St. Albans

St. Albans is a cathedral city located on the river Ver, 25 miles (40km) north of London in Hertfordshire, England.
It became a Roman Municipium in 50 CE called Verulamium, the capital of the Catuvellauni Tribe. The Ruins of the Roman town are visible in Verulamium Park, next to the cathedral.

The Catuvellauni became one of the early Roman Client Kingdoms in Britannia under King Tasciovanus, then under his son King Cunobelin, whom Suetonius referred to as the ‘King of the Britons’.
After the Roman Conquest of Britannia in 43 CE, St. Albans became a town of great importance.
It was sacked during Boudicca's Revolt in 60 CE, but was rebuilt.
St. Albans was the first stop on Watling Street, the main Roman Road between London and the Legionary Fortresses of Caerleon and Chester.
There was also a direct road to Cirencester called Akeman Street.
The river Ver is a tributary of the river Colne, itself a tributary of the river Thames. It is thought that the Ver was navigable as far as Verulamium and that Roman barges could have reached the Thames.

St. Alban was the first Christian to be martyred in Britain.
He lived in the 3rd-4th centuries CE, and is thought to have been martyred between 209-313 CE, probably during the Diocletianic Persecution (303-313 CE).
His martyrdom is referred to in a medieval text known as the ‘Passio Albani’ which also describes the visit to his tomb and place of execution by St. Germain (c.380-448 CE), Bishop of Auxerre.
His martyrdom is also mentioned by Gildas and Bede.
The Cathedral of St. Albans now stands on the site of the former Benedictine Abbey, thought to have been the site of a shrine to St. Albans.

The Ruins of the Roman city and Walls can be viewed in Verulamium Park, adjacent to the Cathedral.
- Roman City Walls
- Roman Theatre
- Roman Hypocaust

Verulamium Museum
- The museum is located on the site of the Roman city and holds a collection of Roman mosaics, pottery, tools, jewelery and coins.

Roman Theatre, St. Albans