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’»
Category: Nunnery open space
Murder in the allotments
In December 1948, a man was found murdered just inside the allotments opposite the ruins in Cottonmill Lane. The man was Steven Varley, a 52 year old who worked as a shop steward at de Havilland’s at Hatfield. The full… More about ‘Murder in the allotments’»
Fire at Sopwell Nunnery Farm
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’»
Living in Cottonmill Lane – Adelle Stapleton
Adelle and he husband lived in Cottonmill Lane after they got married. They had their wedding reception in the Cottonmill Club and their photographs taken in the Nunnery Open Space. She has fond memories of her neighbours who gave her some advice… More about ‘Living in Cottonmill Lane – Adelle Stapleton’»
Living in De Tany Court – Jennifer Taylor
De Tany Court was the housing development built on what was the St Albans school playing field off Belmont Hill. Jennifer and her husband, Rick, moved there from Grange Street via King Harry Lane. She shares her love of living… More about ‘Living in De Tany Court – Jennifer Taylor’»
Living in Holyrood Crescent – Jenny Huggard and Jose Sena
Jenny and Jose and their family moved into the area fairly recently and describe why they like living in Holyrood Crescent. They like the lovely open spaces and the friendly community. Holyrood Crescent held a street party for the Queen’s… More about ‘Living in Holyrood Crescent – Jenny Huggard and Jose Sena’»
River Ver from Holywell Hill to Park Street
A large stretch of the river Ver, from Holywell Hill up to New Barnes and on to Park Street, runs through Sopwell. It is an important recreation area for local residents and in the past an area for growing watercress.… More about ‘River Ver from Holywell Hill to Park Street’»
Pearce’s scrap yard – John Buckingham
The St Albans firm, Pearce Recycling, started off as scrap merchants with several yards throughout the city. One of these yards was in front of the ruins of Sir Richard Lee‘s Tudor house in Cottonmill Lane. John Buckingham remembers playing… More about ‘Pearce’s scrap yard – John Buckingham’»
Richard Lee
Sir Richard Lee is said to be descended from ‘a genteel family in Sussex where they had flourished for three or four generations’. His mother was named Hall and was the daughter of the sister of the famous Edmund Dudley… More about ‘Richard Lee’»
The manor of Sopwell
The original of this estate plan of the manor of Sopwell is in the Hertfordshire Archives and Library Services (HALS) in County Hall. The plan is dated 1666. Note that the building called Sopwell House in the bottom right hand… More about ‘The manor of Sopwell’»
Latest comments