There was a gun emplacement with a searchlight in Sopwell. It was situated in the fields before the estate was built approximately where Nuns Lane meets Cottonmill Lane. Gloria Morris remembers her mother pointing it out to her when they… More about ‘World War II searchlight – Gloria Morris’»
In the 1930s and 1940s, children were allowed to wander around freely. Everyone looked after each other especially during the war years when the men were away Gloria has memories of cycling down the winding lane that was Cottonmill Lane… More about ‘More childhood memories – Gloria Morris’»
Gloria was born in the 1930s. She lived in Bardwell Road until her family moved to Nuns Lane after the war. She has many memories of cycling to Park Street and describes the countryside and wildlife. She remembers the steam… More about ‘Childhood memories – Gloria Morris’»
Gloria Morris has many vivid memories of what life was like on the home front during World war II. She remembers her mother having to do war work at Ryders’ Seed merchants; gas masks; the different kinds of ration books;… More about ‘Childhood memories of living in the war years – Gloria Morris’»
During the Second World War, many families had to take in soldiers to live with them. Gloria Morris remembers her mother having to do this. She also remembers seeing German prisoners of war in St Albans and realising that there… More about ‘World War 2 soldiers – Gloria Morris’»
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’»
Noel Godman lived in St Julians Road as a child and recalls playing in the Cottonmill Lane area. He has vivid memories of the gasworks and of the trains coming in and out from the Abbey station and the shunting… More about ‘Childhood memories – Noel Godman’»
Noel Godman and his father, uncles and brother were talented engineers. His father worked at Mercers Chronometers where he was supervisor, and one of his roles was to check the master clocks on some of the famous ships of the… More about ‘Working as a precision engineer – Noel Godman’»
At the beginning of the 20th century Cottonmill Lane was still little more than a than a dirt track. In front of the ruins was a scrap yard run by the Pearce family. Kathy Sinfield describes parts of the lane… More about ‘Cottonmill Lane – Kathy Sinfield’»
Russ Bowman describes what life was like for his family living in the prefab in Lee Lane in the late 1940s and 1950s. he remembers his mother budgeting for the week on pay day and the family making rugs out… More about ‘Life in the 1940s and 1950s – Russ Bowman’»
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