History Talk

Highfield Park Trust was formed to manage the new rural park created by the closure of Hill End and Cell Barnes Hospitals in the 1990s.  One of the Trust’s key objectives is to preserve, protect, develop and improve features of historic or public interest. This annual talk is one of the mechanisms that the Trust has developed to support this aim and it has been very well supported since it was first introduced into the programme of events in 2015. It was developed in response to demand from people who were physically unable to complete the History Walk. It is held in the Visitor Centre and attendance is by ticket only.

The following talks have now been delivered, with the kind and enthusiastic support of Mike Neighbour and John Ely, to whom the Trust would like to  express its thanks. Mike Neighbour is a prominent local historian and author. He edits the St.Albans’ Own East End website.  John Ely was the first Park Director and was instrumental in the creation of Highfield Park.

The Trust owes a huge thanks to trustee Sue Gaylard who collates the all of the historical research and has led the talks from 2019.

• 2015 – The history of Hill End Hospital by Mike Neighbour.
• 2016 – The history of Cell Barnes Hospital by Mike Neighbour.
• 2017 – The creation of Highfield Park by John Ely.
• 2018 – Battle’s Over – A Nations Tribute
• 2019 – Barts in Herts
• 2020 – Cancelled due to Coronavirus pandemic
• 2021 – Cancelled due to Coronavirus pandemic
• 2022 – Cell Barnes – House and Hospital
• 2023 – Memories of the Hospitals and the Park
• 2024 – Hill End and Cell Barnes Hospitals – The Early Years
• 2025 – Hill End and Cell Barnes Hospitals – The Later Years

Please note that the Visitor Centre has a large, free car park for attendees to use.

The car park grid reference: TL17160611.

what3words: intent.marked.labs.

Travelling by road

Visitors from outside the area are most likely to approach the Park from the M25 motorway.  Exit via Junction 22 (London Colney exit) and follow the signs for St Albans along the A1081 to the A414 roundabout.  Continue to follow the A1081 signs into St Albans and at the next roundabout turn right into Highfield Park Drive.  Continue straight on at the next roundabout (note the “Welcome to Highfield Park” sign), the road then bears to the left and becomes Highfield Lane. For the Highfield Park Visitor Centre turn left at the next mini roundabout on to Hill End Lane.  The entrance to the park is on the left (wooden field gate and signage) opposite the end of Frobisher Road. Follow the road round into the car park.