A History of St Albans

As of 2020 the city of St Albans was named by The Sunday Times as the best place to live in the Southeast, renowned for the exceptional schools, shops and commuter links to London. This central market town in Hertfordshire is seeped in a rich history dating back over 2000 years to the Roman Civilisation. Below we have explored St Albans’ long-standing history in more depth.

Celtic and Roman Settlement

Originally, St Albans was one of the three largest Roman towns in Britain and was popularly known as Verulamium, which loosely translates to ‘the settlement above the marsh’. As a Roman town, it had a handful of central buildings integral to the bustling pace of the town. These included an amphitheatre, a Roman city wall which outlined the city’s boundaries and intricate mosaics adorning the Roman villas. Historical remains can still be found in the city today, for example, St Albans is home to the only fully excavated Roman amphitheatre in Britain.

The name of the city owes itself to a Roman solider called Alban, who was prosecuted in the third century AD for helping a devout priest escape prosecution by the Romans, due to promoting Christianity. Subsequently Alban was beheaded on Holywell Hill and became the first British Saint.

St Albans Abbey

Otherwise known as St Albans Cathedral, the Abbey in St Albans is the home to the execution site of eponymous Saint Alban and is the oldest place of continued Christian worship in Britain. After his execution and following the departure of the Romans, the site became a popular destination for Christians to dedicate shrines to the Saint. By the 5th century, a small church had been developed, which has now become the abbey which stands today. The building has witnessed many architectural styles, from the beginnings as a Monastic Abbey to the contemporary grand Cathedral.

St Albans Clock Tower

In the centre of town, visitors will find St Albans Clock Tower, the only surviving Medieval belfry in England. It dates back over 600 years and was built in 1405 by the people of St Albans and symbolised a resistance movement against the power of the abbot of St Albans.

The City Today

As of today, much of St Albans’ history still forms elements of the city’s everyday life. The market which dates back over 1000 years still takes place on a weekly basis in the town, bursting with fresh produce and craftmanship. Alternatively, visitors can enjoy a gourmet dining experience in Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, titled by many as the oldest pub in Britain.