Yes, I think you're right. It seems that it originated in southern Europe and the species got introduced to ports in southern Britain, though at least one has been spotted in Sheffield. A city dweller with a preference for brick buildings.
I can't confirm ID but I remember back when I was studying one "exercise" we had to do was go round local area and find them. This was back in the days they were rare in the UK and localised to a few port cities (I studies in Bristol). Easy to find their webs (eg in walls) but to get them out needed a specific frequency tuning fork with a bit of card on the end. Start the tuning fork going, touch the bit of card taped to one end on the web filaments radiating out of the tube and out comes the spider thinking the web has caught an insect (hence the need for the correct frequency). In bristol in the 70's not hard to find.
that one is history, sealed up some openings inside & out & got another outside. HOWEVER big boy (aka rat) showed up so I'm going to have to regroup next week. it must have a long tongue!
