The Roman City Verulamium St Albans Herts

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Originally built as a Roman town the City Of St Albans has many historic legacies of English History. The city has two museums – Verulamium Museum and the Museum of St Albans.

The former has many examples of life in Roman Britain including rooms which reflect the life style of the city’s indigenous population. These include excellent examples of Roman wall mosaics that are rarely found in northern Europe.

Once a fortnight, at weekends, the museum features a display of military dress weapons and tactics employed by Roman soldiers. The museum has several video presentations and easy to use touch screen databases.

The City Museum describes the history of St Albans from its Roman times, through the Middle ages to the present. It has many examples of ‘Victorian Britain. The city also a Roman Theatre and remains of the original city walls and the oldest working clock tower in England which dates back to 1403. Further information on these attractions can be found at the city’s website

St Albans Cathedral

St Albans Cathedral, from the west Photo taken by Michael Reeve

It also is blessed with one of the finest examples of Medieval Church Architecture in Britain. Parts of the building date back to the 11th Century AD with the present tower built in the early 12th century but its origins date back to the Saxon era. Further information for people wishing to visit St Albans Cathedral, services and events there is available at their website.

Macabre Note:

The name St Albans was given in the memory of a pagan citizen ‘Alban’ during early Roman rule. Alban had hidden the local priest at his home from the Roman authorities who were persecuting local clergy. When soldiers arrived at Albans home looking for the priest Alban exchanged cloaks with the priest. Thinking he was the priest, the soldiers took Alban away and beheaded him.

Legend has it that he was beheaded at the top of the hill where the present cathedral now stands and that his head rolled down the hill before resting in a place where a well suddenly appeared.

Travel Note:

20 miles north of london. Served by frequent mainline rail services from any Thameslink station including Brighton Gatwick, Kings Cross and Luton.