Thank you Mr Woollam


Fleetville wasn't even part of the city, although that was due to change in 1913. Mr Charles Woollam, already a benefactor to St Albans Grammar School, purchased from Thomas Smith's Fleetville estate what was left of a field on the north side of Hatfield Road, Fleetville. His intention was to present the field to the City Council explicitly for the recreational use of the people of Fleetville. That was very generous of you Mr Woollam; thank you.

  • From one set of swings for most of its life to a full playpark and zip-wire; children are now well catered for.
  • The field on the north site of Hatfield Road in a map dating 1912. Ignore Benskins – that was the owner of the green plot next door.
  • Photo taken from the school, looking across Royal Road. Taken before the nursery arrived.
  • Underground shelters still exist under the Community Centre. This photo is not from Fleetville.
  • A 1950s view of Batford Nursery, which was a similar building to that of the Fleetville Nursery.
  • The strret shelters, one at each end, are still present. Built especially for the nursery children during World War Two.
  • Rebuilding part of the inside when the building changed from nursery to community centre.
  • The community centre in its early days after opening in 1982.
  • In 1938 the City Council provided a public toilet; today it is the Beech Tree Cafe.
  • One of two sets of steps at the back of the Community Centre, original function unknown.
  • The original ramps leading down to the shelters below ground have been filled in to add to the parking facility.

Charles Woollam

Charles Woollam

Charles Woollam was a silk mill owner in Abbey Mill Lane. He had been Mayor of St Albans in 1872, a magistrate, and a governor of St Albans Grammar School. He not only provided funds for the school but also gave Victoria Playing Fields, Fleetville Recreation Ground and Woollam Fields for the enjoyment of the people.

Photo courtesy St Albans Museums.

  • Turned into a Pleasure Park

    The Fleetville Recreation Ground – Rec, or Fleetville Park as it has come to be known among many younger residents – has been in existence since 1913. It was a gift to the people of Fleetville by silk mill owner, Charles Woollam.

    Previously it had been a space for storing bricks and other building materials, and before that it might have been a continuation of Fleet Ville, the housing development for Mr Smith's printing works employees. But others were building nearby too; new homes opposite the Cemetery and more new homes on the Camp estate. Just too many at the same time for the demand.

    No sooner had the field been smartened up than there was a demand for allotments during the First World War. Realising that the cost of restoration after the war would fall in the lap of the City Council, it cunningly proposed that the County Council use land it owned on the south side of Hatfield Road for allotments instead; which is what happened, where today's Fleetville Junior School is located.

    Although the City Council created a shrub screen against Hatfield Road, and installed metal railings around the field's perimeter, equipping the Rec for the children of Fleetville was limited to one set of swings.

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  • Another war

    In 1938, as war approached for the second time, open trenches (shelter trenches) were dug by the City Council at the Burnham Road end and close to Royal Road. In 1939 the trenches were deepened, brick lined and capped over. Then the County Council created trenches for the benefit of the children at Fleetville School. Access from Royal Road was down a pair of ramps, today covered over and part of the Community Centre's car park.

    By 1942 Ballito Hosiery Mills, on the site which Morrison's owns today, was humming with women making shell casings for the war effort. The government had been encouraging as many women as possible into war work. To assist, it contracted factories to produce sectional buildings for a range of purposes, including day nurseries for the young children of mothers working in nearby factories.

    Thus a nursery building arrived on lorries from Hoddesdon and was perched on the concrete platform which formed the shelter capping. The building was basic and was heated by coal stoves at each end. Next to each of the classrooms was a surface air raid shelter – it would have taken too long for the toddlers to be taken down to the underground shelters. Those surface shelters are still in place at the end of the building.

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  • Peace again

    The nursery continued for some time after the end of the war although the number of registered children reduced considerably. The City Council frequently urged the County Council to remove the building so that that part of the field could be returned to recreational use.

    Nevertheless, with re-organisation a nursery class was maintained in the building, together with classes from an over-crowded Fleetville Primary School. This temporary building was simply too important to the county.

    In the 1970s a new nursery was opened in Woodstock Road, and by 1975 the nursery building was empty and quickly deteriorated in condition. The City Council took charge and in 1979 offered the building for community use.

    Through the diligent work of volunteers, some inventive fund-raising, and contributions from residents and traders, Fleetville Community Centre opened in 1982. This asset has continued to fill the converted spaces with a wide range of activities ever since.

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  • Goodbye 1942 nursery; hello to the future

    After many years of planning a grand new phase of life at the Recreation Ground begins in July 2022. The temporary former nursery (and almost former community centre) comes to an end and will be demolished. During 2022 and 2023 a new Fleetville Community Centre will replace it, and we will follow its progress on this page. A new Fleetville Community Centre page will be added on the opening of the new facility next year. We can't wait!

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Fleetville's New Community Centre

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From the entrance foyer corridors peel off left and right to access all of the building's space.

A large hall with high ceiling lies directly ahead. This space can be divided into two smaller hall spaces. Both give access to a terrace at the rear of the Centre.

With servery access to the hall is a kitchen.

A children's suite with its own toilets, staff space, preparation room and store, opens onto the children's garden.

A further children's suite is on the right end, with similar ancillary facilities. This can double up as one or two meeting rooms when not required for children's groups or parties.

A discrete room for confidential meetings or surgeries.

Four meeting rooms of varying sizes for committees and groups. One of these is a practical room (a maker space).

A small lounge/breakout space is adjacent to the children's suite.

A Changing Places room and toilets, baby change and Wudu.

Storage bays, cupboards and rooms are widely located.

Cycle parking, and fourteen car parking spaces.

An office adjacent to the foyer located to welcome visitors and users.

"I have given this field to be used as a pleasure ground for the enjoyment of the people of Fleetville".
Charles Woollam, 1913.