Mike shares his memories of watching the steam trains go by. As well as watching the local trains, he went as far afield as Watford and London. Interview date: 12 May 2014. Interviewer: Sandy Norman.… More about ‘Trainspotting – Mike Titchiner’»
Mike was about three years old in 1949 when a thunderbolt struck his house at 10 Nuns Lane. Because of the fire damage, the family were rehoused in Cottonmill Lane, number 161, which was next to a large house belonging… More about ‘Living in Cottonmill Lane – Mike Titchiner’»
As a child, Evelyn Roberts lived in Nuns Lane. She remembers playing in Cottonmill Lane and watching the houses being built; fishing in the river at New Barnes and going for cycle rides. Interview date: 3 October 2013. Interviewer: Elizabeth… More about ‘Childhood play – Evelyn Roberts’»
Mary was born in 1929 and lived in New House Park. She recalls the Barnett family who lived in Sopwell House, previously called Sopwell Manor, and how Lady Aline Barnett was frequently caught speeding. She remembers picking mushrooms, the ice… More about ‘Sopwell House and New Barnes Mill – Mary Myers’»
Bet Cutler was born in Cottonmill Crescent in 1923. She has many memories as a child of the Cottonmill Lane area including what it was like at the swimming baths, the two houses which were pulled down to build Old… More about ‘Cottonmill Lane – Bet Cutler’»
John, born 1943, recalls what Cottonmill Lane was like when he was a lad. This part of the story starts at the top of the lane coming from Old London Road. he recalls the old carpenter’s shop at the top,… More about ‘A walk down Cottonmill Lane 1 – John Buckingham’»
John talks of playing and fishing in the river near New Barnes Mill and describes the area as it was in the 1940s and 1950s. He also recalls fishing out an ammunition belt while fishing for crayfish in the river… More about ‘Playing in the river – John Buckingham’»
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’»
Rob Edwards was born in 1950 at 12 Berners Drive, in one of the prefabs. Eventually, when the family grew they moved into a council house exactly opposite at number 55. Rob describes where the prefabs were and talks about… More about ‘Living in Berners Drive – Rob Edwards’»
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’»
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