Historic Book

Extract from

“History of Verulam and St. Albans: containing an historical account of the decline of Verulam and origin of St. Alban’s and of the present state of the town … With engravings”

by S.G. Shaw.

Published 1815

Page 36

Newcombe’s St. Alban’s , Vol . I. p . 58 , from Matt . Paris .
In the time of Ralph , Geoffrey’s successor , the Shrine was
stripped of its decorations , in order to provide a sufficient sum
for the purchase of the vill of Brentfield . The succeeding
Abbots , Robert de Gorham , and Symond , embellished it
anew ; and the latter caused it to be somewhat more elevated ,
that its splendor might have the greater effect . As the work
manship of this Shrine throws some light on the state of
the arts in the reign of Henry the Second , we shall here
describe it from Matthew Paris , who declares it to have
been more splendid and noble than any other he had ever be
held . In form it resembed an altar – tomb , having a crest , or
lofty canopy over it , supported on pillars ; these were of plate
gold , shaped like towers , and having appertures , to represent
windows : the under part of the canopy was inlaid with crystals .
Within the tomb was a coffin , containing the relics of St. Alban ,
inclosed in another case , the sides of which were embossed with
gold and silver figures , in high relief , exhibiting the principal
events in the martyr’s history . At the head of the Shrine ,
which was towards the east , was a large representation of the
Crucifixion , having the figures of Mary and St. John at the
sides , and ornamented with a row of very brilliant jewels : at
the foot , or west end of the Shrine , was an image of the Virgin ,
seated on a Throne , with the infant Jesus in her arms ; the
work apparently of cast gold , highly embossed , and enriched
with precious stones , and very costly bracelets.

Pages 158-161

The immense and constant traffic through the
town , in consequence of the great north – west
road lying through it , affords employment to se
veral most respectable posting houses and inns ,
as also many inferior public houses ; the mails
and stage coaches which run through the town ,
( supposing them to be pretty well loaded , ) have
accommodation for upwards of 600 passengers
daily ; add to which the number of travellers
which pass through by other conveyances , and
those on foot , it may reasonably be computed
that not less than 1000 persons pass through this
town every day .

Prior to the improvement of the public roads in
England , ( by which such great facility has been
rendered to the traveller and the conveyance of
goods and merchandise from the manufacturing
towns to the metropolis , ) innumerable quantities
of packhorses were constantly passing through St.
Albans , with the produce of the factories of Man
chester , Nottingham , Stafford , Coventry , & c . and
at which period the inns were more numerous than

at present ; and several large commodious build
ings , situated on the road side , ( now used for other
purposes , ) can be traced to have afforded accom
modation for the weary pack – horse and his driver .
There are here cotton and silk mills , which give
employment to upwards of 500 persons , mostly
children .

The upper part of the town is badly supplied
with water , and that at a dear rate . Most of the
families are served from the pump , near the
Clock House , which was put down for the use of
the town , at the expense of the Spencer family ,
and was many years kept in repair by them ; since
which the inhabitants , for want of a better sense
of independence , lay the burthen of this expense
upon the purses of their representatives , although
a trifling annual subscription of those who benefit
by it might constantly keep it in good repair ; till
which takes place , it may be considered an object
reflecting discreditably upon the good sense and
independent spirit of the town , for suffering it to
continue an expense to those , whom of all others
they ought to be under the least public pecuniary
obligation to . There is another public pump at
the bottom of St. Peter’s – street , called the Blue
Pump , seldom in repair , therefore of very little
service . Water was formerly , by means of water
works , conveyed from the river near the town ,

for its use ; and which might doubtless be now
effected , and prove a great acquisition to the in
habitants .
Coals are a scarce , and rather expensive.com
modity at St. Alban’s ; the chief supply comes
from the Grand Junction Canal at Boxmore ,
near Hempstead , from whence there are several
miles of land carriage ; a great quantity of Staf
fordshire pit coals are burnt here . An Act of
Parliament was passed some few years ago , to
make a cut from the Grand Junction Canal to the
town of St. Alban’s , but was never carried into
effect , which was said to be in consequence of the
Grand Junction Company being unwilling to ad
mit those , who would have advanced the money
necessary to accomplish the undertaking , to be
share – holders with them ; but would have given
interest for its use ; which naturally suggested an
idea at that time , of its likelihood of proving a
lucrative concern .

The town has within these few years received
very considerable improvements ; the principal
was forming a new road through the south – east
part of it , affording the traveller both more con
venience and safety in avoiding the steep hill and
dangerous turnings of the old London road : the
same trust have within the last year made another
most excellent improvement , by purchasing the

house at the corner of George – stseet , which
formed a most dangerous turning at the steepest
part of the hill , and by removing it , and widening
the road , have not only rendered it much safer
for travelling , but added materially to the respec
table appearance of the town in this part . In
1804 , an Act of Parliament was obtained to
enable the inhabitants to pave and light the town ;
in pursuance of which it is lighted , and a consi
derable part of it has the comfort and convenience
of paved streets . There are many respectable and
well furnished shops , which supply the town and
neighbourhood with the necessaries and conveni
encies of life ; but , London operates much to the
injury of the trading part of the town ; and , as
there are no manufactories ( except the silk and
cotton mills , ) , or other adventitious cause of in
creasing the trate , its chief dependence is upon
its own population , and that of the small town and
yillages near , perhaps better butcher’s meat is not
to be purchased in any market in the kingdom ;

bread is always half an assize under that of Lon
don , and there are two common breweries , and
also two very respectable inns , that brew excellent
home – brewed ale . , Nor are the articles of grocery ,
drapery , & c . less excellent in their kind , or to be
purchased on more moderate terms by the con
sumer any where .