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Sopwell Lane, ST. ALBANS, AL1 1RR

A former chapel in Sopwell Lane dating from the late 18th/early 19th century. It was originally a Primitive Methodist Church and subsequently used by the Baptists as a Mission Room for Dagnall Street Baptist Church (see Image), and was marked as a Mission Hall on large scale maps from 1880 to 1924. It was subsequently used from 1934 to 2003 by the St Albans City Band as its rehearsal rooms. It has recently been restored as a house, named The Old Band Hall, in recognition of its former use. Locally listed.

Despite its antique appearance this is not a listed building.

A grade II listed cottage dating from the 16th century. For listing particulars see www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1103058.

The old route into St Albans from London, as a continuation of Old London Road, until the building of the current London Road by Thomas Telford in the late 18th century. All the buildings on the north side of the road are either grade II listed or locally listed, reflecting its historic importance and its preservation as a medieval route. The first two buildings in this photo are locally listed, beyond is the late 15th century/early 16th century Goat Inn which although originally a house has been a pub since at least 1587 (and once reputed to be the oldest brothel in St Albans). Given its position on the main coaching route, it served as a coaching inn, and in the late 18th/early 19th centuries it boasted the largest amount of stabling in St Albans. It is grade II listed - for listing particulars see www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1295865.

Originally a lane giving access to the rear of the inns of Holywell Hill and The Goat in Sopwell Lane (see Image), it was developed as a residential street in the mid 19th century. These houses are locally listed. On the wall of the first building on the left can be seen a World War 1 Street Memorial (see Image for close up).

St Albans' best preserved medieval Inn, situated in Sopwell Lane at its junction with Holywell Hill. Prior to the building of the current London Road by Thomas Telford in the late 18th century, Sopwell Lane and Holywell Hill were on the main coaching route into St Albans from London, as a continuation of Old London Road, and this junction turning was a key point on this route. The building here dates from the 16th century, with records showing it in 1556 being called The Crane; later names were The Chequers and The Crown and Anchor. It is now used for housing. Grade II* listed - see www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1347166 and www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1103095. See also Image

On Sopwell Lane, it is a 16th century grade II listed building.

C16 timber framed building with overhanging upper storey, much altered and extended. Grade II listed. The pub name is currently only displayed on a small notice in one of the windows.