It is always of interest walking or driving along Hatfield Road from Smallford towards and beyond Oaklands. We have become used to the wide range of house types which have gradually appeared, most of them dating from before World War 2, and several infills in the post-war years. Most have been good sized houses, and there have also been a fair sprinkling of bungalows – fewer today in the new century as redevelopments have taken place to maximise the floor area available.
Hatfield Road at the top, Colney Heath Lane to the left and St Yon Court offering access to new housing on the shortened main road properties. COURTESY GOOGLE EARTH |
This lengthy extension to Hatfield Road had come about when Hill End Farm was acquired for the building of what was then known as Hill End Asylum 125 years ago. Some of the farm's northern acres were surplus to the hospital's requirements and in 1920 a strip was made available from the then eastern boundary of Beaumonts Farm all the way to Butterwick Farm. And the latter also became available post war when that Farm was torn down for St Albans Sand & Gravel Company – St Albans Council taking the opportunity to expand the space for factories and warehouses nearer to Hatfield Road.
Although the pre-war house plots differed in their widths eventually some 90 varied properties were added to the street between near Ashley Road all the way to Ryecroft Court, named after the field on which those properties were built.
Small homes in St Yon Court occupying the edge of former Hill End Farm |
For the past fifty years there have been several attempts at redevelopment by some of the earlier occupiers, especially of old-style bungalows, and by external developers attempting to make economic use of backlands which included portions of the extremely long rear gardens which are generally not required for private use today. Pinewood Close, Cedarwood Close, Gresham Close and St Yeo Court are among the newer residential "conversion" layouts.
The latest "look what we're building for you" panels to fence off the Hatfield Road frontage are at 480 and 482 where proposed building has received planning consent in the box enclosed by Hathaway Court, Hatfield Road, Colney Heath Lane and St Yon Court.
Of course much of this land has already been used up, but by modernising one existing property and demolishing another, four new houses will be added to the street scene; and improvements to the quieter street scene within St Yon Court are promised for its residents.
Since the late 1930s housing developments have also gobbled up the backlands, starting with Goodwin & Hart's Firwood estate which removed much of the remaining Hut Wood to the east of Colney Heath Lane. Most of the long rear Hatfield Road gardens nearby have been shortened to provide new housing opportunities from various access points, including Sewell Close, Rowan Close, Merryfields and St Yon Court. This block, which initially extended down to the former branch railway (now Alban Way) offers only increasingly limited new land for more residences.
Remember the impressive five-bar white gate? |
More recently the gate becomes enveloped by its surrounding greenery. |
The yet-to-be refreshed garden space from St Yon Court. ABOVE THREE IMAGES COURTESY GOOGLE STREET VIEW |
Hence owners and developers looking at numbers 480 and 482 had two detached properties to shape into their new plans. You will identify the location because as you approach Colney Heath Lane from the industrial buildings and stores there has long been a white five-bar gate, now virtually permanently in an open position. At this point you will have reached and passed Hathaway Court, not itself a route to backland development, merely a driveway to the rear parking for the flats at Hathaway Court itself.
Number 480 Hatfield Road, the house with the white gate, lost most of its rear garden when St Yon Court homes came along, although the house itself is interesting in not simply being a square box. And its neighbour at 482 is an equally interesting brick structure with architectural detailing.
The temporary street scene showing the retained 482 and the now demolished 480. COURTESY VIC FOSTER |
During the past few years the two houses together with their drives and side gardens have gradually disappeared behind the frontage greenery of trees and shrubs. So much so that we were beginning to forget what remained behind. Until, that is, the colourful panelling announced something was going on behind. In time these few metres of narrow footpath and the bus stop nearby, will suddenly be revealed as a clean and more striking frontage. Perhaps by the end of next year.