IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Shirley Road, ST. ALBANS, AL1 5ES

Housed in the former St Albans Prison, which had been built in 1867 and served in that tole until the 1920s. For many years it was then used as a council depot, but has now beed redeveloped for offices, including the local registry office in the gatehouse. The entrance (see Image) was made famous by its use in the title sequence of the 1970s BBC comedy series "Porridge". Seen here are the walls facing Grimston Road and Shirley Road. They are locally listed.

1980s office development on the site of the former St Albans prison – see Image For information and close up of the fountain in the centre, see Image

Included in the 1980s development of Victoria Square was this drinking fountain. Designed by George Gilbert Scott, this originally had stood in front of the Clock Tower in High Street (see Image). This was where an Eleanor Cross had previously stood until 1703, when it was pulled down due to neglect and replaced by the town pump, which in turn was replaced by this fountain in 1874, donated by a wealthy widow, Mrs Isabella Worley. For photos of the fountain in its original position see http://www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/content/view/full/10120 and http://www.francisfrith.com/st-albans/photos/drinking-fountain-1921_70477x/. However, in the 1920s/30s increasing traffic meant that it was causing an obstruction, and so it was removed. Its intervening history is unclear, the bowl and fountain having reputedly been rescued by a passer by and then kept in various locations around the city. Its relocation in Victoria Square on a reproduction plinth gives the development a focal point, as seen in Image It is locally listed.

The multi-storey car park opened in 2008. Built on the site of the former St Albans engine shed, which was demolished in 1965. The part of the building to the left of the tower containing the stairs and lifts is a block of flats which form one side of this complex. Just to the left of this is the roof of a new block of flats, just completed and not yet on the maps. The long low redbrick building in the middle of the photograph is a relay room controlling signals in the St Albans City station area from the power signal box at West Hampstead. On the Down Fast line a 319 unit approaches St Albans City station. This photo was taken from the top of the stairs at the preserved St Albans South signal box. (See Image)

The square is a modern development on the site of the former council depot (originally a prison), but maintaining the original gardens and walls. The former prison gatehouse building on the right was built 1867 and is now in its third guise, as the local Registry Office, having been intermediately the offices of the local council depot. Locally listed.

St Albans at the junction of Stanhope Road and Grimston Road

Housed in the former St Albans Prison, which had been built in 1867 and served in that role until the 1920s. For many years it was then used as a council depot, but has now been redeveloped for offices, including the local registry office in the gatehouse. The entrance was made famous by its use in the title sequence of the 1970s BBC comedy series "Porridge". It is locally listed.