St Albans - History on My Doorstep, St Albans, England

My intention had been to pop into St Albans to do some shopping in the weekly market and started with the stalls at the far end of St Peters Street. The variety of stalls was amazing from home made bread to amusing signs. I ear marked a few things I thought I might go back to buy later.

At the far end of the present day market I found the site of the original market place fronted by the old town hall. People were sitting outside the latter enjoying a coffee warmed by a winter sun.

I was tempted to join them but I decided to walk through the Market Place first. At the end of this street I discovered the Clock Tower. This medieval bell tower, built between 1403 and 1412, is a rarity in England and contains two bells one of which was used to sound the curfew as well as pending disasters and local gatherings.

A signpost directing me to the cathedral put all thoughts of shopping out of my head and I set off in that direction. This took me along George Street where I found some fifteenth century buildings now being used as shops and restaurants. The town has a large number of eating places many housed in old inns – relics of the days when St Albans was the first coaching stop between London and the Midlands. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).