City of St.Albans Tour Guides - Discover St.Albans - Guided Walks 2011
ST ALBANS SPECIAL EVENTS & OUT OF TOWN WALKS
Beating the Bounds
The ancient ceremony of Beating the Bounds will be re-enacted on Sunday May 8th starting from Kingsbury Mill in St. Michaels at 2.00pm. Led by the Mayor and Officers of the district Council, the procession follows the 1327 town boundary - a distance of just over four miles that will take about two and a half hours to complete (including "bumping" various dignitaries on the way).
Redbourn
Redbourn East on Sunday 10th April at 2.30pm and Thursday 4th August at 11am centres on the High Street, once part of the Roman Road we call Watling Street, where the buildings all have a fascinating history. Redbourn West features the buildings round the Common, St. Mary's Church and the Almshouses, and the former railway known as the "Nicky Line" and is on Thursday 7th July at 11am and Sunday 16th October at 2.30pm. Both walks start from the car park on the Common (by the Cricket Pavilion).
Harpenden
On Sunday 15th May and Sunday 7th August at 2.30pm the focus is on the historic original village centre and on Thursday 21st July and Thursday 25th August at 11am covers the fascinating features and buildings of the West Common end of the town. Both walks start outside Park Hall in Leyton Road.
Haunted Harpenden
Another atmospheric walk in search of spectres, spooks and suchlike supernatural beings! Come and be scared! Meet at the War Memorial on the Green. Halloween night on Saturday October 31st MUST be prebooked - tickets available from 1st September from the Town Hall Harpenden. For December 13th no advance booking is required.
Wheathampstead
This is a traditional site of the Catuvellauni, the local Iron Age tribe; it later became part of the monastic Estate of Westminster. Join us and learn more of this ancient and fascinating place. A visit to St. Helen’s Church is planned. Meet at 3pm in the public car park at the rear of The Bull. The walks take place on Sunday 12th June and Sunday September 25th, both starting at 3.00pm.
Illustrated Talks
We can offer an excellent range of talks, daytime or evening, to groups of any size. Initially, please contact the Tourist Information Office.
Power, Pomp & Justice
The classically designed 19th century town hall includes the perfectly preserved court room and the cells beneath and was the hub of civic life of St Albans until well into the 20th century. Come inside for a guided tour and see where it all happened. Please note access to the cells is via a narrow stairway. There is a lift to the first floor. For dates of tours please check our website or contact St Albans Tourist Information Centre.
ST ALBANS CITY WALKS
City Walks start outside the Old Town Hall in Market Place and take from an hour to an hour and a half. Tickets should preferably be obtained in advance from the Tourist Information Centre inside the Old Town Hall, but may also be purchased from the Guide on duty. No specific advanced booking is required for individual walks EXCEPT the Halloween Ghost Walks which are by prebooked ticket only. Otherwise, tickets purchased can apply to any walk.
Historic St Albans
Covering 1200 years in about 90 minutes, this excellent walk gives an overview of the most important people, buildings and events in St.Albans from the Monastic to the modern.
A Pint, A Prayer & A Primer
For centuries St Albans was a centre for brewing and - after the Reformation - religious dissent. As a result St Albans had a truly remarkable number of pubs - and quite a few chapels too. This walk explores a corner of St Albans which deserves to be better known, with a pretty set of almshouses, the earliest chapel in St Albans and some of those many pubs!
The Wars of the Roses
Although two battles were fought in St.Albans in this dynastic struggle between the houses of Lancaster and York, this walk concentrates on the first one,which took place in and around the market place. Hear about the reasons why, the personalities involved and the outcome. There's even a Shakespearean connection! Come and join the battle - no armour needed!
An Amble in the Shambles
This delightful walk round the ancient market place and its alleyways is suitable for absolutely everyone as it is in a small level area that is packed with history and interest. What more can we say - it's a little gem!
