Adelaide Street

Rise & Fall

By Wendy Klein

   Adelaide Street was created about 1835 on a 'green field' site  leading north-west from St Peter's St and owned by Sir William Domville. Sold to developers, both sides were soon lined with small terraced houses, occupied by householders carrying out a wide variety of occupations.

   The street continued to thrive until after World War II, when the nearby cattle market was removed and replaced by a car-park, Aboyne Lodge School being built between the latter and Adelaide St in 1949-50. At the same time much of the south side of the street was demolished and by 1968 most of the other buildings had been pulled down, making way for access to the new multi-storey car park via Drovers Way, which cuts through Adelaide Street.

   A few new buildings have been erected at the west end of the street, the old Cross St, the rest remaining as a couple of parking areas, although two restaurants and a night club, occupying a former warehouse at the east end, retain some of the atmosphere of a once lively St Albans street.

   For a full story of the street,  click "Publications", followed by "Society Lectures".