History

The area of Cell Barnes can be traced back to 1140, when the then Abbot of St Albans gave properties to the Sopwell Nunnery. As they were still dependent on the Abbey, they were referred to as “Cells” (a small part). In 1486 the “Boke of Seynt Albans” (Book of St. Albans) was published. Part-authored by Dame Juliana Berners (or Barnes), who wrote about hawking, heraldry, and angling, it is believed to be the first printed book in the English language to feature different breeds of dog.

The Park has been created on the former grounds of two hospitals which were closed in the 1990s.

Hill End Hospital

The northern area of the park is where Hill End Hospital was located. It was opened in 1900 and closed in 1995. It even had its own railway line, which is now the Alban Way.  The hospital was self sufficient with its own farms, kitchen gardens and orchards.

The picture above shows the Hill End Cricket Team in 1937 (Courtesy Museums of St Albans).

During the 2nd World War St Bartholomews Hospital was relocated to Hill End Hospital, to treat the war wounded and Londoners injured during the Blitz.  During the battle of Dunkirk the hospital treated over 600 casualties in one week.  St Bartholomews hospital eventually relocated back to the London by 1961.

In 1958 the hospital’s farms closed, however the gardens remained and horticulture was added to the therapeutic activities offered.  During this time a varied programme of entertainment was offered to patients which included film shows and dances.  The wards were starting to be kept unlocked and were renamed using famous people’s names.

Only three of the original Hospital ward blocks now remain and these have been converted into social housing.  The former Hospital Chapel has been redeveloped is now used by Trestle Arts Base.  More information is provided in this factsheet A Brief History of Hill End Hospital

Cell Barnes Hospital

The south of the park is where the Cell Barnes Hospital was located, opening in 1933 and closing in 1998.  Like Hill End Hospital, Cell Barnes Hospital also had its own farm and gardens, with the farm closing in 1965.

The majority of the hospital buildings were demolished.  Those that remain are Cell Barnes House which was used as a Nurses Home and now used by Emmaus, a charity helping homeless people. The Pill Packing Unit on Highfield Lane has been redeveloped and is now the Highfield Lane Nursery.  Ladybirds Nursery occupies part of what was a larger building used for staff training and the small building opposite was an occupational therapy unit and now the offices of The LK Partnership. From 1996 to 2018, West Lodge was used as the Trust’s Office, but has now returned to residential use. More information on the hospital is provided in this factsheet History of the Cell Barnes Hospital Site.

Creating Highfield Park

Following the Hospital closures, the planning authorities of St Albans City and District Council approved the redevelopment of the Hospital sites with nearly 800 new housing units on the condition that 62 acres be set aside as public open space. Instead of following the traditional way of developing a park, St Albans City and District Council established the Highfield Park Trust as an Independent Charity and as part of the development process secured funding from the Secretary of State for Health. This provided the Trust with an endowment to enable it to develop and maintain the park. The Trust has a lease of 150 years from St Albans City and District Council, which started in 1996.