The cathedral city of St Albans is located 32 km (20 miles) north-west of London and 18 km (11 miles) south-east of Luton on the River Ver. St Albans was the first major town on Watling Street, the old Roman road. At that time, it was the Roman city called Verulamium, which was the second biggest town in Roman Britain, just behind Londinium, which would later be known as London.
The city is named in honor of Saint Alban, who was a convert to Christianity and the first martyr in the British Isles. The official spelling is “St Albans”, the abbreviation with no period, but it is frequently written as either “St. Albans” or “Saint Albans.”
The Romans occupied England from 43 BC until the early 5th century, when Rome was under attack compelling them to go home to help save their homeland. They were persecutors of the early Christians across their empire.
According to many accounts, including Foxe’s Book of Martyrs and Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English People, Alban was a pagan in the 3rd or 4th century when he encountered an elderly Christian priest who was fleeing from persecutors. Alban was moved to feed and shelter the priest in his home. Soon, Alban was impressed by the priest’s faith and asked the priest to teach him about Christianity. Alban soon converted to Christianity.
Eventually, the Roman authorities got wind of the fact that the priest was at Alban’s home and went to fetch him. The cleric was sleeping when the Romans came, and Alban had put the priest’s clerical cloak on. The Romans arrested Alban thinking he was the priest.
They took him to the governor who realized that the wrong man was standing before him. He was livid and ordered that Alban suffer the same sentence the priest would have gotten unless Alban recanted. Alban refused saying, “I worship and adore the true and living God who created all things.”
The governor ordered that he be scourged, and he was. The governor gave him yet another chance to renounce his Christian faith, but Alban stood firm. The governor then gave the order to behead Alban.
The earliest known account of the situation was written by Victricius included a narration that indicates that the soldier who was ordered to behead Alban was himself converted and refused to carry the order out, and that soldier was beheaded -- by a soldier who volunteered to do the deed -- along with Alban.
Recommended Resources
Edwardian residence with a Victorian annex, both tastefully converted, is the focus of this website. The site contains photographs and descriptions of the accommodations, access to booking weddings, gatherings, and other events, and details about the on-site restaurant.
https://www.ardmorehousehotel.co.uk/
Presents a firm which helps to buy, rent or sell property in both St. Albans and Hertfordshire. There is detailed information about the company’s property management services and its employees and what they do for the client.
https://www.collinsonhall.co.uk/
Shares information about this estate agency to include an online search function which allows the reader to peruse the company’s offerings by searching on whether it is for sale or rent, what town or city it is nearby, minimum and/or maximum pricing, and how many bedrooms are in each property. Additionally shares recommendations written by former clientele.
https://www.frosts.co.uk/
Affords a deeper look at this luxury, four-star Georgian hotel which sits on twelve acres of countryside property in St. Albans. There are details on this website about the hotel’s plate-sharing dining experience the Asian sharing plates dining in Omboo, as well as the Conservatory Bar, Brasserie, and cocktail lounge. There are also fifteen meeting spaces for events and meetings.
https://www.sopwellhouse.co.uk/
St Alban’s District Chamber of Commerce
Lays out the services and events of the local Chamber of Commerce, with sections which address the benefits of membership, a directory of members, and mutual support withing the organization. There is a separate and secure login for members.
https://www.stalbans-chamber.co.uk/
St Albans City and District Council
The official website of the local government includes info about the city, The site offers an online account for those who wish to get help from the city regarding cost of living support, planning, and building control, and Council tax payments as well as other useful information.
https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/
Addresses a county-style manor hotel situated on five acres of country gardens and including its own lake. There are photos and descriptions of the hotel’s thirty individually styled rooms. Contains sample menus for the restaurant, with sample a la carte, Sunday lunch, afternoon tea, and drink menus.
https://stmichaelsmanor.com/
St. Albans Archaeology & History
Contains history and archaeology information about St. Albans. Some of the sections are about notable events in local history, an interactive tour of Medieval St. Albans, and some pub histories, as well as the Roman City of Verulamium.
http://www.salbani.co.uk/
