St Albans
St Albans on the River Ver in Hertfordshire
has two official names for its inhabitants: Verulamian and Old
Albanian. St Albans was a settlement of pre-Roman origin named
Verlamion (or Verulam) by the Ancient British Catuvellauni tribe. It
became the first major town on the old Roman road of Watling Street for
travellers heading north and became the Roman city of Verulamium. After
the Roman withdrawal, and prior to becoming known as St Albans, the
town was called Verlamchester or Wæclingacaester by the Mercian
Angles. The mediaeval town grew up on the hill to the east of this
around the Benedictine foundation of St Albans Abbey. This is the spot
where tradition has it that St Alban, the first British Christian
martyr, was beheaded sometime before AD 324. The city is therefore
steeped in history.
The lettering examples
here are to be found in the Romeland / George Street area, just north
of the Cathedral & Abbey Church of St Alban. The first building
has
an 'institute' feel about the architecture and will be familar to those
who regularly wait at the bus stop on the opposite side of the road.
They may not have noticed the lettering on the lower part of the terra
cotta roundels beneath each relief portrait:
'DAVY
BACON
HOGARTH'.
This is an
eclectic mix of personages: chemist,
inventor and poet Sir Humphry Davy (1778-1829); philosopher, statesman,
scientist, lawyer, jurist, author and father of the scientific method
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount Saint Alban (1561-1626) and painter,
printmaker, pictorial satirist, social critic and editorial cartoonist
William Hogarth (1697-1764). The connection with St Albans is not clear
for Davy and Hogarth.
The brickwork sign often lives on for decades (or even
centuries) after the building has fallen into disuse or changed
function. This fine example of a small tavern show a pale cartouche
with the centred large and small capitals:
BENSKIN'S
FINE ALES &
STOUT'
It looks at
first glance as if this ghostly sign used
drop shadow characters, but we think that there is an earlier sign
underneath which follows that same lettering but uses a fatter font. If
anyone knows the original name of this house, do get in
touch.
Benskin's Watford Brewery Ltd was founded by 1722 by John Pope at New
Street. Moved by his great-grandson, John Dyson to 194 High Street in
about 1820. Bought by Joseph Benskin in 1867 with 42 public houses for
£34,000. Registered in July 1894. Acquired by Ind Coope Ltd
in
1957, and brewing ceased in 1972 with 636 tied houses. The brewery
buildings were demolished in 1978, but the offices were converted into
the Watford Museum.
We don't think that the Brewery History Society (see Links) lists this example in its lists of
defunct brewery signs.