Another local eccentric

Since the start of my research into the history of Sopwell, I have unearthed quite a few colourful characters over the years. Who can forget the Rev Anthony Hart-Synnot of St Stephens who cadged lifts from passers by and conducted weddings in his football boots, or the antics of George Butterfield and family of Sopwell Mill Farm? Well here is another eccentric who has been simmering under my radar for years.

I was prompted to write a post about Lady Barnett who lived in Sopwell House in the early part of last century after having visited Bernard Knight who was keen to share his memories of living in Nuns Lane in the fifties and sixties. Bernard happens to live in a lovely old house on the Gorhambury Estate. I jumped at the chance to visit him as, in all the fifty odd years I have lived in the area, I never had the opportunity or privilege to visit that part of St Albans. I still haven’t seen the house but I have now seen the ruins of Old Gorhambury and the beautiful countryside of the estate.

So what has Bernard got to do with Lady Barnett? Well he discovered the grave of a dog which used to belong to Cedric, Lady Aline’s son. It was Cedric, according to Betty Terry of Sopwell Gate Lodge, who owned a boomerang! And Bernard’s father, Jack, was a postman whose round included Sopwell House and he mentioned her as being quite a character.

My latest post is about Lady Aline Barnett who was born into the Grimston family. She was the daughter of the 3^rd Earl of Verulam. And it wasn’t only Jack who mentioned her when being interviewed - Betty Terry and Mary Myers also remembered her as being constantly in trouble with the law over her dangerous driving and non-payment of parking fines. Rather like Mr Toad from Wind in the Willows, she loved speeding and breaking the speed limit. And the fame of her brushes with the law spread all over the country and also abroad. I found several press clippings covering her court cases in the USA as well in the UK. Goodness knows what her husband and family thought of her. She was still being pulled over in her eighties but this time for going slow in the fast lane! Go to Sopwell Memories to read all about the eccentric lady Aline Barnett.

 

 How are the mighty fallen!

There have been a few changes to the area since my last post. March 2024 marks the end of the once magnificent horse chestnut tree in St Stephens churchyard. Planted in November 1785 it has become a landmark in Sopwell as well as from the King Harry roundabout. The tree was diseased and had to go. The PCC of St Stephen's church promise there will eventually be another one planted. Let's hope so as the churchyard will look very bare without it. 

Talking of trees, we still have a few left in Sopwell, most of them in St Stephen's churchyard. The cedar tree is one example and there are several old oak trees there. We must respect these mighty specimens which are just as important - if not more - than old buildings. I know of one lovely oak tree near the garages by Mandeville School which was felled without consultation.

Another recent change is the official opening of another new road in Sopwell called Jenny Lane, The lane was built on the land behind Leyland Avenue where the youth club used to be.

Please have a look at these recent posts and feel free to leave comments.