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St Albans Leasing

Did You Know?

Way before St Albans was the city we know it, Verulamium was the third largest city in Roman Britain. You might not be able to appreciate the scale of what it was, but a walk through the city and Verulamium Park is a must for anyone with an interest in history.

One of the most noticeable artefacts from the Roman era is the Roman theatre just off Verulamium Park in St Albans. What you might not know is that there's a claim it’s the only theatre of its type in the UK. While there are other ancient theatres, most are amphitheatres, rather than with a raised stage.

One theory suggests the Hot Cross Bun originates from St Albans, where a 14th-century monk, Brother Thomas Rocliffe, developed the ‘Alban Bun’ to give to the local poor on Good Friday.

As well as creating stars on TV, St Albans has been in the spotlight. The Inbetweeners filmed part of an episode here! Sorry to break the illusion, but when Neil, Simon, Will and Jay went on a school trip to Swanage, they didn’t get near to the Dorset coast. Instead, Jay got slapped right on Market Place.

You may recognise St Albans’ streets and buildings from many films and TV shows. And that cinematic connection has deep roots, from the pioneers of animation at the turn of the 20th century, to the legendary director Stanley Kubrick, whose country house lies just outside the city, and in honour of whom our independent cinema, The Odyssey,

Festivals have been part of St Albans life for more than 2000 years, and that’s no different today. Several times a year, the busy city centre is closed to traffic and handed back to the residents and visitors of St Albans. We have an annual food and drink festival celebrating local producers, pubs and restaurants.

Following an attack on St Albans in September 1916, the German zeppelin SL11 became the first airship to be brought down over England during the First World War.

Michael Morpurgo, author of Kensuke’s Kingdom, Private Peaceful and War Horse, the latter of which was turned into a London Theatre production in 2007 and blockbuster film by Steven Spielberg in 2011, lives in St Albans.

It is well known that Stephen Hawking studied at St Albans School from 1952, however he also attended St Albans High School for Girls for a few months at a time when younger boys could attend one of the houses.

Pope Adrian IV (born Nicholas Breakspear), the only Englishmen to have occupied the papal throne, received his early education at the Abbey School, St Albans. He was Pope from December 4 1154 until September 1 1159.

St Albans features as Mayfair on a modern edition of the Monopoly board game produced in 2007. A 25ft model of the Scottie-Dog counter was placed outside the town hall to signify the event.

The main gate of “Slade Prison” in the sitcom Porridge was filmed at The Gate House in St Albans. This was originally built as the town jail back in the Victorian era.