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’»
The shops in Vesta Avenue originally consisted of three shops: St Julian’s Stores at one end, Holdham’s Butchers in the middle and St Stephen’s Stores at the other end. In between was waste ground. These three shops were built when the… More about ‘Vesta Avenue shops’»
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’»
Jennifer’s parents came to St Albans in 1932/33 and opened a ladies fashion shop called ‘Adaire’ in the front of the Peahen hotel where they worked until her father retired. Interview date: 13 March 2014. Interviewer: Sandy Norman… More about ‘Ladies Fashion shop at the Peahen – Jennifer Taylor’»
Jennifer was born in the centre of St Albans, St Peter’s Street, in 1946. Her parents had a ladies fashion shop on the Peahen corner and she went to school in Holywell Hill. She now lives in De Tany Court… More about ‘Born and bred in St Albans – Jennifer Taylor’»
Betty Cox lived in Prospect Road and Winnie Jeffs lived in Fleetville. Together they talk about some of the shops and delivery men in the area around Prospect Road, Cottonmill Lane and Holywell Hill. Interview date: 26 September 2013. Interviewer:… More about ‘Shopping – Betty Cox and Winnie Jeffs’»
Rob used to play in the Nunnery open space and remembers Pearce’s scrap yard. He and his brother took newspapers to their yard in Albert Street where he would be rewarded with a toy windmill or maybe a few pennies.… More about ‘Childhood memories – Rob Edwards’»
Frederick Anthony Prior, known as Tony, moved into the Sopwell area in 1958. He lived in Abbots Avenue West, opposite the shops. He saw the flats above the shops being built and also the King Offa pub. He talks about… More about ‘Living in Abbots Avenue West – Tony Prior’»
Brian Gilson was born in 1943 and spent most of his childhood living in 66 Wilshere Avenue. He has many fond memories and anecdotes of playing in St Stephen’s field where cattle from St Julian’s farm grazed. He remembers the… More about ‘Wilshere Avenue childhood memories – Brian Gilson’»
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’»
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