St Albans

A trip to St Albans this morning. I spent quite a bit of time in the cathedral, which is a fascinating building. The 11th century tower is the oldest of any cathedral in the UK, and uniquely is constructed largely of Roman bricks and tiles plundered from the adjacent ruined city of Verulameum, the third largest town in Roman Britain. Alban was a resident of the town, decapitated in 300 AD and Britain’s first saint. The image is the cathedral viewed across Verulamium Park. Most of the Roman town lies under the park (although a great deal of it is incorporated into the cathedral’s structure).

Two extras. A Herts Open Studios event at Kingsbury Barn. The barn is a superb structure erected in 1370 on the site of a Roman Villa. And heading back to the car I came across a great independent bookshop. Going in I vowed not to buy any books as I have a pile still to read. I came out with three.