Spies in Glenlyn Avenue

A rather small and narrow field bordering Camp Road – which everyone had then known as Daniel's Field – was purchased by the enterprising partners of building firm Goodwin and Hart in 1930.  The two had become friends during the First World War while being sent on heavy labouring assignments as a result of their refusal to join the military.  On their release they pitched up at St Albans, thinking there were useful work opportunities.

Daniel's Field was thought to be the firm's first development purchase, as opposed to single plots; the result became the three delightful roads of Lynton, Windermere and Glenlyn avenues, developed as culs de sac mini-communities.  Windermere was different in that it had no turning circle, providing a later opportunity to build on the allotment field behind.

Homes in Lynton Avenue were occupied first, in 1931.  Owners of the £750 Glenlyn Avenue new-builds were able to take possession  by 1934.  A recent blog titled Just Dropping In reminded a reader of an event which had occurred to the parents of the writer shortly after moving into their new home.

Glenlyn Avenue today.

Many attempts were made in the decade or so after the First War, to heal divisions created by the conflict.  Government, local authorities, communities, church groups all made attempts to offer the hand of friendship.  While at the community and individual level the contacts were clearly well intended and positive, as we all realised the future at national and international level was seen by many with some suspicion. 

Although I have not yet discovered any examples I understand that advertisements were placed in the press during the course of the 1930s in which families were encouraged to offer extended vacations or 'friendship visits' to young people from Germany and maybe other European countries.   I will research these advertisements and update the blog later.

One family from Glenlyn Avenue responded positively and invited Herr and Frau Khol to stay for a while, as they spent their days exploring the district – no doubt including the Cathedral, the newly completed lakes and the curiosities of the city's narrow streets and its countryside.  The guests were expected to contribute towards the cost of their accommodation, and I have no doubt the hosts were expected to engage with their guests, and overcome any language barriers as best they could.

In this case, probably in 1935 or 1936, before the extra rooms were needed for a growing family, the contributor assures us that her or his father, having fought in the First War, bore his opponents "no ill will ... letting bygones be bygones."  No doubt there were hundreds of similar hands of friendship taking place around the country during the early and mid Thirties.

Lynton Avenue in 1931.

The Glenlyn Avenue couple clearly felt the experience of hosting a German couple had been successful and agreed to repeat the offer the following year.  A young man had brought his bicycle with him.  Perhaps he did not think that cycles might be available for hire in the UK, but nevertheless he spend much of his time cycling around the district.  This could have revealed one difference in approach between the guests.  One could imagine, though this might not have happened, hosts and guests sharing some time walking and travelling by bus together.  Unless all owned a bicycle the process of exploration would be more of an individual exercise.

And exercise might be an appropriate term since the young man from Wuppertal began quizzing his hosts about the Ballito factory in Fleetville [for those whose recollections do not extend back that far, Ballito, on today's Morrison's site, manufactured silk stockings].  They are reported to have been searching questions, which his hosts thought suspicious.  They possibly confided in friends before asking the young man to leave, no doubt contacting the sponsors of the visits, which today would be considered part of the tourism industry.

That was that; no more friendship visits, and the country was within three years of another international conflict.

The two recent stories have concerned spies, or collectors of data, who were discovered on the east side of St Albans.  During the 1930s and 40s how many more arrived and successfully collected their data and returned to pass it on?

My thanks to the contributor of the earlier post for adding her family's experience to the wider story.