Events
Throughout the year, we offer a range of events for members and non-members. These include regular speaker evenings covering topical interests – for example we have included subjects varying from preserving the green belt to youth interests in St. Albans. Following the success of online speaker meetings in 2021 we have included a mixture of in person and online meetings as part of our regular programme.
There is an Annual General Meeting when all members are invited to give their views on past and future happenings in our city.
The highlight is our Awards Evening where we celebrate best practice in current architecture and design – for both buildings and our green spaces. This is held every two years with the next one due on 21 May 2024.
Additionally, we have participated in the St Albans Residents First Weekend and Heritage Open Days, and arranged visits to other interesting and historic towns.
Upcoming Events
Details will appear here of our Spring 2024 activities
There are no upcoming events.
Past Events
Blue Plaques St Albans (BPSA) is in the process of installing plaques on buildings in St Albans to celebrate local ‘worthies’, including some who may not already be fully in the public consciousness.
To this end, BPSA will shortly be installing a plaque for cartographer Thomas Kitchin (1719-1784) who came to live in Fishpool Street in the late 1760s and was buried in the Abbey. Kitchin was Hydrographer to King George III and responsible for engraving and publishing several maps of Hertfordshire, as well as many of the most important maps of the eighteenth century.
To help raise funds for the plaque the St Albans & Hertfordshire Architectural & Archaeological Society are holding a talk in Marlborough Road Methodist Church on Tuesday, 31 October at 7.30pm. The speaker is renowned maps historian Laurence Worms. Tickets cost £8.00 a head. For further information and to buy your ticket please visit SAHAAS Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/thomas-kitchin-eighteenth-century-cartographer-from-st-albans-tickets-728702547937?aff=oddtdtcreator
At the Civic Society Members event back in June, holding a Pub Quiz night was mooted.
Well it’s on, so get your pencils ready and thinking caps on and join us on, Tuesday 3rd October at the Lower Red Lion, Fishpool Street, for 7pm, the quiz will start at 7.30, with a break & time to socialise, we plan to finish around 9.30.
Teams of up to 4 can enter, a M&S voucher to the value of £20 will go to to the winning team or individual.
It’s free to enter, but donations will be accepted, cheese & biscuits will be available, provided by the Civic Society and all drinks to be purchased from the bar.
We have spaces for up to 30, non-members are welcome.
Please book your your place(s); send an email to us at stalbanscivicsociety@gmail.com
We are preparing our comments on the long awaited new Local Plan, and would welcome your input and views. We encourage you to look at the Local Plan before the meeting and in particular the first two chapters.
All members are welcome at this meeting when we will outline the findings from our member survey results and consider how this can help determine our priorities and focus for the next few years. The evening will start with a presentation, followed by a wide ranging discussion, and conclude with a social event and chance to chat with your fellow members.
This report produced by the Historic Towns and Villages Forum, and the Alliance of Historic Cathedral Cities and Towns, addresses the widespread public concern that many historic places are damaged by unsustainable development. The report looks at 12 case studies and brings together the views of civic societies, local planning authority officers and councillors to make recommendations about best practice.
It includes a Toolkit which presents a Local Plan Review process highlighting when different issues should be considered – such as transport, density, views, character and building heights – and how local planning authorities can draw on the enthusiasm, knowledge and experience available in civic societies and local volunteers to gather a sound evidence base. With St Albans Local Plan review in progress, this report offers some pointers of issues we may need to address.
The speaker is Ian Green from Oxford Civic Society, who provided one of the case studies in the report.
Download the report summary by clicking on the link “Towards a Better Balance between Heritage and Growth“ or the full report including the toolkit is available here.
Robert Pankhurst will give a talk on the achievements of Blue Plaques St Albans
( Note date changed from 20 April)
Geraint John, President Emeritus of the Civic Society, has been sketching and producing water colours for many years.
Come along to this exhibition to view local scenes and other places.
Chris White, Leader of the Council will give a talk
Austin Trueman, one of our corporate members, is a structural engineer with a long standing practice in St Albans. His work involves a huge variety of projects, including Hindu temples in India and North London, the extension of Verulamium Museum and residential properties in the Conservation Area. He will give a talk about his work – the challenges and achievements.