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Top Attractions in St. Albans

St Albans Cathedral

St Albans Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban, is a Church of England cathedral church within St Albans, England. At 84 metres, its nave is the longest of any cathedral in England. With much of its present architecture dating from Norman times, it was formerly known as St Albans Abbey before it became a cathedral in 1877. It is the second longest cathedral in the United Kingdom . Local residents often call it "the abbey", although the present cathedral represents only the church of the old Benedictine abbey. The abbey church, although legally a cathedral church, differs in certain particulars from most of the other cathedrals in England: it is also used as a parish church, of which the dean is rector. He has the same powers, responsibilities and duties as the rector of any other parish.

Redbournbury Mill

Redbournbury Mill, originally a water-driven flour mill, lies on the River Ver in the hamlet of Redbournbury between St Albans and Redbourn in the county of Hertfordshire, England. One of its claims to fame is that it was run for much of the 20th century by Ivy Hawkins, claimed to be Englands last lady commercial miller. She once tried a repair to the waterwheel by herself, and was trapped when it started to rotate. She was rescued without serious injury. Today, after a ten-year restoration project, the mill is working again and producing organic flour and a wide variety of breads that are sold at the mill and in local shops and markets, and are used by local restaurants. Adjacent to the mill are two deep fords which can be crossed by car with care, allowing a road connection between the A5 and A6 near Harpenden. The fords are occasionally used as part of the route on local road rallies because of their tricky nature; following the wrong line can drop you into much deeper water without warning. The bakery at Redbournbury Mill reopened to the public in July 2006, and 2007 has seen the introduction of periodic bakery courses at the mill bakery.

Royal National Rose Society Gardens

The Royal National Rose Society Gardens, also known as The Gardens of The Rose, are the gardens and headquarters of The Royal National Rose Society at Chiswell Green, near St Albans, Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom. The Societys stated aim is to create a "living dictionary" of roses in the gardens, which contain 2,500 different rose cultivars among 15,000 rose bushes. The gardens are normally open to the public during the summer. The flowering seasons feature: A rose collection, showing the history of the rose Roses in a garden setting showing different styles of planting Gardens to give inspiration for growing roses in small spaces New cultivar trials to provide an educational experience as well as being a pleasure to the eye when in full flower A much longer season of interest making extensive use of other plants which associate well with roses A cafe/tearoom is open, during the season, next to the main office Edland Pavilion within the gardens that is now licenced to conduct wedding ceremonies

Old Gorhambury House

Old Gorhambury House located near St Albans, Hertfordshire, England, is a ruined Elizabethan mansion, a leading and early example of the Elizabethan prodigy house. It was built in 1563-8 by Sir Nicholas Bacon, Lord Keeper, and was visited a number of times by Queen Elizabeth. It is a Grade I listed building. The house was built partly from bricks taken from the old Abbey buildings at St Albans, then in process of demolition following the Benedictine priorys dissolution some 25 years earlier. It was used as a residence by his youngest son, the polymath Sir Francis Bacon, before being bequeathed by him to his former secretary, Sir Thomas Meautys, who married Anne Bacon, the great-granddaughter of Sir Nicholas. The estate passed in 1652 to Annes second husband Sir Harbottle Grimston, Master of the Rolls and Speaker in the Convention Parliament of 1660. The estate is owned by the Grimston family to the present day, having been passed via Harbottle Grimstons son Samuel, who died childless in 1700, to his great-nephew William Luckyn, who in turn became the first Viscount Grimston in 1719. The surviving remains include a two-storey porch, chapel and clock tower. The site is maintained by English Heritage and is free to visit.

Watercress Wildlife Site

Watercress Wildlife Site is a 1.2 hectare Local Nature Reserve in St Albans in Hertfordshire. It is owned by St Albans City Council and managed by the Watercress Wildlife Association, a registered charity. The boundaries of the site are the Alban Way, the River Ver and the houses of Riverside Road. Until 1972 the site was one of the many commercial watercress beds in the area. It was then used partly as allotments, with fly tipping in some areas. In 1991 the council leased the site to the Watercress Wildlife Association, which cleared the site to become a nature reserve and gradually took over the allotments. The site has a wide variety of wildlife, including water rails, kingfishers, little grebes and muntjac deer. There is access from the junction of Riverside Road and Cornwall Road.

