St Albans grew up beside Verlamion, an Iron Age centre of the Catuvellauni, which became Verulamium, the second-largest town in Roman Britain. In the Middle Ages its abbey produced the St Albans Psalter, and the chronicler Matthew Paris was a monk there. Henry VIII closed the abbey in 1539, and in 1877 St Albans became a city and the Abbey church a cathedral. Arthur Melbourne-Cooper made pioneering films here in the 1900s.
Oldest first
Newest first
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Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages
Before AD 43
About 20 BC
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Verlamion
From about 20 BC Verlamion (or Verlamio), near the site of today's city, was the centre of Tasciovanus' power and a major centre of the Catuvellauni. It stayed so until shortly after the Roman invasion of AD 43.
From the records: “Verlamion, or Verlamio, near the site of the present city, the centre of Tasciovanus' power and a major centre of the Catuvellauni from about 20 BC until shortly after the Roman invasion of AD 43.”
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Romans
AD 43 – 410
About AD 50
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Roman Verulamium
The Roman city of Verulamium developed from the Iron Age settlement. It was the second-largest town in Roman Britain, after Londinium. Around AD 50 it was made a municipium, so its citizens had 'Latin Rights'.
From the records: “The Roman city of Verulamium, the second-largest town in Roman Britain after Londinium, developed from the Iron Age settlement and was granted the rank of municipium around AD 50, meaning that its citizens had what were known as "Latin Rights", a lesser citizenship status than a colonia possessed.”
AD 62
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A wax tablet
A Latin inscription on a wax tablet dated to AD 62 mentions Verulamium. The tablet was found in London during the Bloomberg digs of 2010–14.
From the records: “Verulamium is mentioned in a Latin inscription on a wax tablet, dated to AD 62, discovered in London during the Bloomberg excavations, 2010–14:”
Early 200s
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Ditch and wall
By the early 3rd century Verulamium covered about 125 acres, behind a deep ditch and wall.
From the records: “The rebuilt town grew steadily; by the early 3rd century, it covered an area of about 125 acres (0.51 km2), behind a deep ditch and wall.”
3rd or 4th century
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Alban
Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People tells the story of Alban, who lived in Verulamium in the 3rd or 4th century, when Christians were suffering persecution. From the mid-4th century (possibly earlier), a memorial holding Alban's remains stood over the place where he was executed.
From the records: “The most elaborate version of his story, in Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People, relates that he lived in Verulamium, sometime during the 3rd or 4th century, when Christians were suffering persecution.”
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Anglo-Saxons and Vikings
410 – 1066
1005
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Roman stones for the Abbey
In 1005 there was a plan to rebuild the Abbey, and Abbot Ealdred was given permission to take building material from Verulamium.
From the records: “There was an intention to rebuild the Abbey in 1005 when Abbot Ealdred was licensed to remove building material from Verulamium.”
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Middle Ages
1066 – 1485
1077
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The Norman abbey
Much of the Abbey's layout and proportions today come from its first Norman abbot, Paul of Caen (1077–1093). The abbey was finished in 1089, but it was not consecrated until 28 December 1115, by the Archbishop of Rouen.
From the records: “Much of the current layout and proportions of the structure date from the first Norman abbot, Paul of Caen (1077–1093).”
About 1130
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The St Albans Psalter
The St Albans Psalter (about 1130–1145) is the best known of several important illuminated manuscripts made in the Abbey's scriptorium.
From the records: “The St Albans Psalter (c. 1130–1145) is the best known of a number of important Romanesque illuminated manuscripts produced in the Abbey scriptorium.”
1140
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Sopwell Priory
A nunnery, Sopwell Priory, was founded near the Abbey in 1140.
From the records: “A nunnery (Sopwell Priory) was founded nearby in 1140.”
1190s
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A longer abbey
In the 1190s Abbot John de Cella began extending the Abbey church westwards, adding three bays to the nave, as the number of monks grew from fifty to over a hundred. The work was very slow and was not finished until the time of Abbot William de Trumpington (1214–1235).
From the records: “The Abbey was extended in the 1190s by Abbot John de Cella (also known as John of Wallingford) (1195–1214); as the number of monks grew from fifty to over a hundred, the Abbey church was extended westwards with three bays added to the nave.”
1217
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Matthew Paris
Matthew Paris was a monk at St Albans from 1217 until his death in 1259. He was important both as a chronicler and as an artist.
From the records: “Later, Matthew Paris, a monk at St Albans from 1217 until his death in 1259, was important both as a chronicler and an artist.”
1250
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An earthquake
An earthquake shook the Abbey in 1250 and damaged the eastern end of the church. In 1257 the dangerously cracked parts were knocked down. The rebuilding was finished under Abbot Roger de Norton (1263–90).
