A tale of three homes

Passing along Hatfield Road this week I noted how much the new flats, next to Queen's Court, stood out in the bright March sunshine, fresh cream pain sparkling.  Very soon they will be occupied and those residents will become the newest  along this busy road.  It was easy to forget that the city council had built a branch library here in 1959, and before that there had been plans for yet more shops.

This week I received an invitation to view a particularly fine house, in what the book St Albans' Own East End calls north Fleetville – that part between Brampton Road and Sandpit Lane.  Built in 1926 on Earl Spencer's estate it had, when new, been the subject of a feature in Country Life magazine.  Later, a brochure had been produced using the elements of the magazine feature.  In spite of its mixed history of previous occupiers, and a certain amount of internal alteration, the dwelling retains the charm and style of the house as designed.  It was clearly a house designed specifically for its first owner.  There are, fortunately, many such homes in this part of St Albans.

Scout camping, 1926-style.  HERTFORDSHIRE SCOUTS

The third home in the tale is not, as the top photo reveals, a permanent dwelling.  It comes from the wonderful collection held by Hertfordshire Scouts.  On the approach to Easter, fields surrounding the built-up area of the East End of St Albans, would once have echoed to the shrill sounds of youngsters enjoying themselves at camp.  Mostly they would be groups from the Scout Movement, patrols, packs and troops (groups) of scouts, cubs and guides.  But there would also be ad-hoc camps by groups of friends who happened to know a local farmer.  Scouts now have their own sites, such as those at Well End and Phaesels Wood, but I wonder how many informal camps still take place at locations such as Symondshyde and on the edges of all those copses still to be found.

We were all grandly entertained last weekend at an event which has come to be known as the Fleetville Festival.  You might call it a Concert Plus.  The Plus was an exhibition staged by Fleetville Diaries.  This year the theme was The Best Days of Our Lives; recollections and photographs about  schooldays through the eyes of a dozen and more contributors.

Part of an orchestra at Fleetville Festival.

The concert, performed by three different orchestras and bands, and two choral groups, proves that there is so much musical talent in the district.  The larger these groups become, the more space they occupy in Fleetville Junior School's hall, and the smaller is the remaining area for an audience.  In a way, it is a good problem, but the musicians do deserve a wider audience.  Congratulations to all who took part.