IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Sopwell Lane, ST. ALBANS, AL1 1RS

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

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.

Former Common Lodging House, C16 long, timber framed building under high pitched, tiled roof. Grade II* listed.

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.

It looks very blanc on the outside.

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).

A distinctive building: another contributor has researched its history as a "seed hall" in detail -see Image Listed grade 2 (list entry number 1103013).