St Albans Cathedral

The death of Alban, a Romano-British citizen, in around AD 300 inspired the construction of a church at the site of his martyrdom. The Saxon monastery founded on this site was rebuilt by the Normans to give the huge Romanesque abbey church we see today. With the shrine of St Alban at its heart, it became a flourishing pilgrimage centre and the premier abbey in England. Its wall paintings are some of the finest in any English church. Nevertheless, in 1539 the abbey was dissolved by Henry VIII. Victorian restoration reversed many years of decline and it gained cathedral status in 1877. This beautifully illustrated souvenir guide introduces the visitor to the inspiring story of St Alban and the richly impressive building that continues to celebrate him today.