The years following Word War 2 saw the building of thousands of prefabricated dwellings all over Britain. Familiarly called prefabs, they provided homes for returning servicemen and their families. Many of them were built in Sopwell and some of them are still to be seen in Mitchell Close. The following is the text of an article from the Herts Advertiser of 17 August 1948.
St Albans Aluminium bungalows: Fifty Erected on St Julian’s Estate
“…It takes from twenty minutes to half-an-hour to put up one of the aluminium bungalows now in course of erection on…the Council’s St Julian’s housing estate and it is hoped that the first of this new batch of dwellings will be occupied by the second week of September, although the erection was only started on August 4th. The site itself has been under construction since February. These fifty Hawkesley’s aluminium dwellings which will form some of the residences in Lectern Lane, Holyrood Crescent and Creighton Avenue are very pleasantly situated on a slope, affording an uninterrupted view of St Albans with the Abbey on the left and St Peter’s Church on the right in the distance. Placed in three rows, they follow the contours of the hill from North East to South West with a fourth block from North to South. The bungalows, which are of a permanent type, with an estimated “life” of sixty years, are ideal for a family of three, though in some cases they may be used to accommodate husband and wife and two children. The aluminium bungalows arrive in four pieces all complete with fittings and, in next to no time, are assembled to give a modern, easily-run home with living room, two bedrooms, kitchen and bathroom. Everything is to hand for the housewife in the kitchen, where down one wall the kitchen unit has been placed with sink, gas stove, refrigerator, gas boiler and table all sis by side. The kitchen backs on to the bathroom so as to facilitate the use of one plumbing unit. Commodious cupboards both in the kitchen and other rooms are a welcome feature. The housewife’s trusty companions – brooms and mops – have a compartment especially designed for them and the built in wardrobes in the bedroom are another useful addition. Electric plugs are placed about the bungalows and there is a built in wireless aerial nearby the metal construction premises. The bathroom is fitted with a towel rail, mirror and a cupboard. These are the first dwellings built on the St Julian’s Estate which will eventually be developed in various types of traditional material.”
Similar prefabs were built in Mitchell Close and Tavistock Avenue. The Mitchell Close prefabs are still there. Some of those in Holyrood Crescent, Lectern Lane and Creighton Avenue housed key employees of Marconi Instruments. The photo shows the prefabs in Holyrood Crescent, facing towards the end of Creighton Avenue.
I was born in Mitchell close December 1950 imyso pleased it’s still there would love to see if it’s the sayas I remember
I am delighted to say that I live in one of these prefabs in Mitchell Close. I am disabled and this home has made my life worth living again. It is fantastic to feel that I live in a bit of our history and these homes should be awarded a blue plaque, although I know they are normally for historic figures who have resided in properties, the people that lived in these either serviced during the war or survived it (both being historic figures in my view.) The details of being awarded one of these plaques is “Historic England’s National Blue Plaque Scheme celebrates people from all walks of life who have made a significant contribution to human welfare or happiness, and/or have made an exceptional impact in their field, community, or on society at large.” These are the only ones left within the area and I would love to push this forward. If anyone can help that would be fantastic.
Ask one of your councillors. They may know how to go about it.
Hi I was born and lived in 11 Mitchell close. They were cold and damp then but have great childhood memories. Great gardens especially my friend Donald Spear 3 doors down, their garden ran along side the alleyway that went up from Holyrood Crescent to bottom of Mandeville drive. We used to ride his little motorbike in the garden. Funny how those prefab survived the redevelopment when they built the “new houses”
I was also born at 11 Mitchell close December 1950 mum told me it was snowing heavily
It’s wonderful to read about your experiences in Mitchell Close and I will fight to keep them here x