From the records: “An earthquake shook the Abbey in 1250 and damaged the eastern end of the church.”
1327
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An astronomical clock
Richard of Wallingford, abbot from 1327 to 1336, was a mathematician and astronomer. He designed a celebrated astronomical clock, which William of Walsham finished after his death. It was apparently destroyed during the Reformation.
From the records: “Richard of Wallingford, abbot from 1327 to 1336 and a mathematician and astronomer, designed a celebrated astronomical clock, which was completed by William of Walsham after his death, but apparently destroyed during the Reformation.”
1403–1412
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The clock tower
Between 1403 and 1412 Thomas Wolvey was hired to build a clock tower in the Market Place.
From the records: “Between 1403 and 1412 Thomas Wolvey was engaged to build a clock tower in the Market Place.”
1455 and 1461
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Battles of St Albans
The First Battle of St Albans was fought in the town on 22 May 1455. The Second Battle of St Albans was fought just to the north on 17 February 1461.
From the records: “The First Battle of St Albans was fought on 22 May 1455 within the town, and the Second Battle of St Albans was fought on 17 February 1461, just to the north.”
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Tudors and Stuarts
1485 – 1714
1498
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Robert Fayrfax
The English Renaissance composer Robert Fayrfax is recorded as organist at St Albans from 1498 to 1502. He was buried there after he died some 20 years later.
From the records: “Robert Fayrfax, the prominent English Renaissance composer, is recorded as being organist from 1498 to 1502, and was buried there following his death some 20 years later.”
1539
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The Abbey is closed
In 1539, as part of the dissolution of the monasteries, Henry VIII closed the Abbey and took over the town. The rights the Abbey had held passed to the Crown, and the town stayed Crown property for the next fourteen years.
From the records: “As part of the dissolution of the monasteries, Henry VIII closed the Abbey in 1539 and took possession of the town, it remained crown property for the next fourteen years.”
1549
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Selling the stone
Richard Lee bought the Abbey buildings, except the church, the chapel and some other Crown premises. In 1549 he began demolishing them and selling the stone.
From the records: “Richard Lee purchased all the buildings, except the church and chapel and some other Crown premises, in 1538, 1539, or 1540.”
1553
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A borough with a mayor
In 1553 Edward VI sold the abbey, the running of the town and the market to a group of local merchants and landowners. On 12 May 1553 he granted St Albans a charter, making it a borough with a mayor.
From the records: “In 1553, Henry's son Edward VI sold the abbey, the governance of the town, and the market (by letters patent) to a group of local merchants and landowners.”
1699
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More bells
In the 17th century the Abbey had a ring of 5 bells. In 1699 they were recast and made into 6, and in 1731 two new bells were added to make 8.
From the records: “In the 17th century the cathedral housed a ring of 5 bells, until they were recast and augmented to 6 in 1699.”
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Georgians
1714 – 1837
1754
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New roads
From the 18th century the medieval pattern of roads was changed. London Road was built in 1754, Hatfield Road in 1824 and Verulam Road in 1833.
From the records: “The medieval road pattern was amended from the 18th century onwards.”
1765
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The Ver bridge
The bridge over the River Ver in St Michael's Street, next to Kingsbury Watermill, dates from 1765. It is believed to be the oldest bridge still standing in Hertfordshire.
From the records: “The bridge over the River Ver in St Michael's Street, adjacent to Kingsbury Watermill and not far from St Michael's Church, dates from 1765 and is believed to be the oldest extant bridge in Hertfordshire.”
1829
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The Town Hall
St Albans Town Hall was built between 1829 and 1831. The council met there until the 1960s, when it moved to the City Hall.
From the records: “St Albans Town Hall was built between 1829 and 1831 and served as the council's meeting place until the 1960s, when the council moved to new premises at the City Hall and adjoining buildings.”
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Victorians
1837 – 1901
1857
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The Corn Exchange
In 1857 the old market hall, which dated from around 1596, was replaced by the Corn Exchange.
From the records: “The old market hall, which dated from around 1596, was replaced by the Corn Exchange in 1857.”
1858
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The railway arrives
The railway arrived in 1858. The London and North Western Railway opened St Albans Abbey station on 5 May 1858. Two more stations followed: St Albans (London Road) in 1865 and the Midland Railway's station, now St Albans City, in 1868. The London Road line closed to passengers in 1951.
From the records: “The railway arrived in 1858.”
1869
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A growing town
In 1869 the Earl of Verulam and many of the townsfolk opposed extending the city boundaries. But at the end of the century there was rapid expansion and much building, and between 1891 and 1901 the population grew by 37%.
From the records: “In 1869 the extension of the city boundaries was opposed by the Earl of Verulam and many of the townsfolk, but there was rapid expansion and much building at the end of the century, and between 1891 and 1901 the population grew by 37%.”
