IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
High Street, ST. ALBANS, AL2 1QP

A similar viewpoint on 30th July 2012 to the view Image of the pub before closure. Most of the building works are complete. See also Image for a view of the St Anne's Road side of the development.

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.

The former White Lion pub on the 30th July 2012 with new extension nearest the camera almost complete (based on a 1930s drawing of a building once forming part of the pub) as the site is redeveloped as housing. Compare with Image for a view in September 2011 at an early stage in the redevelopment of this site and with Image for a view prior to closure. Note that the developers have retained the pub sign which can be seen amidst the scaffolding! (The large extension was passed by the planners despite complaints from locals that it would make exiting from St Anne's Road alongside the pub more hazardous!)

The scaffolding and screens round the site have now been removed, as indeed has the former pub sign that was still visible in Image The new building, particularly in the rendered white finish, rather overwhelms the original nice warm red brick pub building beyond it, in my opinion! Access steps etc. still remain to be added.

A view similar to Image following the removal of the scaffolding and screens around the site. The large white building is completely new; the old pub building, somewhat modified at the rear, pokes out to the left. A lot of work still to do to finish off the building, particularly for access. Bearing in mind that part of the old pub carpark is to be used for parking, the gardens will not be very big, but the properties are being sold as 'family homes'! Interestingly the planners are insisting on 10m+ gardens for the redevelopment of the police station site a short distance away in the adjacent square Image

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)

Designed by George Smith