and down the line. The and diverse milling heritage. As well effect on the public authorities and as its long tradition of corn milling, the the wider community on the home county once enjoyed a reputation for front – in Belgium, France, and the milling of a variety of other prod- England especially – was even more ucts, including pioneering papermak- powerful. In fact, it might be argued ing in the west of the county, that the experience of the war marked gunpowder and small arms in the a turning-point in our relationship east, and also silk and cotton. with our medieval heritage. In recounting the history of all the James G. Clark is Professor of Medie- types of milling in the county, Hugh val History at the University of Exeter. focuses on the key factors of power, An historian of the medieval church – technology and transportation. Prox- and of monasteries in particular – he imity to London helped the Hertford- has written and published widely on shire mills to thrive but also monastic life, learning, and libraries, threatened them – when the major on the dissolution of the monasteries corn exchanges were established in and the Reformation. He has made the City of London and when vast many contributions to TV and Radio quantities of imported grain began to including BBC’s Tudor Monastery arrive at the capital’s docks. The Farm (2013); he is currently historical success with which individual millers consultant for the TV adaptation of were able to meet these challenges Philippa Gregory’s The White Princess. determined whether or not they thrived. Moving away from the vagar- ies of wind and water by switching to steam power and, ultimately, electric- ity was one of the keys to survival, while up-to-date milling equipment and good access to both imported

Follow us on Twitter at SAHAAS(@stalbanspast) www.stalbanshistory.org SAHAAS NEWSLETTER 203 Page 27 grain and expanding markets were The centenary of the Battle of the also to prove crucial. Somme was marked in the summer of 2016. Filming the ‘Big Push’ were two This is an account of a long-estab- official film cameramen with giant, lished commercial activity that heavy hand cranked film cameras. The touches on many important aspects War Office edited their unique of our history. It examines the footage into a feature documentary dynamic of the nation’s history, that was released in August 1916 prevailing economic forces and the while the battle still raged in France. particular local conditions in Hertford- The film was a sensation. Huge crowds shire. flocked to see scenes the like of which they had never seen before because, Hugh Howes is a retired Chartered with one or two exceptions, The Battle Town Planner with fifteen years’ expe- of the Somme film presented authen- rience as strategic planner for the tic moving pictures of the battle. Environment Agency and an earlier Taylor Downing's talk about the period with Bedfordshire County Coun- making of the film, its impact and the cil. ethical issues raised by it. His talk will be illustrated with clips from the orig- He has had a life-long interest in eco- inal film. nomic history and industrial archaeology. In his retirement he has published Taylor Downing is a historian, a best - books on Strategic Planning for Water, selling author and an award winning Bedfordshire Mills, and The Struggle television producer who has produced for the Cornwall Railway. more than 200 historical documenta- ries for television. His latest books Wind, Water and Steam, The Story of include Breakdown: The Crisis of Shell Hertfordshire’s Mills is his most recent Shock on the Somme, 1916 (Little, publication. Brown 2016) and Secret Warriors: Key Scientists, Code Breakers and Propa- Tuesday 14 March 2017 gandists of the Great War (Little, The Making of the Epic 1916 Brown 2014) and Spies in the Sky: The Propaganda Film Secret Battle for Aerial Intelligence The Battle of the Somme during WW2 (Little, Brown 2011). Taylor Downing Taylor has spoken at SAHAAS twice previously.

Friday 24 March 2017 kingdom. Wallingford played a crucial Hertfordshire Almshouses role in all the key events from the Paul Langston Norman Conquest in 1066 to the exe- cution of Charles I in 1649. This lecture Paul will speak about the benefactors, will tell its story (with a cameo role for history and architecture of some of Wallingford Priory, a cell of St Albans the more interesting almshouses in Abbey, built in the reign of William Hertfordshire beginning with the Rufus). oldest surviving and finishing at the end of the nineteenth century. The Dr Katharine Keats-Rohan is a well- talk will be illustrated by photographs known medievalist specialising in he has taken. Northern France and the Norman Conquest of England, on which she Paul is retired, having previously has written voluminously since 1990. worked as Deputy Director of Social Services for Hertfordshire. He has been She is a member of The Wallingford interested in architecture ever since Historical and Archaeological Society his parents took him into Chichester which worked alongside the recent Cathedral as a very young child and in archaeological study, Burh to Bor- almshouses as an early form of social ough, led by Neil Christie; she co-ed- services activity. ited two British Archaeological Reports, The origins of the Borough of Tuesday 4 April 2017 Wallingford (2009), and Wallingford: Wallingford Castle and the Castle and the Town in Context the Road to Regicide (2015). Dr Katharine Keats-Rohan Tuesday 11 April After its demolition on the orders of The Age of Decadence Cromwell in 1652, one of the greatest Dr Simon Heffer and most magnificent royal castles of medieval England started its slow slide Britain was at the height of its imperial into oblivion. With the Tower of power in 1880. But by 1914 the state London and Windsor, it was one of faced threats from the rise of organ- three major Thames Valley fortresses ised labour, from the women’s that maintained central control of the suffrage movement, from diehard

