This is not a story about the tribulations of the daily commute on the 07.33 from St Albans. It’s actually the title of a graphic book about Captain Scott’s ill-fated expedition to the South Pole in 1910-13, and it was written by Wheathampstead landowner Apsley Cherry-Garrard. Published in 1922, The Worst Journey in the World…
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History
Most people will know that the Dam Busters raid in 1943 happened over the Mohne, Eder and Sorpe Dams in the Ruhr Valley, heartland of Germany’s industrial power in World War 2 and beyond. Many people may also know that the bouncing bomb was tested off Chesil beach in Dorset, and that the disused Nant-y-Gro…
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The hot tip for winning a hat full of trophies at this year’s film awards is The Favourite, starring Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz in the leading roles. Olivia Colman, in the role of Queen Anne, recently picked up the award for Best Actress at the Golden Globes in Los Angeles, and the…
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The 5th of August marks the centenary of the last Zeppelin airship raid over Britain in the First World War. During the course of the war there were 51 airship raids in which bombs were dropped – sometimes referred to as the first Blitz. South Hertfordshire was the backdrop for many of these raids, as…
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There is a rich history of film making here in Hertfordshire, with famous studios at Elstree and Leavesden producing movies which are known around the world. If we turn the clock back to the end of the nineteenth century St Albans too can claim a place in the history of the film industry, with a…
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A short history of Salisbury Hall, London Colney As they whizz along the M25 past London Colney, few travellers will know of the existence of Salisbury Hall, a Tudor house hidden from view by an embankment and woods. Now home to a property consultancy business, this 16th century moated manor house has a fascinating story…
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Those of you with an interest in golf will know that the next Ryder Cup tournament will be played at the end of September, 2018, with a French golf course hosting the event for the first time. But did you know that the first, unofficial, Ryder Cup was held at St Albans’ very own Verulam…
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Like several members of staff at Bretherton Law your commuting route into St Albans from the north and west may bring you into the city along the A5183, otherwise known as Verulam Road. Crawling through the rush hour traffic the mind seeks out anything to make the time pass. On one such journey recently the…
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Apart from areas of the old City of London it`s hard to imagine any spot in the country with more history per square metre contained within it than French Row and Market Place in St Albans. The small area enclosing The Boot public house, the Clock Tower, and the old Fleur de Lys pub must…
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Hertfordshire residents will be familiar with signs bearing the words Great North Road, the name given to the old coaching route leading from Smithfield in London to Edinburgh. The road went via Baldock, Stamford, Doncaster, Darlington, and Newcastle to the Scottish capital. Although the coaching route changed over the years and in places was superseded…
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