IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Sanders Close, ST. ALBANS, AL2 1NZ

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.

Rear view of the Golden Lion public house just before demolition of more recent additions to the pub and function room.

Regretably since Image was taken in July this year, the pub was suddenly boarded up on Friday 15th November, 2013. It is one of some 30 listed buildings in London Colney; I hope it doesn't get knocked down! The closure also loses the community a nice hall facility (the building on the left). Further information at Image taken in 2008. March 12th 2014: Shutters removed from doors and windows and work apparently in progress inside! The pub reopened later in 2014. But I regret to say that it was suddenly closed again in January 2018. In late November 2018 planning permission was applied for to convert the pub into accommodation, the Function Room into two houses and to build flats on the garden area.

The pub and garden are being redeveloped. Planning permission was granted last year for the Function hall on the left to be made into 2 dwellings and for 7 other dwellings on the site. But the pub is to be restored as a pub! See Image for a view of the pub after it was first closed in 2014. The fencing around the site is being erected in this photo.

View from High Street at about 18:00 on 11th September - only part of the ground floor still stands and can be seen just to the right of the left-hand tree.

Close-up from Meadow Close of the rear of the last standing remains of the police station at 18:00 on the 11th of September.

Close-up of the new sign mentioned in Image

The rear of the former police station at London Colney, about to be demolished for house building on the site - viewed from Meadow Close.