A Little Movement

We are being spoilt with some very pleasant weather at this stage - not too hot and not too cold. Lovely morning with the sun streaming into the Hilton!

Caught James before he left for work, then had a walk before breakfast, with our departure from Hayes after 10 o'clock. Posted a parcel to Italy before setting out to St Albans.

We keep forgetting the amount of traffic there is on the motorway during the day. Luckily we were traveling in the "right" direction because on the other side of the M25 there was a tragic jam about 10 miles long. 

St Alban's is named after the Roman citizen Alban, who was beheaded by the Romans for  not denouncing Christianity, becoming the first Christian martyr in England. And it was here, where he was killed that the great cathedral of St Alban's now stands.

The front facade of the Cathedral at St Alban.

Modern statues to replace those destroyed by the Puritan soldiers of the Civil War.

The Cathedral, originally founded as the Abbey Church of the monastery on the site, is built partially of stones taken from the old Roman town. 

A tour of the cathedral highlighted its place in the history of the British people. 

If you look closely there can be seen three distinction styles in the one nave!

We later shopped - as if we wouldn't - before driving a few miles north to the delightful village of Redbourn for our overnight stop.

Redbourn - great stopping place.

The Fleur de Lys pub where the French King was held for ransom after the Battle of Potiers in 1356.

The Clock Tower (1402-1412) to house the curfew bell!