St. Stephen’s Church stands 3/4 mile S.W. from the Clock Tower, at the junction of the roads from Edgware and Watford.  It was restored by Sir Gilbert Scott in 1861-62; but still retains some ancient features; e.g., the late Norman arch in N. wall, formerly in part separating the nave from the N. aisle (now absent), and two Norman windows, widely splayed, in W. wall.  Note (1) brass eagle-lectern, believed to have been formerly in the Abbey at Holyrood; (2) double piscina in S. aisle; (3) fifteenth century font.  The oldest brass, much worn, is in the S. chapel; it is to the memory of William Robins, Clerk of the Signet to Edward IV., (d. 1482) and Katherine his wife.

[Illustration:  LORD BACON’S MONUMENT]

St. Michael’s Church, about 3/4 mile W. from the Clock Tower, stands on gently rising ground close to the carriage road to Gorhambury.  It is believed to occupy, approximately, the centre of what was the ancient city of Verulam (q.v.) and to mark the site of a Roman temple.  It has been restored, and the tower rebuilt, by Lord Grimthorpe; the work was only completed two or three years ago.  Flint and tiles taken from the surrounding ruins by the builders still exist in the walls; but repeated restorations have almost obliterated the evidences of its antiquity.  There are brasses (1) to Thomas Wolvey, an Esquire to Richard II. (d. 1430); (2) to “John Pecok et Maud sa femme” (circa 1340-50); but the monument of paramount interest is that in the recess N. of the chancel, to Francis Bacon, Baron Verulam and Viscount St. Albans (d. 9th April, 1626).  The great philosopher and Lord Chancellor is represented as sitting in a tall chair, leaning his head upon his left hand; a Jacobean ruff is round his neck and a wide hat upon his head; the sculptor (unknown) has succeeded admirably in imparting an air of abstraction to the countenance.  Of Bacon’s house at Gorhambury, 11/2 mile farther W., little remains except some fragments of wall and tower, with projecting entrance[m] porch.  In the yet remaining spandrels of the arches are medallions of Roman Emperors; over the porch are the arms of Elizabeth.  The present mansion, a little E. from the ruins, was commenced in 1778 by James third Viscount Grimston; it has been considerably altered, but retains the grand N. portico; the pediment, supported by ten Corinthian columns, reaches to the roof.  The hall is very large, and contains portraits of Francis Bacon, George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, and other worthies.  There are numerous pictures in other apartments, including portraits of Sir Nicholas Bacon, Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Stafford, Queen Elizabeth, Robert Devereux, Catherine of Braganza and William Pitt.

[Illustration:  RUINS OF LORD BACON’S HOUSE]

There were three monastic institutions on the outskirts of the town:—­

(1) The Leper Hospital of St. Julian, founded by Geoffrey de Gorham, sixteenth Abbot of St. Albans, on a spot close to St. Stephen’s Church.  Of this no vestige remains.