Clarence Park

Clarence Park is a Victorian park used for sports and leisure in St Albans, England. It is still largely in its original form and has a rich variety of trees and planting. It is close to St Albans City railway station. The park was laid out in early 1894, and comprises a 16-acre municipal sports ground and a 9-acre public park and pleasure ground. The benefactor, Sir John Maple, the owner of Maples furniture store in Tottenham Court Road and who lived at nearby Childwickbury, donated the land and paid for the laying out, the planting and the construction of the buildings; the layout of the park itself was designed by the City Surveyor, Mr G. Ford. A striking water fountain, which can still be seen today, was donated by Lady Maple. The park was opened on 23 July 1894 by the Duke of Cambridge, a member of the British Royal Family, and the event was accompanied by great celebrations in the city of St Albans. The sports ground hosts cricket, hockey, bowls and croquet and is also the home of St Albans City Football Club. The public park includes large grass areas used for sun bathing and games during summer, a bandstand, a childrens play-park and a café. The public park is also used as the site of some of the human "Peopletown" skits on Disney Channels preschool series Bunnytown.

Nomansland

Nomansland Common is an area of common land in Hertfordshire, England to the south of Harpenden and the south-west of Wheathampstead Geologically, the common is part of the Harpenden Dry Valley. In the last ice age a glacier dammed the river south of Sandridge into St Albans Vale, creating a lake. When the dam melted and water drained away, it left the thin, stony soil still found on the common today. Nomansland has, throughout its history, been recognised for uniquely poor soil quality for agricultural purposes, although flint axe heads suggest that the common may have been cleared for grazing as long ago as 4000 BC. In World War II attempts were made to plant crops on the common, but the common yielded less than half of the produce per unit area as other arable land, despite heavy use of fertilisers. After the end of the war, the land was re-seeded as grass and returned to recreational use.

Verulamium Park

Verulamium Park is a park in St Albans, Hertfordshire. Set in over 100 acres of beautiful parkland, Verulamium Park was purchased from the Earl of Verulam in 1929 by the then City Corporation. Today the park is owned and operated by St Albans City and District Council. The park is named after the Roman city of Verulamium on which it stands. The City walls and outline of the main London Gate can still be seen. Archaeological excavations were undertaken in the park during the 1930s by Sir Mortimer Wheeler and his wife Tessa, during which the 1800-year-old hypocaust and its covering mosaic floor were discovered. The Hypocaust Mosaic is on view to the public and currently protected from the elements by a purpose-built building in the park. On the outskirts of the park is Verulamium Museum, which contains hundreds of archaeological objects relating to everyday Roman life in what was a major Roman city. A pub, Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, is also located on the edge of the park. This pub has been listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest such establishment in England. A main feature of the park is the ornamental lake. Construction started on this project during 1929, giving much needed work to the unemployed of St Albans during the depression. The lake is fed by the River Ver. The lake is home to a wealth of waterbirds, including mallards, swans, herons, great crested grebes, coots, pochards and tufted ducks. In the southeastern part of the park, the Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre and Abbey View 9-hole golf course provide a number of sports facilities, including a pool, gym, tennis, fitness classes, running track and football pitch. The northeastern edge of the park abuts St Albans Cathedral and St Albans School, the northwestern edge abuts St Michaels Church, and the southeastern edge abuts St Columbas College. St Albans Abbey railway station is situated just to the east of the park.

St Albans Abbey

St Albans Cathedral, formally the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban, and referred to locally as "the Abbey", is a Church of England cathedral in St Albans, England. At 84 metres , its nave is the longest of any cathedral in England. With much of its architecture dating from Norman times, it was known as St Albans Abbey before it became a cathedral in 1877, although it had ceased to be an abbey in the 16th century. It is the second longest cathedral in the United Kingdom. Although legally a cathedral church, it differs in certain particulars from most other cathedrals in England: it is also used as a parish church, of which the dean is rector with the same powers, responsibilities and duties as that of any other parish. Probably founded in the 8th century, the present building is Norman or Romanesque architecture of the 11th century, with Gothic and 19th-century additions.

Alban Way

The Alban Way is a cycle path in Hertfordshire, England that has been constructed along the route of the former Hatfield to St Albans railway line. It runs from St Albans, close to St Albans Abbey railway station and the site of Roman Verulamium, through Fleetville and Smallford to Hatfield, ending close to Hatfield railway station. It is 7.5 miles long. Several station platforms still exist along the track, and some are in relatively good condition. A station building still stands at the London Road exit in St Albans, which has been converted into a nursery. There is a graveyard on the track opposite Longacres park; Most graves are covered and few remain intact but they all come from the mental hospital that used to exist in the area. This area has now been regenerated into a remembrance park with a plaque describing the story behind the gravestones, including some details about specific patients. The route is paved throughout, though rough in places, and has few steep slopes making it a good off-road route for children. It is part of National Cycle Network route 61 which runs from the River Thames at Maidenhead to the River Lea in Ware. The section from Welwyn Garden City to Ware is called Cole Green Way. In Hatfield the route joins The Great North Way and in St Albans will link to National Cycle Network route 6. There has been some indication that the railway will be reinstated in the future as an extension to the Abbey Line tram system.

