Eighty Years On

 Eighty years ago the residents living in our part of Hertfordshire were relieved to begin the experiences of mopping up World War Two, a process which would engage us all for many years, but at least, so they theory goes, we could look forward to a more peaceful and positive life.

So, here we look back to note a few of the main stories the Herts Advertiser covered during the key year of 1945.  In January the recently published Greater London Plan was discussed and the largest project on the agenda, especially for Redbourn, was the proposal for another of those new towns for Hertfordshire – actually a huge expansion for a small town already on the map: Hemel Hempstead.  The Report also wanted significant expansion east of St Albans, although the proposed limit was set at the outer boundary of Butterwick.  The reason for this location was not stated at the time but later revealed to preserved a green strip to separate from another new town to be attached to an existing community: Hatfield.

The building which had been the focus for military training and army volunteering alike, the Drill Hall, was also the focus for a celebration in January.  Members of the Home Guard, having been stood down from their volunteering roles were given the opportunity to bring their children for a grand party – food permitting – a family "let-your-hair-down" event.  The Drill Hall was at the top of Hatfield Road where today is the Alban City School; the site also served as a bus garage!

An impromptu street celebration in Camp district who were just thankful the conflict was over.
COURTESY THE HERTS ADVERTISER

St Albans was still a dark town and would continue to be so until public street light would, we were told, be switch on once more in July.  Although people had been used to darkened streets since 1940, the state of affairs was an irritation, and a sometimes dangerous nuisance.

One of those street renamings took place at the end of January, for Union Lane, a turning off lower Catherine Street, celebrating the recent Normandy Landings from 1944.  From now it would become known as Normandy Road, the entry to one of the sites of St Albans Hospital.

The bitter February weather encouraged a rare opportunity to skate on the frozen Verulamium lakes.  Although they had been emptied at the start of the war, it is presumed they had been re-filled later, or allowed to refill, otherwise no skating would have been possible.

By Easter everyone with Anderson and Morrison shelters was given permission to dismantle them, although we were reminded that they were all the property of the Government.  Does anyone know whether the shelters were eventually collected?

For some years there would be a shortage of a number of materials and products.  We continued to remain relatively cold indoors as there was an acute shortage of coal, as huge advertising campaigns would attest.

Culver hall was one of so many buildings formerly requisitioned by the military "for the duration".  The hall was returned to its owners in poor condition, but there was an improvement programme; renamed St Saviour's Parish Hall, its functions include dancing and boxing events.  Proper dressing rooms also made it a popular venue for drama.

Trinity Church was a unique organisation in promoting press advertising for its regular services and special events, resulting in large congregations and audiences to fill the building's 750 seats.  People were beginning to feel more confident about "going out" in the evenings again.

Trinity Church hosted events of music, lectures and drama as well as its regular services
throughout the war.  When the Peace came there was no change in its approach.
COURTESY THE HERTS ADVERTISER

The condition of ultra narrow Marshalswick Lane was poor, and would have to join the queue (life was full of queues).  Until that takes place the bus to Marshalswick would travel via Sandridge Road as far as the King William IV public house, Beech Road; passengers having to walk from there.

A proposal was announced to improve the City Station and renew the road bridge to a 64-foot dual carriageway – except that it never happened.

In May St Albans Rural Council published its statistics on the numbers and locations of bombs which had been dropped and casualties since 1940. We need to remember, military personnel were not the only casualties of war.

London Road's Capitol cinema was formally renamed Odeon in June, although the Grand Palace cinema would not yet take its new name of Gaumont for a while.  The Odeon, of course, is still very much alive under new ownership as the Odyssey cinema.

The Grange in St Peter's Street is another property which had been in use by the army and now released, but in "dreadful condition."

St Bartholomew's Hospital (Barts at Hill End) first announced its wish to remain in St Albans.  However, department by department it did return to the City of London and finally relinquished Hill End in the early 1960s.

The Pioneer Youth Club (in more ways than one) acquired The Elms in Upper Marlborough Road; another sign of re-organisation for peaceful times ahead.

The air-raid sirens were taken over by the fire service to call part-time foremen for emergency duty.  Radios were non-existent and there was a considerable shortage of telephone equipment.

Before the end of 1945 new housing programmes had already restarted, depending on the
funding available.  This site was in Hazelwood Drive.
COURTESY THE HERTS ADVERTISER

Discussions began on merging the city's own police force with the county-wide force, a process which would bear fruit in 1948, although it did not find favour with the City Council.

Trinity Church arranged another 'first' with the Odeon Cinema.  The first peacetime Nativity, a 15 minute drama, was performed between two of the films being shown in December.

And in the middle of all this, we stopped to celebrate the end of hostilities on 8th May, and again the following day in support of the many Channel Islanders who had become part of our communities since 1940.