Changing Marshalswick

The Marshalswick referred to in the Herts Advertiser recently, in connection with development – or over-development – of plots, is the first estate of that name.  Grown out of the grounds of the old Marshalswick House (spelled Marshalls Wick in the book, in order to distinguish it from the mainly post-war estate on Marshalswick Farm) in the 1920s and 1930s, development did continue in the post-war period as well.

The concern at present is with owners who want to over-build on their gardens to produce buildings twice the size, or to sub-divide the plot to squeeze in another house.  There is also the possibility of one or more plots being purchased for replacement in the form of a group of smaller homes, or even apartments.

Naturally those who live there wish to see their locality largely unchanged, as, I guess, would most of us.  There are some restrictions on the planning opportunities, but that has not been sufficient to prevent some, quite substantial, changes taking place.  So, how long has this been going on?

Marshals Drive from The Wick

There have been several alterations and additions in Marshalswick Lane recently, and in Marshals Drive a complete re-build on a huge scale completed adjacent to Wickway.  A few of the Marshals Drive properties are small dwellings considering the width and depth of the plots they sit in.  That was a result of the building licences immediately after WW2, which limited the materials available.  Some of the original designs factored in the possibility of additions at a later date.  Not all owners took that opportunity.

We should remember that large houses in Sandpit Lane, such as The Dell and Monks Horton, and even Wickwood and St Johns, were at one time large houses on substantial plots.  These, of course, are all on the south side of the Lane, but they have now been replaced by smaller houses and apartments.  

It should not be forgotten where it all began.  A large house was built on the hill, which was re-built and extended by the Marten family.  This was demolished in the 1920s to enable a large number of families to occupy the grounds in roads as diverse as Marshals Drive, Gurney Court Road, The Park, Marshalswick Lane and Homewood Road.

It is all a question of time and scale; maybe it is also a question of whether we are individually affected.  As long as there is a healthy debate, there is no reason why gradual change at an appropriate scale and pace cannot be accommodated.  After all, just ninety years ago, only one family lived here!