Added Areas

 Added Areas was the label applied to the tortuous process of planning a possible enlargement of the city of St Albans, mainly but not exclusively to the east.  The previous two eastern enlargements, in 1835 and 1879 had moved the boundaries, first from the Tonman Ditch (c. Marlborough Road) to the bottom of the hill (c. Lattimore Road), and then to The Crown (c.Albion Road).  In each case housing development in the rural area beyond had beaten the boundary move.

The third enlargement was much discussed as a matter of some urgency during the first decade of the 20th century, given that housing continued going up in several patches as far as Beaumont Avenue.  St Peter's Rural Council had discussed a proposal to apply to the Government for the developed area east of the city boundary to be awarded Urban Powers under the rural authority, thereby looking after the interests of the new inhabitants.

Remaining boundary post for the 1879 city expansion in Bluehouse Hill.

Such a move from without created considerable disquiet among certain  councillors; such a blocking move by the rural authority would have constrained the city in its own ambitions; although, as we shall see shortly, the public was not informed the nature of those ambitions.  After all, the level of rates (forerunner of today's council tax) was lower outside of the boundary as the rural area's costs reflected its more limited infrastructure.  That, after all, is why so many house builders sought to develop in the areas of Fleetville and Camp. Builders could build more cheaply, their rents could be pitched at a more modest level and tenants could be attracted by the lower weekly or monthly cost of living.  Further, many of the builders and landlords were city residents who had no interest in having to incorporate higher rates into their tenants' rents.

On the other hand a number of City councillors eager to "get their hands on" the added areas before the Urban Powers were granted would gain financially from the higher rates charged in the city.  In a period when projects such as main drainage, the kerbing and making up of roads, street lighting schemes and the cost of maintaining the city police force, fire service and proposed hospital arrangements, the more households being charged the city level of rates the better. The smaller the size of the bill for each city household.

Four main discussion topics exercised city councillors during the years leading up to 1913: among the developments  in the rather unplanned and untidy east end were a number of workshops and factories which were of benefit to city and rural residents alike; and of course factories paying city business rates would add to the city coffers in a widened zone and reduce the level of endemic unemployment at the same time.  This side of the debate would certainly favour expansion.

One of two boundary posts resulting from the 1913 enlargement.  Both are in Sandpit Lane; this is
along the wastes and hidden within undergrowth on the north side. It is easier to spot the second
post by the road site at Newgates, also in Sandpit Lane (see below).

On the question of a proposed rates level the discussion was more problematic.  It was argued that rural households could not be expected to pay the same as city households from the date of changeover.  After all services and other benefits were not fully available throughout and raising the rates would have to be stepped up over a period of years.  Of course, the counter argument required a greater responsibility by city households to shoulder the advance costs of extended the sewage scheme, the numbers of police officers, additional library books and so on.

The third element could be described as segregation.  A limited but key group of councillors would prefer not to expand the boundaries simply because that had not been part of the city until now and there seemed no reason to alter the status quo.  Many members of council would have found it difficult to argue either for or against on specifics.

The final irritant within council discussions during this period was well penned by a Herts Advertiser leader in March 1911, which reminded readers that on many occasions it had been brought to the attention of councillors that members of the public and even the press were excluded from committee meetings and even general council meetings where key business was being discussed and debated.

Members of council at open meetings are often asked to confirm and acknowledge what has already been "fully thrashed out behind the scenes, often by precisely the same body of men, who, unless they are inordinately fond of hearing themselves speak, can have no pleasure in repeating their own speeches before the public."  Further, members arguing from a minority view know full well that nothing they say in open meeting will alter a decision already made at an earlier closed Urban Committee meeting.

It would be at least another two decades before the public and press were in a position to fully participate in the process of local government.

But at least, the city enlargement did take place in 1913 and continues to be expanded at irregular intervals.

Celebrating in the Park

 One recent issue which has concerned users of Clarence Park and the residents living in the vicinity of it, has been an application made by St Albans' City Football Club (SACFC) for the holding of special events at its ground. 

To gain some understanding of what might be proposed, we should home in on the word Special.  We might consider a match Final to be special, or an invitation match between two well known teams.  There have been matches in the past between SACFC and a Celebrity All Stars team.  All are intended to draw in extra spectators, create a new occasional income stream, and raise the profile of the Club.  Perhaps there might be two such matches in any one season.

At the opening of Clarence Park in 1894 – a few hundred spectators, but certainly fewer than three
thousand.
COURTESY ST ALBANS MUSEUMS

There have also been special events taking place in both the football and cricket areas: rallies of a religious and secular focus, fireworks displays, and Torchlight Tattoos, some of which attracted huge crowds, with fleets of buses ferrying visitors to and fro.  Early in the life of the Scout movement rallies attended by national personalities; Annual Co-operative Society fund raising days, and other fund raising specials; most eventually being moved to Verulamium.  They resulted from a precedent established even before the park opened in 1894.  The recreation part of the park had not been previously known as the fete field for nothing!

The specialness of such wonderful days of joy were probably limited to two or three events each year, and while we have limited knowledge of how many people entered the park for most of these events, it is certainly true many of them transferred to Verulamium in the 1930s, and an even wider range of events was held there in the post-war period.

The special events which have been proposed by SACFC for fundraising purposes appear to have amounted to around twelve each year, in addition to the usual football matches.  These might be expected to attract more spectators as there develops a hoped-for  increased interest in football at the club.  But other organisations might claim an equal right to apply for special events.  Eventually someone has to decide on a limit, at what point special stops being special, when the interests of nearby residents need to be given more weight, and when the strain on the park's resources becomes excessive. 

How many St Albans residents in 1902 would have seen this photograph
of their new King and Queen?  But three thousand were reported to have
been at Clarence Park to celebrate anyway.

The Herts Advertiser reported on such an event when the park was less than twenty year old. 1902 was the year of the Coronation of Edward VI, and during the Coronation weekend a special event had taken place in Clarence Park.  No-one in St Albans, unless they had received invitations to Westminster Abbey, or were in a position to watch the procession, was able to view the proceedings on television or to listen to the "wireless", as the world was pre these technologies.

The newspaper did not describe the nature of the local event, nor whether the entire park was used.  At such an early period the current football area was only used as such in the winter months; during the summer it was marked out for the playing of tennis; the Coronation was on 9th August.  But we do know that the police estimate for the numbers present was 3,000, similar to the numbers intended for the proposed special music functions for next year.

We are informed that only one police intervention took place.  Security and crowd behaviour were in the hands of the City Police, working right on the edge of their area of responsibility – the added areas of the city did not extend to Winches until 1913.

There would have been a number of men spending drinking time at the nearby Crown Hotel for much of the day, and by the summer evening would have wandered across to the park to join in with the celebrations.  One man clearly the worse for alcoholic drink was in the recreation section looking for a fight,  behaving belligerently and aggressively approaching complete strangers.

A police officer made an attempt to remove the offender, but in the attempt to accompany him through the Hatfield Road gate next to the railway bridge, was seriously injured.  What we might today call "back-up" was sent for and the offender was removed to the police station in Victoria Street pending a hearing in court.

Three thousand celebrating citizens, with the temptation of a public house across the road, and just one reportable arrest; sounds like a remarkably well-ordered and organised time was had by almost everyone.  Let's hope that similar good nature can be found among guests to a similar number of special events at Clarence Park in the years to come.