The commercial watercress industry ceased in the Riverside Road site in the 1970s. A lot of the springs had dried up. Some of the productive land was used for allotment but there was a lot of fly tipping so it needed some attention. St… More about ‘Watercress wildlife area’»
Posts Tagged: Riverside Road
Hatfield – St Albans Railway (Alban Way)
The Great Northern Railway (GNR) line from St Albans to Hatfield was opened on 16th October 1865 but there had been plans to construct this branch line much earlier than that. Local landowners were encouraged to form an independent company… More about ‘Hatfield – St Albans Railway (Alban Way)’»
A portrait of Longmire Road in 1911
Longmire Road was the first road to be built on the Priory Park estate. It was certainly occupied in 1900 and it appears in St Albans Street Directory in 1901 and the census. It is believed that Longmire Road is… More about ‘A portrait of Longmire Road in 1911’»
Sopwell in the ‘olden days’ Fred Edwards and Sandy Norman
Fred Edwards and Sandy Norman went along to St Peter’s School to be interviewed by the younger pupils. Although the questions are very basic the answers give an insight into what Fred and Sandy like about Sopwell. Interview date: 10… More about ‘Sopwell in the ‘olden days’ Fred Edwards and Sandy Norman’»
Schooldays – John Church
John was one of several people interviewed by the the pupils of St Peter’s School. Here he is telling them what school was like in his day: how he was often naughty and kept in after school; and how he was… More about ‘Schooldays – John Church’»
Born and bred in St Albans – 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’»
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’»
Pinnock family memories – Roy Pinnock
Roy Pinnock whose family had watercress beds in Riverside Road and Park Street, tells some stories about his father, Doug Pinnock. Doug was one of twelve children: six sons and six daughters and they lived in a two bedroom house… More about ‘Pinnock family memories – Roy Pinnock’»
Sinking a borehole – Roy Pinnock
Watercress is grown in running water from springs. At Riverside Road, the Pinnock family had to sink boreholes in the lake to get spring water for the cress to grow in. Roy Pinnock describes the process. Interview date: 4 April… More about ‘Sinking a borehole – Roy Pinnock’»
Watercress industry in Park Street – Roy Pinnock
The Pinnock family had a smallholding and also grew watercress in Burydell Lane Park Street. Unlike the beds in Riverside Road, these were purpose built using concrete walkways. Roy Pinnock talks more about the business which wasstarted by his grandfather.… More about ‘Watercress industry in Park Street – Roy Pinnock’»
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