Wonderful water

Many people are not aware that the east end of St Albans has its own streams, Boggy Mead Spring and Ellen Brook, both of which flow southwards to meet the River Colne a short distance away.  Many of us fail to notice these streams, partly because they are not obvious from the roads we motor along and partly because, in recent years, little water has occupied their beds.  Both are short in length, rising as springs less than a mile north of Hatfield Road, and as the water table has become lower, there has been insufficient water to flow on the surface.

Imagine my delight, as I was walking between the Lyon Way industrial estate and the Comet, to spot the streams in full spate.  The following day I called in at Colney Heath and discovered a healthy flow at the Colne.  Thank you so much, rains, for filling our streams, at least temporarily!

Boggy Mead Spring, full and flowing once more.
Find it in Hatfield Road between Lyon Way and
Glinwell, but is best seen on the north side of the road.

Until c1990 Campfield Road had its own print works, by the name of Campfield Press.  This was the imprint of the Salvation Army Printing Works which had been turning out millions of Bibles, sheet music items, weekly newspapers like the War Cry, and plenty of general work too.  The Army didn't build the premises it occupied from 1901; but was able to walk straight into a ready-to-go works.  Little has been discovered about George Orford Smith's printing operation, opened here in 1895, but a Fleetville resident has come across legal papers dating from 1899, when a number of creditors effectively put an end to a very high-end printing business.  In order to liquidate the business the site was sold, and the Salvation Army, looking to move its cramped printing and musical instrument works from London's east end, saw a solution.  Full details will appear in St Albans' Own East End Volume 2: Insiders !

Last October, a one-day conference was held at Verulamium Museum for all who are busying themselves, either on their own account, or on behalf of groups and organisations, researching some aspect of local history.  It was a stunning success.  The St Albans and District Local History Network is arranging a second conference so that even more people can exchange information.  I will outline further details at a later stage, but make a note of the date if you think you might like to attend: Saturday 27th October.  The venue, again, is Verulamium Museum.