Hertfordshire's Mysterious Sites -------------Hauntings------------ Hatfield House Burnham Green St Mary's Church, Ashwell Wigginton Common The Brocket Arms Minsden Chapel Knebworth House ---------------Major Sites----------- St Albans Royston Cave ---------------Folklore----------- The Devil's Dyke Six Hills, Stevenage Jack o legs, Weston Home Site Map Hertfordshire Map England Map Scotland Map Wales Map St Albans St Albans has a multitude of ghosts and strange stories, many of which are attached to the abbey. St Albans has been occupied from very early in its history, the Roman town of Verulamium nestled in the valley in the area were the park now lies. St Alban was the first Christian Martyr in AD 304, a time when most of the Romans were still pagan. St Alban was beheaded for his Christian belief on Holywell Hill where the abbey now stands. According to legend a stream stopped flowing and began to flow again where his head rolled to the floor (or at his feet when he begged for water in other accounts). The abbey has been the scene for many ghostly sightings over the years, and ghostly choral accompaniment has also been heard on several occasions. A well documented case came to light in 1982 in the local newspaper the Post-Echo, it describes how a fire watcher in 1944 called Basil Saville witnessed two hooded figures, saw the organ play of its own accord, heard ghostly music, and saw a procession of ghostly monks. The music has been heard on many occasions and has been identified as a piece by Robert Fairfax who died in 1521. His music has only recently been rediscovered and linked with that heard by witnesses. St Alban is also said to haunt the area, during a visit to the abbey grounds one woman experienced a vision of a white figure with a golden radiance about its head. This has been identified with St Alban who was buried in a secret place outside the abbey. Click for a front view of the abbey. Other apparitions include ghostly monks, who disappear through walls, and a phantom coach and horses on Holywell Hill. St Albans Battle Haunting St Albans was the scene of two particularly bloody battles fought in its streets during the wars of the roses. In the years after the two battles one house was said to ring with the clash of steel on the anniversary of the battle. Map ref: Directions: St Albans can be reached from the A1057 and the A5183. The Abbey is near the centre of the town off Holy Well Hill Road from London Road or Chequer Street.