Follow us on Twitter at SAHAAS(@stalbanspast) www.stalbanshistory.org SAHAAS NEWSLETTER 203 Page 29 reactionaries in the House of Lords symbol of religious and military resist- and from Irish home rulers who ance to the West. wished to break up the Kingdom. Jonathan’s lecture will review How did this remarkable change from Saladin’s career and look at how his invincibility to vulnerability come reputation was formed and preserved about? over the centuries. A consideration of Saladin’s place in the political and Simon Heffer is a historian, broad- cultural worlds of the modern Near caster and newspaper columnist. He East will conclude the talk. has written biographies of Thomas Carlyle, Edward VII and Enoch Powell, Professor Jonathan Phillips is Profes- and two books on English grammar - sor of Crusading History at Royal Strictly English and Simply English. in Holloway, University of London. He is 2013 he published High Minds, a the author of numerous books on the history of mid-Victorian Britain, and subject including Holy Warriors: A his next book, to be published early in Modern History of the Crusades 2017, is the sequel, The Age of Deca- (2009) and The Second Crusade: dence, dealing with Britain and its Extending the Frontiers of Christen- empire from 1880 to 1914. He has a dom (2007). He was the lead pre- PhD in History from Cambridge Uni- senter in the History Channel’s The versity, where as an undergraduate he Cross and the Crescent and recently read English at Corpus Christi College. hosted the six-part series Ancient Roads: From Christ to Constantine on Friday 21 April 2017 American Public Television. At present Saladin: Life and Legend – From the he is working on a major history of the Medieval Age to the 21�� Century Third Crusade. Prof Jonathan Phillips Tuesday 9 May 2017 The Sultan Saladin remains one of the The Hanseatic League most iconic figures of the medieval Jeremy Goldsmith age. As the man who recovered Jeru- salem from the crusaders in 1187 he Beginning as a medieval trading group became the hero of Sunni Islam. Many between merchant cities in Northern centuries after his death, Saladin Europe, by the 16�� century the continues to be an immensely potent Hanseatic League had become an

international institution in its own 19 May 2017 right. Possessing its own army and The Long Weekend: Life in the English diplomatic system the League became Country House Between the Wars the greatest cross-border trading Adrian Tinniswood OBE network in Europe. Adrian Tinniswood uncovers the truth The lecture looks at the history of the about a world half-forgotten, draped Hanseatic League from its origins in in myth and hidden behind stiff upper north German ports, particularly at lips and film-star smiles. Drawing on the role of the League in England until hundreds of memoirs, on unpublished its expulsion by rival English letters and diaries, he brings the merchants in the Elizabethan period. stately homes of England to life, giving us an insight into the gilt and the Jeremy Goldsmith is an historian, gingerbread, and showing how the writer and lawyer with a particular image of the country house was care- interest in medieval English politics fully protected by its occupants above and society. He has worked as a gene- and below stairs, and how the reality alogist and heritage researcher for was so much more interesting than over a decade and has written for a the dream. variety of publications from scholarly journals and popular magazines to Adrian is the author of fourteen books on national newspapers. social and architectural history, including the Sunday Times bestseller, The Long Jeremy has been a member of the Weekend. Society of Genealogists’ Education Committee and was for some years Born in 1954, his career has combined Programme Secretary of the Heraldry work with heritage institutions such as the Society. He is currently collecting National Trust and the Heritage Lottery material for a book on the Kenilworth Fund with lecturing for English and Amer- progress of Elizabeth I in 1575. ican universities.

Adrian lives in Bath and is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Buck- ingham. In 2013 he was awarded an OBE for services to heritage.

