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’»
Russ Bowman’s father worked in the retail trade as a pork butcher working mainly for Sainsbury’s and Saxby’s. Russ was also offered an apprenticeship as a pork butcher but declined in favour of working in the GPO as an engineer.… More about ‘Working life in St Albans – Russ Bowman’»
Russ Bowman, born 1944, started at St Peter’s school and when Mandeville was built in 1951, he moved there. He recalls his teachers from both schools and talks about the differences in the learning conditions. Interview date: 27 August 2013.… More about ‘Postwar school days – Russ Bowman’»
Russ Bowman recalls living in Lee Lane in one of the new prefabs. Lee Lane no longer exists. Russ explains exactly where it used to be in Holyrood Crescent. He talks about living in the prefabs, the surrounding area and… More about ‘Prefabs in Lee lane – Russ Bowman’»
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