2024

17 January

A Roman palace at

Verulamium: and other

stories

         Kris Lockyear           

 Kris Lockyear and his team of volunteers have completed another season of their geophysical survey of that part of the Roman city of Verulamium that lay within what is now the Gorhambury estate, on the western side of Bluehouse Hill in St Albans. The survey continues to produce some remarkable results. Kris will bring us up to date. 

21 February

The Great Women of

St Albans

Tony Berk

 The great women of any historic town or city are often neglected. This talk redresses the balance by describing 2,000 years of local history through the lives and fascinating stories of the important women who have had an effect on the history of St Albans. It shows how crucial these women were to St Albans and district and talks of their context in both local and national history.

20 March

What's in a name?

What do the street names

of Wheathampstead tell

us about our village?

Dianne Payne       

 Origins of street names are not always easy to determine. Some names are recent, while others have a long history. This illustrated talk will explore how the historic, cultural and symbolic priorities of Wheathampstead are reflected in its street names. Which key figures in the village were thought worthy of remembrance and how many street names have changed over time?  Whether you are a newcomer or a long-term resident, come and discover more about the name of the street where you live and share your thoughts about our village.

17 April

The mysterious 

watercourses of

Wheathampstead Mill

Mike Smith

  It may not be obvious today but the valley close to Wheathampstead Mill had a series of puzzling watercourses many of which have been filled in, some of them recently. What were these mysterious watercourses and what insights do they give us about the history of medieval Wheathampstead? This talk by Mike Smith will be of particular interest to members who live in King Edward Place. 

15 May

The long story of the

short St Albans canal

Jon Mein and

Frank Iddiols 

  In 1795, an Act approving the construction of a canal linking St Albans and places like Wheathampstead and Harpenden to the new Grand Junction Canal and the wider world was given Royal Assent. Jon Mein and Frank Iddiols consider why the canal was never built, who was for and who was against the expensive proposals, and the planned route for a replacement railway service.

19 June

The archaeology of

Wheathampstead

David Thorold

 From mesolithic graves in the churchyard through Belgic pottery under the bypass, Devil's Dyke, Roman remains at Wick Avenue and Turners Hall Farm, a seventh century ewer near Wheathampstead House, a post-medieval coin hoard on Nomansland and much more, Wheathamp-stead's long history is brought to life by the work of archaeologists. David Thorold, curator at St Albans Museum, will talk about some of these and other finds. 

17 July

The Shaws in

Hertfordshire - the lives

and friends of GBS and

Charlotte in the county.

Philippa Parker

  George Bernard Shaw, playwright and, with his wife Charlotte, left-wing political activist, wrote nearly 60 plays and more than 250,000 letters, articles and pamphlets. From 1906 until his death in 1950 at the age of 94, he and Charlotte lived at Shaw's Corner in Ayot St Lawrence from where they enjoyed an active social life, including with the Cherry-Garrards at Lamer. 

 There will not be a meeting in August

18 September

Old Wheathampstead

on film

Chris Blackler

  Chris, a member of the History Society and a long-term resident  of Wheathampstead, showed us three old films of the village and shared some of his memories. A lively discussion followed in which members added some of their own reminiscences. There are links to all three films on the Links page of this website.

16 October

Reconstructing the

medieval church of St

Mary's, Rickmansworth,

from wills

Heather Falvey  

  In an inspirational talk, Heather showed how she had used 15th and 16th century wills as a source of information about the medieval church of St Mary's in Rickmansworth, including its statues, chapels, windows and tombs at that time. Members were inspired to look into the possibility of doing similar research about St Helen's Church in Wheathampstead.

20 November

Highwaymen and women

of Hertfordshire

Elizabeth Eastwood

  Katherine Ferrers, the Wicked Lady, is a well-known example of the mounted highway robbers of Hertfordshire, but there were many others in the 17th and 18th centuries. Elizabeth will introduce us to some of them.   

18 December

The rise and fall

of the manor

of Wheathampstead

Mike Smith 

  Starting in the Anglo-Saxon period, Mike will talk us through the emergence and growth of the manor of Wheathampstead in the medieval period, its gradual decline thereafter, and the separation of Harpenden from Wheathampstead in the 19th century. 

  Mulled wine and mince pies will be served!