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. A series of online speaker meetings will run from December 2020 to May 2021.
There is an Annual General Meeting (usually held in June) when all members are invited to give their views on past and future happenings in our city.
Perhaps the highlight of the year is our Awards Evening where we celebrate best practice in current architecture and design – for both buildings and our green spaces.
Additionally, we participate in the St Albans Residents First Weekend and Heritage Open Days, and arrange visits to other interesting and historic towns.
Upcoming Events
Mac Quinton will give a talk on the architect Sir Frederick Gibberd with particular reference to St Albans and the Arena
Johanna Gibbons (J & L Gibbons LLP) continues our Greening the City talks which first started in 2020
Sara Croft of The Woodland Trust continues our Greening the City talks.
Tim Boatswain, President of St Albans Civic Society, will reflect on the theme of our series of talks, started in 2020 on greening the city.
Past Events
An informal meeting to introduce the new committee and to discuss current issues. An opportunity to talk about what we are doing, what should be the priorities and how members can get involved.
John Pritchard, Chairman of the Ver Valley Society will update us on what’s happening with the river.
Email stalbanscivicsociety@gmail.com for the link to join us online
This year’s AGM will be held online via Zoom. Members should request login details by emailing stalbanscivicsociety@gmail.com
Following the formal business, there will be a talk by Daisy Cooper MP
St Albans District Council, in co-operation with the Business Improvement District (BID), Conservation 50 and the Civic Society, are looking to develop a new vision for St Albans’ city centre – the last City Centre Vision document dates back to 2009 and much has happened since then. Although devastating in so many ways, Covid-19 pandemic gives us an opportunity to look at new priorities for the city centre which should focus on the public’s health and well-being as well as economic revival.
This online conference will invite a panel of experts to present ideas on the future of city centres and, following the conference, it is planned to hold a public consultation on what the future of St Albans’ city centre should look like.
To register please click on this link
Join us for an interactive fun local history quiz for the Alban Weekend. Hosted online by Tim Boatswain.
Click here for info on how to join the quiz for free
This talk has been cancelled and a new date will be arranged later in the year
Greening the City is the theme of our talks for 2020
The concluding presentation in our series is by John Milligan (Milligan Knight Architects) and a joint event with Hertfordshire Architectural Association
The Council is now consulting residents on this major development on the old Police Station site and we are holding a meeting to outline our views on the three proposals.
This meeting has been cancelled in response to advice from Government on the spread of coronavirus
Greening the City is the theme of our talks for 2020.
In the first of these talks we hear from Cllr Chris White (Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for the Environment)
PLEASE NOTE: this talk starts at 8.30pm
In a reaction to the excessively ornate mainstream style of the Victorian era – described by art historian Nicholas Pevsner as “vulgarity in detail” – the Arts and Crafts movement promoted traditional craftsmanship, using simple forms, often medieval and romantic. This study day comprises three talks exploring the Arts and Crafts movement which emerged in Britain in the last decades of the 19th century. Proponents of the movement were also strong advocates of economic and social reform, bemoaning the rise of the industrial age. These talks aim to explore origins and influences of the movement in relation to other key figures and movements, and include, where possible, links to St Albans.
This Study Day is a partnership between Conservation 50 and the Cathedral. Price: £25 Click here to book
Speakers: The Dean The Very Reverend Dr Jeffrey John and architect Andy Davey