08 Jun 2026
After six distinguished years at the helm, Dr John Morewood has stepped down as President of the St Albans & Hertfordshire Architectural & Archaeological Society (SAHAAS, ‘the Arc and Arc’), handing the reins to Professor Mark Freeman, author of the definitive modern history of the city.
The transition, which started last week, marks the end of an era for one of the region’s most respected heritage organisations and the beginning of another led by one of the city’s foremost historians.
Dr Morewood’s presidency, which concluded at the end of May, has been characterised by a deep commitment to bringing not just the city’s layered past to life but a wide range of historical topics for modern audiences. While being an incredibly active President, John received his doctorate during his second term of office.
His farewell lecture saw Dr Morewood exploring the turbulent post-Civil War decade of 1649-1661, examining how St Albans and its prominent citizens – including Alban Cox of Beaumonts and Eleanor Countess of Sussex – fared as England grappled with being a republic without a king.
The talk, titled ‘Into Another Mould? St Albans 1649-1661. What happened after the Civil Wars?’ served as a fitting finale to a presidency that has illuminated the city’s complex history.
Succeeding Dr Morewood is Professor Mark Freeman, a University College London academic and resident of St
Albans, who is widely regarded as the city’s leading living historian. His book, St Albans: A History, first published in 2008 and substantially revised in 2023, has been hailed as the definitive account of more than two thousand years of the city’s story.
Spanning more than 400 pages, the work is a scholarly yet highly readable guide, tracing the city’s evolution from the late Iron Age oppidum of Verlamion, through the Roman settlement of Verulamium, the medieval Abbey, and its development into a modern commuter city.
Professor Freeman has noted that at every point in St Albans’ history, two key themes play out: the constant economic and cultural pull of London, and an enduring awareness of the
significance of its own past.
Born in St Albans in 1974 and educated at St Albans School and the universities of Oxford and Glasgow, Professor Freeman brings a unique personal connection to his scholarship. He
is currently Professor of Social History and Education at University College London and has written extensively on modern British history, including The Pageants of St Albans: An Illustrated History (2020).
The Society, which has been a cornerstone of heritage preservation and historical research in the region for decades, now looks forward to a new chapter under Professor Freeman’s leadership.
His extensive academic background and his position as the author of the city’s “masterful” modern history position him perfectly to lead the organisation into its next phase.
While Dr Morewood’s outgoing talk marked a reflective look at the political upheavals of the 17th century, Professor Freeman’s presidency is expected to continue the Society’s mission of making local history engaging and accessible. A recent council meeting agreed the leadership change, and Professor Freeman assumed the role of President on June 1 (his accession is subject to confirmation at the Society’s AGM on September 22).
A spokesperson said: “The Society extends its deepest gratitude to Dr John Morewood for his six years of passionate service, insightful lectures, and leadership, and offers a warm welcome to
Professor Mark Freeman, whose definitive work on the city ensures that the past remains a ‘powerful resource’ for understanding the present.”
Dr Freeman has already made his mark at the Society by opposing plans by the University of Hertfordshire to close several humanities courses on the grounds of the low number of applicants and financial viability, including its history degrees.
He said: “As the only university in the county, UoH holds an important place in our educational landscape, and many of our members have benefited from connection with it. It has a strong tradition in the humanities, and has been one of the leading
universities in the country in terms of the impact of its historical research. Its degree programmes and its community links are vital resources for our county. We support the recent assertion by the Royal Historical Society and associated organisations that ‘the study of history is not merely an intellectual pursuit but a civic obligation, essential to the maintenance of a reflective, resilient and democratic society’. As such, we hope to see this preserved for future generations at UoH.”
