"Alban"

St. Alban was a man living in the town of Verulamium at the beginning of the 4th century. Although he was a worshipper of Roman gods he gave shelter to a Christian priest fleeing from the persecution of the Romans. With the help of Alban the priest escaped. However, Alban was arrested and taken for execution. Legend tells us that on the hill-top a spring of water miraculously appeared to give the martyr a drink. The original executioner refused to carry out the deed, and that after his replacement had killed Alban the executioners' eyes dropped out.

Alban was beheaded and in 793 King Offa of Mercia founded a monastery on the site of the execution and was renamed St. Albans.