2-879-420 - Historic England Archive/Heritage Images

Four Limes, Wheathampstead, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, 07/05/1986. The Queen Mother in conversation with Laing Retirement Homes staff at the opening of the Four Limes retirement complex. Laing announced the contract to construct 44 one and two bedroom flats and 6 two bedroom bungalows in June 1985 and the retirement complex was largely complete by the official opening by the Queen Mother in May 1986. One of the homes in the complex was the 3 millionth to be built under the auspices of the National House Building Council's 10 year warranty scheme, in its 50th year. A large 17th century house at one end of the site was refurbished and converted in to flats, warden's accommodation and communal lounge, kitchen and laundry. The house had been the former residence of naturalist Graham Dangerfield in the 1960s who had kept a private zoo on the site where the homes were built.