Doreen and Roy Bratby

NEW MUSEUM AND GALLERY - PROGRESS

Digging of the new basement gallery is well under way, scaffolding erected and hoardings in place, including one with our SAHAAS logo (opposite the Maltings).

Photographs J Humphreys

Follow us on Twitter at SAHAAS(@stalbanspast) www.stalbanshistory.org SAHAAS NEWSLETTER 203 Page 32 Continued from Page 17 The society used a wide variety of ● People resisted the idea that His- publicity activities and channels for toric England had the right to set raising awareness of the relaunch, the Historical Environment frame- recruiting volunteers and raising the work; there was a ‘clash of cul- necessary funds. Professional brand tures’. marketing and publicity was used for these campaigns and made a valuable A report on the project and its findings contribution to the success of the is available at relaunch. https://historicengland.org.uk/research/supp ort-and-collaboration/research- Value of Community-led Research resources/assessing-community-generated Gill Draper of BALH gave us interesting rresearch/ insights into Historic England’s study ‘The Value of Community Generated Lessons in Creating and Consuming Research’. The project looked at the History potential value of community-led Jessica Lutkin of the England’s Immi- research, carried out by voluntary grants 1330-1550 database (Univer- groups, for understanding wider sity of York) shared her experience of research questions and for providing a project that started badly. evidence for inclusion in local Historic Environment Records (HERs). This research database was set up in February 2015 to shed new light on Gill had helped analyse the responses the hidden age of population move- from local and county societies. ment in the later middle ages. The Evidently this had not been easy: the database provides information on the definition of ‘community generated names, origins, occupations and research’ had been hard to pin down households of a significant number of and there were questions about the foreigners who chose to live and work wisdom of assuming that the value of in England during that time. history and archaeology research could be measured in the same way. The research team set up a project that sought to use volunteers from Findings included: local history societies to help populate ● Only 23 per cent of local history the new database. Although the team groups are likely to send research succeeded in getting societies to sign to the HERs Continued on Page 33 Follow us on Twitter at SAHAAS(@stalbanspast) www.stalbanshistory.org SAHAAS NEWSLETTER 203 Page 33 Continued from Page 32 up to the project, quite a number of ● Control costs and maximise societies did not in the end take part. income ● Maintain a healthy level of mem- Jessica put this poor response down bership and volunteer activity. to communication failings – the researchers hadn’t communicated the As a result they gave their archive and project’s aims clearly and why it mat- library to the University of Leeds on a tered. She said they should have long-term loan. They decided to sell developed a more ‘hands-on’ their HQ, a lovely building that was no approach to bring the researchers and longer fit for purpose. They rethought societies together, for example by how they functioned, exploring new using discussion boards, ways of being collegiate. And they telephone/Skype, workshops and changed their name – to include ‘His- podcasts. She also felt that they had torical’. not given enough thought to what the societies had wanted from the project. The review raised questions about what they did and why. For example, Modern Challenges facing County do people still want and value what Societies we have to offer? We may be doing Gillian Cookson, President of the York- good things, but what is this actually shire Archaeological and Historical achieving as part of a bigger picture? Society, gave a fascinating talk on how And how can we have greater impact a recent financial review led to the still, reach more people, tap into the decision to sell their headquarters of demographics we tend to miss: 50 years and a major rethink of how younger people and children, minority the society should function. ethnic groups, people who view our activities, and indeed, see us, as elitist, Their root-and-branch review pro- unwelcoming, irrelevant, and not for duced five urgent and important them? actions: ● Protect collections and manage Gillian concluded by saying that ben- access to them efits from the changes are already ● Negotiate the revolution that’s appearing and that they see the future happening in publishing as a land of opportunity. ● Develop a useful and user-friendly online presence Patricia Broad

VISIT ST ALBANS – PUBLICITY C.1908

Just one of the items in the eclectic gift of 900 photographs and postcards donated to the Society by the daughter of Arthur Allen (see Newsletter 202 Page 8) and now digitised by Society member Malcolm Merrick and available to view in the SAHAAS Library.

EDITOR’S NOTE

As always, I welcome contributions of text or photographs for consideration for inclusion in the Newsletter and they should be emailed to me at: [email protected] or post to Newsletter Editor, 12 Church Crescent, St Albans, AL3 5JD.