1874
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A film pioneer is born
The pioneering filmmaker Arthur Melbourne-Cooper was born at 99 London Road, St Albans, in 1874. He became a noted figure in the history of film.
From the records: “The pioneering filmmaker Arthur Melbourne-Cooper was born in St Albans in 1874 at 99 London Road.”
1877
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A city and a cathedral
In 1877, after a public petition, Queen Victoria granted a royal charter that made St Albans a city and the Abbey church a cathedral. City status came on 28 August 1877.
From the records: “In 1877, in response to a public petition, Queen Victoria issued the second royal charter, which granted city status to the borough and Cathedral status to the former Abbey Church.”
1880
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Restoring the cathedral
The Abbey church had fallen into disrepair, and some thought it should be left to become a ruin. Edmund Beckett, later Lord Grimthorpe, put up £130,000 of his own money for a restoration (1880–1883) in Neo-Gothic style. It angered the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.
From the records: “The Abbey Church of St Alban had fallen into disrepair, despite work done on it under Sir George Gilbert Scott in 1860–1877, and some thought it ought to be allowed to decline into romantic ruin, but in the latter year, under the chairmanship of the Earl of Verulam, a restoration committee was formed, of which Edmund Beckett (later Lord Grimthorpe) became the dominant member.”
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The World Wars
1901 – 1945
1908
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The Alpha Picture House
By 1908 Arthur Melbourne-Cooper had set up the Alpha Production Works, and he made the animated fantasy Dreams of Toyland (1908) in St Albans. On 27 July 1908 he opened the Alpha Picture House on London Road, Hertfordshire's first permanent cinema.
From the records: “By 1908, he had set up a production base, the Alpha Production Works in Bedford Park Road, later moving to larger premises at Alma Road.”
1916
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Airship brought down
In September 1916, during World War I, after an attack on St Albans, the German airship SL 11 became the first airship to be brought down over England.
From the records: “During World War I in September 1916, following an attack on St Albans, the German Airship SL 11 became the first airship to be brought down over England.”
1931
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A new cinema
In 1931 the Alpha Picture House was replaced by a new Art Deco building. The cinema ran until 1995, and in 2014 the building was restored and re-opened as the Odyssey Cinema.
From the records: “It was replaced by a new Art Deco building in 1931, and the cinema continued in operation until 1995.”
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Modern times
Since 1945
1974
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City and District
On 1 April 1974 the borough was abolished and St Albans became part of the new, larger St Albans City and District. City status was given to the whole district on 9 July 1974.
From the records: “The borough was abolished on 1 April 1974 and St Albans became part of the new, larger St Albans City and District.”
1978
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Digging near the cathedral
A dig in 1978, led by Martin Biddle, found no Roman remains on the site of the medieval chapter house. From 1978 to 1995 digs uncovered a Roman cemetery, with wooden coffins and bits of pottery, glass and coins from the 3rd to the 9th century. A basilica has since been found near the cathedral.
From the records: “An archaeological excavation in 1978, directed by Martin Biddle, failed to find Roman remains on the site of the chapter house of the medieval abbey, but recent investigation has uncovered a basilica near the cathedral, supporting the contention that it is "the oldest continuous site of Christian worship in Great Britain".”
1989
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The rose window
New stained glass by Alan Younger for the north transept rose window was unveiled in 1989 by Diana, Princess of Wales. In the late 20th century Alban's shrine was also restored, with a new embroidered canopy.
From the records: “Other late 20th-century works include the restoration of Alban's shrine, with a new embroidered canopy, and the stained glass designed by Alan Younger for Grimthorpe's north transept rose window, unveiled in 1989 by Diana, Princess of Wales.”
2010
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New bells
In 2010 the Whitechapel Bell Foundry cast 13 new bells for the cathedral: a main ring of 12 and a sharp 2nd. They were rung for the first time at Easter 2011.
From the records: “The main ring of 12 bells (with a sharp 2nd) was cast in 2010 by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry.”
2015
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Seven statues
In 2015 seven new painted stone statues by Rory Young were placed in the medieval niches of the nave screen.
From the records: “In 2015 seven new painted stone statues by Rory Young were installed in the medieval niches in the nave screen.”
2019–2021
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St Amphibalus' shrine
The shrine of St Amphibalus was restored between 2019 and 2021, paid for by a grant and more than a thousand donors. The work was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and a new figure wearing a face mask was added to remember this.
From the records: “The shrine of St Amphibalus was restored between 2019 and 2021, funded by a grant and the contribution of over a thousand donors.”
2022
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Wonka in the park
In early 2022 Verulamium Park was a filming location for Wonka, starring Timothée Chalamet.
From the records: “In early 2022 Verulamium Park was used as a filming location for Wonka starring Timothée Chalamet.”