SACOMBE (4 miles N.W. from Ware) lies scattered over a considerable district.  It was long ago called Suevecamp (i.e., Suaviscampus) because of its pleasant situation.  The small Dec. church stands on the hill, at the N. end of the Park; it is of ancient foundation, but was entirely restored about fifty years ago.  There are two sedilia and a piscina in the chancel, and two brasses, to John Dodyngton and Eleanor his wife (d. 1544 and 1550 respectively).  Sacombe Park is beautifully timbered; the present house of red brick dates from about 1800.

ST. ALBANS is one of the most ancient and interesting places in England; it became a city on the foundation of the Bishopric of St. Albans in 1877.  It may be approached by road from London, (1) by way of Barnet and London Colney, the G.N.R.  Station (branch from Hatfield) being passed on the left nearly a mile from the old clock tower and market-place; (2) by way of Edgware, Elstree and Radlett, by which route, after passing St. Stephens, the L.&N.W.R.  Station (branch from Watford) is on the right and the steep Holywell Hill leading to High Street is straight before.  The river Ver skirts the entire S. limits of the city itself; the field that slopes upwards from the silk mill, in a N. direction, is called the Abbey Orchard, and on the summit of the slope stands the great Abbey of St. Alban.

As the ancient Roman city—­the Verulamium of Antoninus—­stood some distance to the W., a brief account of it will be found under the heading Verulam.  The history of St. Albans itself commences with the death of Alban, the proto-martyr of Britain, who was flogged with rods and beheaded by the Romans for having sheltered the priest Amphibalus, connived at his escape, and adopted his faith (circa 285-305; the date is very uncertain).  During the fifth century the Saxons captured and destroyed Verulam and built a new town on the hill some distance E. This they named Watlingceaster (the town on Watling Street), but when (793) Offa built a monastery to the memory of Alban on Holmhurst Hill, the traditionary site of the martyrdom, the town itself became known as St. Albans.  Gildas, Bede and other old authorities agree that an earlier church stood on this spot; they state, indeed, that it was built soon after the death of St. Alban.

The plan of the city is, like the Abbey, cruciform, four old high-roads meeting together near the Clock Tower, N.W. from Dunstable, S.W. from Watford, S.E. from London, N.E. from Wheathampstead.  The latter unites with the road from Harpenden and Luton at The Cricketers, 1/4 mile N.W. from St. Peter’s Church.  The four roads, on entering the city, are respectively called Verulam Road, Holywell Hill, London Road and St. Peter’s Street; one of the oldest thoroughfares, however, is that called Fishpool Street, which runs from near the W. end of the Abbey to the flour mill on the Ver.  Quite recently several of the oldest houses in the neighbourhood were in this street; but some have now been pulled down.