St Albans has always been a 'political place'. A glance back through its history will show that it was heavily involved in the peasants revolt of 1381 when its citizens demanded more rights, and that it diplomatically supported both sides at various times during the civil war.

     In 1898 the Liberals in St Albans were a force to be reckoned with. St Albans having overcome the ignominy of being declared a 'rotten borough', the Earl Spencer had given enough land and finance to start what is now the City Museum, as well as a School and later to be the Art College. He even, as a devout Liberal, had enough left over to finance a new Liberal Club, moving from its premises in Verulam Road to purpose-built ones in Hatfield Road,

     The Year Book (1900) in the City Library hints at the discussions which must have taken place. The Liberals had members who were against alcohol being consumed in a political party building and, for a time, the Constituency Office and political meetings were moved away to the Secretary's home in Fishpool Street.

     Up to World War I and later, the social activities of the Club flourished: the Cumberland Turf Bowling Green was famous. As WW2 drew to a close and Britain came to terms with post-war life, the wartime amalgamation with another non-Liberal club was seen to be less relevant, and the Liberal Trustees closed the Club down. Party members were unable to keep the building in reasonable repair, and the local council made a Compulsory Purchase Order to pave the way for the ultimate expansion of the College of Art. This was never served, and local Liberals became determined to restore both the Club and the Constituency Office.

     The 60s and early 70s saw the whole building used for revenue purposes - such as OAP dance clubs, play groups, the Methodist Recorder, the Christadelphians and bridge clubs.

     The Liberal Party fought elections for the City and Rural councils and, by 1972, was in a position to use the constituency office upstairs and get three elected to the City Council. In 1973 the Club was formally opened by Cyril Smith. Local government was re-organised in 1974, which in effect made the council into the Council of the City and District of St Albans. By the 1980s the party had won seats both for the City & District and for Hertfordshire County Council.

     When, Shirley Williams, David Owen, Bill Rogers and Roy Jenkins' new political party the SDP was formed in March 1981, there were many enquiries about joining from this area. In response to articles in the press, residents rang up or wrote to the HQ in Queen Anne's Gate, sent in their donation and registered as members.

     The SDP encouraged its new members to call local meetings and to set up steering committees. Any new organisation always needs committees! In St Albans the first meeting, at which about 15 people turned up, was held at the home of a Labour party activist. Area committees were developed (another necessity) and St Albans was linked with Hemel Hempstead.

     Together, the two area representatives organised a SDP rally. Shirley Williams was the guest speaker at a public meeting held in the St Albans F.E. College in the summer of '81. The hall was packed out and her audience spilt over into the courtyard. The enthusiasm for the SDP was catching and many local residents signed up. Like other areas, the St Albans SDP was attracting people who had not previously been politically active. The fact that at that time in St Albans the SDP headquarters were a pub had nothing to do with it!

     Fired with zeal after attending the first SDP party conference in 1981 that was a 'rolling conference' (the SDP train moved between Perth, Bradford and London during the week) the St Albans SDP activists came back to tackle the Council elections of '82. Agreement had been reached with the local Liberal Party as to which seats they were fighting and the campaign was launched. The SDP won its first two seats, Clarence (off Conservatives) and Batchwood (off Labour) and the Liberals won 6 seats.

     By 1984 in combination with the Liberals and one independent who agreed his support, we took minority control of the Council. Ahead of the times and national thinking, the combined party referred to itself as the SDP/Liberal Alliance'

     The local government elections of '86 meant that the Alliance was now the largest party in its own right on the District Council for the first time, when it gained three seats from the Conservatives. Working closely with the Liberals the SDP now shared the Liberal HQ in Hatfield Road.

     Unlike in some other parts of the country the SDP had a friendly working relationship with the Liberal Party in St Albans from the beginning. This was possibly a crucial part of the success of the SDP in St Albans. As the SDP/Liberal Alliance its leaders came from both wings of the party. Now several years after the formation of the Liberal Democrats the inheritors of each party are working hard to improve life in the City and District of St Albans.