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This is an awkward junction with a double mini roundabout. Best avoided if possible. {see note re St Stephens Church}
©Jack Hill
This is the entrance at the foot of Holywell Hill to what is definitely St Albans' 'other' (albeit oldest) station - a stiffish uphill walk to the city centre. Trains run from here to Watford Junction - a list of the stations served directly is on the gatepost to the right of the entrance. Until 1951 there was also an infrequent service to Hatfield.
©Stephen McKay
©Roy Hughes
Dist:0.1km<br/>
©Roy Hughes
Dist:0.1km<br/>There had been some discussion about closing the station and line, but it remains open with regular services to Watford Junction. There was no shelter on the platform and the surroundings were very bleak. The DMU seems cobbled together and my notes tell me the destination board had Bolton on it!
©nick macneill
Dist:0.1km<br/>
©David Howard
Dist:0.1km<br/>
©David Howard
Dist:0.1km<br/>There was a discussion on Radio 4's Today programme that touched on the subject of the drabness and unappealing look of some of the country's railway stations that serve tourist attractions. The tourist attraction here is obviously the Abbey and this is the eponymous station that serves it, at the end of the Abbey Flyer branch line from Watford Junction. Network Rail would argue that the minimalist facilities are essential in maintaining the economies necessary to keep the line open. Whatever, the station was the first in St Albans, being opened in 1858 by the London & North Western Railway some ten years before the Midland Railway built their separate main line to London through what is now St Albans City station. The railway line to Hatfield, which was completed in 1865, peeled off to the left about 400 metres away in the distance. Ordnance Survey maps of the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century show a large terminus station with a goods yard and sidings, including one to the nearby gasworks. Under the current timetable arrangements there is a train every 45 minutes or so to Watford Junction with a scheduled journey time of 16 minutes.
©Nigel Cox
Dist:0.2km<br/>
©Roy Hughes
Dist:0.2km<br/>Looking up Holywell Hill, with the Duke of Marlborough pub on the left. All the buildings here date from the mid 19th century, with the row of cottages beyond being named Spencer Place in late 19th century maps. Near here, to the right of the present road at a point opposite the top end of the row of cottages, once stood Holywell House, a Tudor mansion the extension of whose gardens in the late 17th century led to the diversion of the original straight route of Holywell Hill to the west, to follow the route of what is now Grove Road, the start of which can be seen in front of the pub and the end of which is beyond the cottages. From 1684, the house was owned by John Churchill, later first Duke of Marlborough, who had come into its ownership following his marriage to Sarah Jennings. The Duke died in 1722, leaving Sarah as sole owner, who then in 1744 passed it to her grandson, John Spencer, who in turn passed it to his son, another John, who later became the first Earl Spencer of Althorp (from whom Lady Diana Spencer was descended). The family stopped using the house in the early 19th century (although retaining ownership of various lands in and around St Albans, with road names such as Jennings Road, Althorp Road, Marlborough Road and Spencer Mews maintaining the connection). The house was demolished in 1837, and this enabled the corporation of St Albans to reinstate the direct route up Holywell Hill, as seen here. The name of the pub and the former name of the cottages both commemorate the former owners of the estate. Both the pub and the cottages are locally listed. In the background is can be seen the tower of St Albans Abbey.
©Ian Capper
Dist:0.2km<br/>Former waterworks building dating from 1911, situated close to where Holywell Hill crosses the River Ver. It now houses a nursery school. Locally listed.
©Ian Capper
Dist:0.3km<br/>This ancient public house claims to be the oldest inhabited licensed house in England.
©Dr Neil Clifton
Dist:0.3km<br/>Dating from the late 17th century, this road was built as a result of the extension of the gardens of Holywell House, a Tudor mansion that stood to the right of this photo, which meant that the original straight route of Holywell Hill had to be diverted, with this being the route taken. From 1684, the house was owned by John Churchill, later first Duke of Marlborough, who had come into its ownership following his marriage to Sarah Jennings. The Duke died in 1722, leaving Sarah as sole owner, who then in 1744 passed it to her grandson, John Spencer, who in turn passed it to his son, another John, who later became the first Earl Spencer of Althorp (from whom Lady Diana Spencer was descended). The family stopped using the house in the early 19th century (although retaining ownership of various lands in and around St Albans, with road names such as Jennings Road, Althorp Road, Marlborough Road and Spencer Mews maintaining the connection). The house was demolished in 1837, and this enabled the corporation of St Albans to reinstate the direct route up Holywell Hill, with what is now Grove Road becoming a side route.
©Ian Capper
Dist:0.3km<br/>Near the River Ver are the Allotments just off Cottonmill Lane.
©Martin Stewart
Dist:0.3km<br/>St Albans' answer to the Pompidou Centre in Paris?
©James Yardley

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