Marshalswick is a St Albans property hotspot - popular with families for its excellent state schools. We found out more about the area...
Situated to the north east of the city centre, Marshalswick is a suburban enclave with its own unique identity.
The area is home to some of the most sought-after schools, with useful local shops including a Marks & Spencer Foodhall.
Historically, Marshalswick fell within Sandridge parish, but it now partly straddles an unparished area of St Albans and borders Jersey Farm, Fleetville and Bernards Heath.
The city centre, with its wide range of facilities and rail links to London, is approximately 1.5 miles away.
History
Marshalswick - which dates back to the 13th century - is named after John and William Marschal, who owned the land between 1271 and 1377.
Wick is Old English for 'dwelling place' or 'hamlet'.
The surrounding land and woodland mark the original site of the old mansion house, Marshal’s Wick Mansion, which was pulled down in 1927.
Its two lodges are now known as 1 Marshal’s Drive and 191 Marshalswick Lane.
The area changed dramatically in the 1930s after a huge parcel of land was bought at auction by TF Nash Homes Ltd, with Kingshill Avenue among the first streets to be completed.
These ‘Nash semis’ featured the signature window shutters, many of which are still in place today.
Property
Marshalswick is home to some of St Albans’ most desirable roads,featurng some of the city's most expensive properties.
Marshal’s Drive, The Park, Faircross Way, and Homewood Road are widely considered to be among the most prestigious addresses in town — and living there doesn’t come cheap.
Properties in Marshalswick had an overall average price of £720,225 over the last year, according to Rightmove.
The majority of sales in Marshalswick during the last year were detached properties, selling for an average price of £1,258,929. Terraced properties sold for an average of £471,093, with flats fetching £297,580.
Currently on the market in Marshalswick are a five-bedroom detached property at Rosewalk for £2.2m, and a three-bedroom detached property for £1m at Marshalswick Lane.
A slightly cheaper option is a three-bed semi-detached on Chiltern Road for £650,000.
Amenities
Marshalswick Quadrant is a shopping hub which ishome to a range of independent businesses and national chains, including a pharmacy, a jewellers, a bed shop, Budgens convienence store and several estate agents.
Food options include the family-run Ridgeway Fish Bar, Fade to Black coffee shop and KFC, Greggs, Subway and Simmons bakers.
There is also a very convienent M&S Foodhall - potentially saving a trip into town - and a Sainsbury's Local petrol station.
Marshalswick also has its own library and community centre.
Schools
Marshalswick's outstanding local state schools are a big draw for families moving from further afield, or locals movng away from the city centre.
Families regularly move into the area specifically to secure a place for their child at Sandringham, a secondary school with academy status.
Ranked ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted at its last full inspection, its main feeder primaries are Skyswood Primary School (‘outstanding’) and Wheatfields Junior School (‘good’).
St John Fisher Catholic Primary School (‘good’) and Wheatfields Infants’ and Nursery School are also located in Marshalswick.
Green Spaces
The Wick local nature reserve, which runs between Marshal’s Drive and Sandpit Lane, is popular with dog walkers.
The land was originally part of the park grounds of Marshalswick House, before it was demolished in 1927.
The then owner of the land, Sir Arthur Copson Peake, gave the space to the community in 1929, in the hope that it would remain in its natural state.
According to the Friends of The Wick, the green space consists of 3.3 hectares of deciduous woodland, and 1.5 ha of field, with areas of meadow.
The ancient semi-natural woodland is rich in wildlife, and its main trees are oak and hornbeam. There is also a seasonal pond.
Members of the public have unrestricted public access to The Wick, and the wooded area is criss-crossed by paths.
Another nearby green space is the 55-acre Jersey Farm Woodland Park, which can be accessed from Sandringham Crescent.
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