Category: Oral history

Jenny Lane

In January 2024, Jenny Lane a small residential development of seven three-bedroomed properties was officially opened in a naming event by the mayor of St Albans, Councillor Anthony Rowlands. The land on which the houses were built was formerly occupied… More about ‘Jenny Lane’»

Hunting in Sopwell

In medieval times Sopwell was part of a wood called Eywood. As well as providing timber and fuel the woods were also used for hunting – at that time mainly deer. The Abbey monks and the nuns from Sopwell Priory… More about ‘Hunting in Sopwell’»

Cottonmill area – Margaret Brown

Margaret Brown was a child when she lived in Boleyn Drive on the Mentmore estate (built 1938-9) and knew the area well. She talks about how the shape of Cottonmill Lane changed after the war when Berners Drive and Priory Walk… More about ‘Cottonmill area – Margaret Brown’»

St Julian’s Estate – Margaret Brown

Margaret recalls that after building the Cottonmill Estate, St Julian’s was built. She said that there was no access to the estate other than by foot because of the cattle bridge in what is now Abbots Avenue. Over the cattle… More about ‘St Julian’s Estate – Margaret Brown’»

Shops and deliveries – Margaret Brown

Once there were four shops in Cottonmill Lane built when the Mentmore estate was constructed in 1938-9, two either side. Margaret shares her memories of them. She also recalls the delivery vans that called round selling all sorts of goods… More about ‘Shops and deliveries – Margaret Brown’»

Cottonmill Lane – Margaret Brown

Margaret Brown, born 1928, remembers Cottonmill Lane as being a narrow lane with footpaths, how it was mainly fields, and allotments with little or no access to other roads from the lane. For example, she remembers her mother telling her… More about ‘Cottonmill Lane – Margaret Brown’»

Sportsmans Hall and the stables in Cottonmill Lane – Margaret Brown

Margaret Brown continues her memories of Cottonmill Lane. She remembers the stables opposite the Nunnery ruins where horses and hounds were kept which would be where Nunnery Stables is now, She also remembers the man who looked after the horses… More about ‘Sportsmans Hall and the stables in Cottonmill Lane – Margaret Brown’»

Boleyn Drive – Margaret Brown

Margaret tells the story of when the Mentmore estate was built in 1938-39. It was built by Janes the builders of Luton. They stopped making up her road, Boleyn Drive, because of the war. It was an unmade road until… More about ‘Boleyn Drive – Margaret Brown’»

Childhood – Margaret Brown

Margaret Brown was born in 1928 and lived in Boleyn Drive on the Mentmore estate, Cottonmill Lane since she was 11. She shares her childhood recollections of wandering miles over the fields with her friends and scrumping apples. She remembers… More about ‘Childhood – Margaret Brown’»

Searchlight battery – Denis Mardel

Denis remembers during the war there being a searchlight battery behind Cottonmill Lane. He remembers the soldiers and the Nissen huts and the fenced in area with the searchlight which would have extended near where the bottom of his garden in… More about ‘Searchlight battery – Denis Mardel’»