St Albans in historic gazetteers

Gazetteer of the British Isles (Edinburgh: Bartholomew, 1887). John Bartholomew

St Albans, mun. bor., city, and market town, Herts, 10 miles SE. of Luton and 20 NW. of London by rail, 997 ac., pop. 10,931: P.O., T.O, 2 Banks, 1 newspaper. Market-day, Saturday. St Albans stands on a hill washed by the Ver rivulet, on the other side of which is the ancient Roman town of Verulamium. It owes its name to Alban, the first Christian martyr in Great Britain, in memory of whom a monastery was erected in 793 by Offa, King of Mercia. In the 12th century the Abbot of St Albans obtained precedence over all English abbots from Pope Adrian IV. (Nicholas Brakespear), who was a native of St Albans. During the Wars of the Roses 2 great battles were fought at St Albans, in the first of which (1455) the Yorkists were victorious, and in the second (1401) the Lancastrians. The diocese of St Albans was formed in 1875. The cathedral, formerly the abbey church, is a large and beautiful building. St Michael's Church contains the tomb (and a statue) of Lord Bacon. The mfr. of straw-plait is carried on, and there are silk mills and breweries. St Albans gives the title of duke to the family of Beauclerk. It was incorporated in 1554; it returned 2 members to Parliament until 1832, when it was disfranchised.

Gazetteer of the British Isles (Edinburgh: Bartholomew, 1887). John Bartholomew

Vernlam (or Verulamium), site of ancient Roman town, Herts, on river Ver, opposite St Albans; was an important place during the whole period of the Roman occupation; gave the title of baron to Lord Chancellor Bacon (1561-1626), and gives the title of earl to the family of Grimston.