So I took a day off last week to take my grandparent-in-laws round St Albans. Figured I'd share the pics, and some history.
St Albans is one of the oldest towns in Britain. @StAlbansAbbey is the oldest continuous site of Christian worship in England.
St Albans is one of the oldest towns in Britain. @StAlbansAbbey is the oldest continuous site of Christian worship in England.
Quick recap of who St Alban was. He was (supposedly) a resident of Verulamium - the Roman town. He sheltered a Christian, 'Amphibalus' & was hauled in front of a magistrate, who ordered his execution.
They took him up the hill outside the town & lopped off his head.
They took him up the hill outside the town & lopped off his head.
According to the legend, the first bloke supposed to lop off Alban's head refused, and the second had his eyes fall out at the moment Alban's head went flying.
Alban became Britain's first saint. His bones were supposedly recovered by Offa of Mercia & an abbey established.
Alban became Britain's first saint. His bones were supposedly recovered by Offa of Mercia & an abbey established.
By the high middle ages, @StAlbansAbbey had grown into one of the great pilgrimage sites in Britain.
The monks of the abbey painted the interior, making each pillar with a crucifixion scene as a makeshift altar, such was the volume of pilgrims.
The monks of the abbey painted the interior, making each pillar with a crucifixion scene as a makeshift altar, such was the volume of pilgrims.
All these pilgrims made @StAlbansAbbey a vibrant, bustling place - it almost seems deserted today, if you know the history of the place.
It is, however, still a very, very active place of worship and pilgrimage for people from all over the world.
It is, however, still a very, very active place of worship and pilgrimage for people from all over the world.
The shrine where the bones of Saint Alban rest is still a place of calm and veneration. If you look, you can still find remnants of the medieval wallpaintings and decoration.
Amphibalus, the Christian that Alban sheltered, lies just outside. Could do with a bit of attention.
Amphibalus, the Christian that Alban sheltered, lies just outside. Could do with a bit of attention.
After the Abbey, we walked around the ruins of Verulamium, then had a drink at 'Ye Olde Fighting Cocks', an old pigeon-house that became a pub in the 16th century.
They claim to be the oldest pub in Britain - that honour actually goes to 'The Trip To Jerusalem' in Nottingham.
They claim to be the oldest pub in Britain - that honour actually goes to 'The Trip To Jerusalem' in Nottingham.
So that was my day. I hope you enjoyed it.
I should get back to these little pictorial travelogues, people used to love it.
Heritage sites, if you want me to come, lurk and take pictures for Twitter, get in touch! FIN.
I should get back to these little pictorial travelogues, people used to love it.
Heritage sites, if you want me to come, lurk and take pictures for Twitter, get in touch! FIN.