Holywell House

Holywell House was a house in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. The manor house was originally called Hallywell . Another possibility as to the origin of the name is the legend of St Alban: Running into St Albans from the south is Holywell Hill, its name taken from the story of Saint Albans death: legend has it that his severed head rolled down the hill from the execution site and into a well at the bottom . The manor was in possession of Sir Ralph Rowlett in 1571, and after his death, it passed to his nephew Robert Jenyns . It passed through the Jennings family line, and Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough was born here in 1660. After their father Richards death, the house was jointly owned by Sarah and her sister Frances, until Sarah bought the house outright. She and her husband, John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough often stayed here. The house was demolished in 1827, but a blue plaque marks the spot on Holywell Hill where the house is believed to have stood. There is also a Holywell House in Swanmore, current home of the Earl and Countess of Clarendon.

Tyttenhanger House

Tyttenhanger House is a 17th-century country mansion, now converted into commercial offices, at Tyttenhanger, near St Albans, Hertfordshire. It is a Grade I listed building. The Tyttenhanger estate was owned by the Abbey of St Albans until the Dissolution of the Monasteries and was then granted by the Crown in 1547 to Sir Thomas Pope, founder of Trinity College, Oxford. Pope died without issue in 1559 and left the estate to his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Walter Blount of Blounts Hall, Staffordshire. On her death it passed to her nephew Sir Thomas Pope Blount, who was High Sheriff of Hertfordshire in 1598. Blounts nephew, Sir Henry Blount, High Sheriff in 1661, demolished Popes manor house and built the present mansion on the site in 1654/5. The house which was altered and extended in the 18th century presents an impressive entrance front of three storeys with attics and nine bays. The central five bays topped by a belfry, are flanked by projecting two bayed wings The adjacent stable block, also of 17th-century origin, now converted to residential use, is a Grade II listed building. Sir Henrys son Thomas Pope Blount was created the first of the Blount baronets in 1680. On the death of the third Baronet in 1757 the estate passed to his niece and heiress Catherine Freeman, whose daughter married Charles Yorke, second son of the first Earl of Hardwicke and whose grandson Philip become the third Earl. The family retained ownership until 1973 when the house was converted for use as commercial offices.

Verulam House

Verulam House is located in Verulam Road, St Albans AL3 4DH on the northwestern side between Church Crescent and Britton Avenue opposite College Streetgrid reference TL1454007480. It has previously been referred to as Diocesan House and also known as the Bishops Palace. It is of early nineteenth-century origin and is a Grade II Listed Building Originally built as a coaching inn known as ‘The Verulam Arms’ which opened in 1826 at the same time as Verulam Road which was then a new section of a super highway built by Thomas Telford from London to the port of Holyhead. The new road bypassed a section of the town and the narrow main road northwest out of St Albans at the time: George Street, Romeland and Fishpool Street. This new inn was reported at the time to be one of the most commodious in Hertfordshire. In 1848, after the expansion of the railways and the subsequent decline in the stage/mail coach and carriage traffic for which St Albans depended upon for much of its prosperity, the inn was sold and its associated stables were demolished. The former stable area provided land for the building of an adjacent Roman Catholic church under the patronage of the local MP of that time, Alexander Raphael. Mr Raphael died intestate shortly after commencement of construction of the church and the site was purchased by Mrs Isabella Worley, who had the church completed according to its original design in 1856 and donated it to the Church of England. This church was known as Christ Church and, although it has been converted to offices since the early 1970s, its Lombardic style tower can still be seen on Verulam Road just to the north west of the house. The house then became a private residence and was occupied in the mid nineteenth century by the Palin family who are believed to have been related to the Vyses, operators of a straw hat factory in the Hatfield district of St Albans. This is correct, John Palin married Anne Vyse in 1796. Between 1913 and 1926 the house was the official residence of the Anglican Bishop of St Albans and was sometimes referred to as the Bishops Palace. From 1926 till 1939 and again from 1946 till 1994 it was used as a Diocesan Retreat and Conference Centre by the Church of England Diocese of St Albans. Throughout the Second World War it was known as Diocesan House. It became a maternity hospital and a facility for training pupil midwives by the General Lying-In Hospital which had been evacuated from York Road, Lambeth,, in central London. During the period between September 1939 and June 1946 two thousand babies were born here. The General Lying-In Hospital was re-established at its former Lambeth premises in 1946 after the end of the war. In 1994, Verulam House was sold by the Diocese of St Albans and a trust fund set up with the proceeds. Since 1996 the House has been the site of the Verulam House Nursing and Residential Home. Verulam House Nursing and Residential Home is owned by Mr Peter Jackson and Dr Damian Tominey and trade as Verulam Healthcare Ltd. www.verulamhouse.co.uk Verulam House has been extensively extended and refurbished and can accommodate 50 residents for both nursing residential care. The chapel with all its fine features, is still used today for many activities and dining.
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