Grove Road

Image: © Ian Capper Taken: 3 May 2012

Dating from the late 17th century, this road was built as a result of the extension of the gardens of Holywell House, a Tudor mansion that stood to the right of this photo, which meant that the original straight route of Holywell Hill had to be diverted, with this being the route taken. From 1684, the house was owned by John Churchill, later first Duke of Marlborough, who had come into its ownership following his marriage to Sarah Jennings. The Duke died in 1722, leaving Sarah as sole owner, who then in 1744 passed it to her grandson, John Spencer, who in turn passed it to his son, another John, who later became the first Earl Spencer of Althorp (from whom Lady Diana Spencer was descended). The family stopped using the house in the early 19th century (although retaining ownership of various lands in and around St Albans, with road names such as Jennings Road, Althorp Road, Marlborough Road and Spencer Mews maintaining the connection). The house was demolished in 1837, and this enabled the corporation of St Albans to reinstate the direct route up Holywell Hill, with what is now Grove Road becoming a side route.

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