St Albans has a long and fascinating history from its pre-Roman settlement as Verlamion, through the Roman municipium of Verulamium, the Benedictine monastery dedicated to Alban, the first British Christian martyr, to the charter borough and market created by Edward VI in 1553 and the city designated by royal edict in 1877. The town’s location on the ancient Watling Street linking London with the Midlands and the North West has ensured its significance in each of these periods. In this book, local author Kate Morris portrays episodes in the social life of the charter borough and market, when the town gained in popularity with City merchants and professional folk, often as their ‘second home’. Morris reveals lesser-known events and characters of the Early Modern period of the town’s history. Some of the tales and happenings revealed are not untypical of those in other English towns, but their telling in this context will appeal to all those with an interest in St Albans and its history, and the book’s period illustrations and modern photography will delight.

Kate Morris is a social historian, who has lived in St Albans for 45 years. Following a career as a linguist and librarian, she established a small business in the town offering English language and cultural induction for foreign speaking professional people. Kate also served on the St Albans District Council for 12 years and was elected Mayor in 2007. An enthusiastic and longstanding member of the St Albans and Hertfordshire Architectural and Archaeological Society, she has served as its President and was made an honorary life member in 2015. She lectures widely on the people and buildings of the town and has published several books and articles on St Albans and elsewhere.