IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
The Green, St. Annes Road, ST. ALBANS, AL2 1NT

Having photographed Image it would be unfair not to submit an image of its very close neighbour, located about 200 metres away down the High Street, but in a different grid square. Although not marked as such on the old Ordnance Survey mapping the pub has existed since at least 1881 when the Census enumerator recorded the following occupants: Robert FROST, Head of the household, married, age 56, born Necton, Norfolk, occupation Farm Foreman (Bailiff) Mary A. FROST, wife, aged 56, born Necton, Norfolk Christina FROST, daughter, unmarried, aged 26, born Necton, Norfolk, occupation Dressmaker Walter FROST, son, unmarried, aged 18, born St Albans, Hertfordshire, occupation Agricultural Labourer Agnes FROST, granddaughter, aged 7, born London Colney, Hertfordshire Charles BENNETT, boarder, widower, aged 57, born Shenley, Hertfordshire, occupation Agricultural Labourer It is interesting to see that the head of the household did not give his primary occupation as the publican. However the old maps show that Sheephouse Farm was just over the road from the pub (where the 1960s flats with the pale orange brickwork are), so maybe Robert Frost was the foreman at that farm. Update August 2011 A correspondent has written to say that the pub closed in late 2009, and by August 2011 the outbuildings beyond the pub had been demolished and new houses were being built. The pub itself is due to be converted into a house. (Pictures of this redevelopment are at Image, Image and Image)

One of London Colney's public houses along its High Street, the etched glass windows and the grey tablet on the side at first floor level bear witness to the pub's previous owners, Trumans. The 1881 Census recorded the following occupants: Charles OAKLEY, Head of the Household, married, aged 60, born London Colney, Hertfordshire, occupation Gardener & Publican Eliza OAKLEY, wife, aged 37, born Wendron, Cornwall Sarah OAKLEY, daughter, unmarried, aged 25, born London Colney, Hertfordshire, General Servant William OAKLEY, son, aged 1, born London Colney, Hertfordshire Anne OAKLEY, granddaughter, aged 6 months, born London Colney, Hertfordshire Update August 2011 A correspondent has written to say that the pub licence was first recorded in 1756 (please see Ted Banfield's book "Remember London Colney", 1985, ISBN 0 86023 254 9) and that the building is Grade II Listed. Information from the English Heritage listing says that the building dates from the late 17th Century but was altered in both the early and late 19th Century. It is the latter alterations which produced the distinctive front with the ground floor bay windows. Part of the building retains a timber frame. The building to the left of the pub is a hall added around 1900.

Located on the south-west side of the High Street, in the middle between Image and Image, is London Colney's War Memorial.

The closed White Lion Pub seen on the 25th September 2011, several months after works commenced. Two houses now stand where once the pub's outbuildings and garden were in St Annes Road to the right of the picture. The pub remains untouched, even to the signs still being present, as a second version of its conversion has been proposed; the white 20th Century addition nearest the camera would be demolished and an older and much larger building would be 'Recreated'. It will be interesting to see what the local planners have to say. The pub was photographed while still open - see Image taken from a slightly different angle.