From Fishpool Street to St. Michael’s
A one thousand year old route that follows George Street, Romeland and Fishpool Street to picturesque St. Michael’s Village, with its elegant houses, Saxon Church and the superb Verulamium Roman Museum. It is quite a challenge to guess the ages of the houses in fascinating Fishpool Street – join the guide and see for yourselves!
Monks, Mysteries & Mischief
Monks were an incredibly diversified and talented band of brothers - theirs was a powerful, self sufficient community on whom many others depended but occasionally human failings and weakness would creep in. To find out more, join us on a visit to their world.
Crime & Punishment
Local crimes ranged from murder in the Cathedral to theft worth two pence, and the punishments were often disproportionately harsh. This walk will take in the 1831 Courtroom, the two buildings that were prisons in times past and point out the site of such niceties as the stocks and the pillory. Not to be missed for the stout-hearted!
The Street War Memorials
The ten street war memorials within the Abbey Parish are unique in the U.K. and are the focus of a profoundly moving walk. Hear the stories behind a few of the 110 names of those who died, from the poor to the priviledged, but all from one small area. This walk is always on the nearest Sunday to November 11th as well as on the 11th itself. Ticket sales will be donated to The Royal British Legion.
Ghostly Goings-On
An extremely popular and atmospheric walk that introduces some of the ghosts of St.Albans and relates their sad stories. We can’t guarantee whom you might see – only where you might find them, for they do exist! This walk is not suitable for very young children.
Victorian St.Albans
A walk that takes us from the medieval to the age of steam, the railway, factories and even the pioneering days of cinema (hear about the first ever film advertisement!). This was the age of massive expansion for the town, including a new prison, whose front entrance will be recognisable to all fans of “Porridge”.
Aristocrats, Paupers and Philanthropists
This enjoyable stroll round the St.Peter's area features the great and the (sometimes!) good of St.Albans and the various buildings and charitable institutions they generously gave to the city. Their stories are all quite fascinating - but then some WERE among the most powerful people in the Kingdom!
Tudor St Albans
This delightful walk brings Tudor St Albans and its people into vivid focus, and you may be surprised at how many 16th century buildings have survived - though some are in disguise!
GUIDED WALKS IN ROMAN VERULAMIUM
Verulamium Discovery Talks
We give short illustrated talks on various aspects of life in Verulamium, some Saturdays and Sundays - January to November in Verulamium Museum. Verulamium has a superb collection of mosaics and on the last full weekend of each month January to November we give our popular gallery talks on the Mosaics and Wall paintings of Verulamium. All talks start at 3pm. For full details of our programme check our website or that of Verulamium Museum. Or contact Verulamium Museum on 01727 751810.
Talks are free, but there is an entrance charge to the Museum for visitors from outside the St Albans District Council area.
The Roman Theatre
We offer guided tours of one of the finest and most complete examples of a Roman theatre in Britain. The tour also includes the remains of a 3rd century townhouse with an underground shrine and a parade of shops facing onto Watling Street.
Tours take place on Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday afternoons between 2.30pm and 4pm, from April to October.
An entrance fee is payable at the Roman Theatre - but the guided tours are FREE!
Arrangements for Private Groups
Our group booking service operates throughout the year. You can choose any of our walks or a combination, or separate talks/slide presentations. A group can be any size and we allocate guides on the basis of one per twenty visitors. Our fees vary with the number of guides and there are discounts for students and school parties. We can also supply guides for coach tours.
For further information & party bookings, contact: Tourist Information Centre, The Old Town Hall, Market Place, St.Albans, Herts AL3 5DS Tel: 01727 864511 e-mail: tic@stalbans.gov.uk
City of St Albans Tour Guides
The City of St Albans Tour Guides were founded in 1964. A training programme is undertaken by guides, covering both historical knowledge and practical guiding techniques. Many St Albans guides have trained to the National Blue Badge standard. In exceptional circumstances our programme may be subject to change. Please check with the Tourist Information Centre: 01727 864511
Date of last review: 05 May 2011