Posts By: Sandy Norman

Fire at Sopwell Nunnery Farm

Posted April 15th, 2015 by Sandy Norman & filed under 1930s, Agriculture, Nunnery open space, People, Places and spaces.

As reported  at length in Sopwell: a history and collection of memories (Appendix 1), a fire was started deliberately in a corrugated iron shed stacked with waste paper in the area near the ruins called Sopwell Nunnery farm. This was… More about ‘Fire at Sopwell Nunnery Farm’»

The Railway Tavern – a forgotten Sopwell Pub

Posted April 2nd, 2015 by Sandy Norman & filed under 19th century, Gasworks, Hotel work, Life and leisure, People, Pubs and clubs, Railways, Work.

The following item has been written by Jonathan Mein, a member of the St Albans and Hertfordshire Architectural and Archaeological Society (SAHAAS) and an authority on St Albans pubs. In a city where many of the remaining pubs have histories… More about ‘The Railway Tavern – a forgotten Sopwell Pub’»

Hatfield – St Albans Railway (Alban Way)

Posted March 16th, 2015 by Sandy Norman & filed under 1980s, 19th century, Life and leisure, Places and spaces, Post World War 2, Railways, Work, World War 2.

The Great Northern Railway (GNR) line from St Albans to Hatfield was opened on 16th October 1865 but there had been plans to construct this branch line much earlier than that. Local landowners were encouraged to form an independent company… More about ‘Hatfield – St Albans Railway (Alban Way)’»

William Longmire

Posted February 22nd, 2015 by Sandy Norman & filed under 19th century, People, Streets, William Longmire.

William Longmire (1812 – 1887) was a builder. His business was in London but he had connections with St Albans and at one point owned two houses in Prospect Road, numbers 23 and 25. He lived on and off in number 25,… More about ‘William Longmire’»

Lydia Lightfoot of Holywell Hill

Posted February 4th, 2015 by Sandy Norman & filed under 1950s, 1960s, 19th century, Life and leisure, People, Places and spaces, Retail, Shops, Streets.

Lydia Lightfoot was born in St Albans in 1875. Her father was George Lightfoot born in 1844 in St Albans and christened at St Peter Church. He started out as a labourer to a bricklayer eventually becoming a builder in later… More about ‘Lydia Lightfoot of Holywell Hill’»

Mercer Chronometers

Posted February 2nd, 2015 by Sandy Norman & filed under 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 19th century, Early 20th century, Factory work, Mercer, Mercer's Chronometers, Streets, Work.

Mercers was a family run marine chronometer manufacturing business. The firm started in 1858 in Clerkenwell London by the founder, Thomas Mercer. Thomas was born in St Helen’s Lancashire in 1822. St Helen’s was said to be the centre of… More about ‘Mercer Chronometers’»

Cottonmill Club

Posted February 2nd, 2015 by Sandy Norman & filed under 1970s, 1980s, Life and leisure, People, Pubs and clubs.

A social club, called the Cottonmill Club, was launched in 1970s to provide community facilities for the residents of the new Cottonmill and St Julian’s estates. This was the original club. Membership was by subscription and in its heyday it… More about ‘Cottonmill Club’»

St Stephen’s 1841 – 1911

Posted January 27th, 2015 by Sandy Norman & filed under 19th century, Agriculture, Churches, Domestic service, Early 20th century, Horticulture, Life and leisure, People, Places and spaces, Streets, Work.

The following description of the people who lived in the area around St Stephen’s Church is derived from the census returns from 1851 to 1911. Watling Street is not mentioned. People who lived in that area were just living in… More about ‘St Stephen’s 1841 – 1911′»

Cottonmill swimming baths

Posted January 24th, 2015 by Sandy Norman & filed under 19th century, Early 20th century, Life and leisure, Post World War 2, River Ver, Schools, Sport.

The open-air swimming baths in Cottonmill Lane were opened on 29 July 1905 on the site of the old cotton mill. However, bathing in the river took place long before the baths were built. There was a bathing facility established… More about ‘Cottonmill swimming baths’»

Eagle lectern at St Stephen’s Church

Posted January 21st, 2015 by Sandy Norman & filed under 18th century, 19th century, Churches, People, Places and spaces, Tudor period.

The brass lectern in the shape of an eagle which is in St Stephen’s Church has an interesting history. The lectern was stolen from Holyrood House by Sir Richard Lee in the 16th century and given to St Stephen’s. It… More about ‘Eagle lectern at St Stephen’s Church’»