Area Guide: The thriving Bernards Heath area of St Albans

The majority of homes in the area were built during the Victorian era - notably the cluster of properties between Sandpit Lane and Sandridge Road, which has rows of mostly semi-detached and terraced houses.

Further north the houses become bigger and more modern, with some huge homes dotted along Sandridge Road.

Properties currently on the market in Bernards Heath include a three-bedroom detached mid terraced property at Meadowcroft for £545,000 and a four-bedroom detached property at Herons Way for £950,000.  

Amenities  

Among the amenities in Bernard Heath is a Londis convenience store, which is also known as 'the Hovis shop', on Sandridge Road.

The parade of shops on Beech Road also offer a wide range of options, including a Tesco Express, a barbers and a pharmacy, as well as a Shell petrol station next door.

Food and drink  

The Jolly Sailor and the King William IV pubs sit on either end of Sandridge Road, with the Little Star Café between the two.

At the start of St Peter's Street is the Amrit Indian restaurant, which has proven to be a popular replacement for the well-regarded Devdas.

There is also a fish and chip shop, Master Fryer, on Beech Road, along with a Pizza Hut and a Gourmet Kitchen Chinese takeaway.

Residents who live at the St Peter's Street end of Bernards Heath are just a five-minute walk away from the city centre, while for those living further away from town Marshalswick's busy Quadrant shopping centre is another retail option.

The Heath itself has a children's playground with play equipment and a basketball hoop, as well as an open field and wooded area which are both popular with dog walkers.

There are allotments on Sandridge Road which are well-used by residents, and can be accessed via Marshall Avenue.

A community group, the Friends of Bernards Heath, works towards maintaining the Heath for everyone's enjoyment.

Heathlands Drive is home to the Pioneer Club, which boasts the oldest indoor skate park in the UK. The club also has a live music venue, and both areas are available for hire.

Transport links  

The M25, M1 and A1(M) motorways are easily accessible by car, while St Albans City station is less than 15 minutes away on foot from the Sandpit Lane side of Bernards Heath.

The Abbey station is a little further away, and has trains to Watford.

History  

The Heath is historically significant, as it was a site of the Second Battle of St Albans in 1461, during the Wars of the Roses.

The site was originally gifted to the Abbey in 793 by King Offa of Mercia.

Clay pits were previously situated on the Heath, and bricks were made there for nearly 500 years, until the early 20th century.

Another historically significant area is Beech Bottom Dyke on Beech Road, which was constructed as a territorial boundary during the Iron Age.

The Heath was the site for public executions in St Albans until at least 1752. Far less gruesomely, it was also the home of Hertfordshire County cricket ground for a time during the 19th century.

A far more recent claim to fame is the infamous St Albans sinkhole of 2015, which formed immediately north of the Heath on Fontmell Close.

Schools  

Residents of Bernards Heath are spoilt for choice of schools in the area.

Bernards Heath Infant and Nursery School was rated 'good' by Ofsted at its most recent inspection, while the nearby junior school was also rated 'good'.

These three-form entry schools have an intake of 90 pupils per year.

Other nearby primary schools include Maple, Alban City and Garden Fields, all of which are rated 'good' by Ofsted.

Secondary schools options include St Albans Girls' School (STAGS) and Sandringham (both rated 'outstanding'), as well as Verulam boys' school and Townsend Church of England School (both rated 'good').

The opening of the new playground at Bernards Heath (Image: Let's Play at Bernards Heath)