St Albans has the only medieval town belfry in England – kept open to the public by
volunteers from this Society and the Civic Society. It was built between 1403 and 1412 as a deliberate gesture of
independence from the premier Abbey of England (now St Albans Cathedral) and enabled the townsmen to have their own
clock, to ring the curfew, and to give the alarm – the bell rang for the first battle of St Albans in 1455.
The Tower has had many uses, one of which was as a telegraph station from 1808 to 1814 to help warn
the country if Napoleon invaded! It could pass a message by semaphore to Yarmouth and back (220 miles) in five minutes
on a clear day!
Now owned by St Albans District Council, the Clock Tower is open to the public at weekends and
Bank Holidays from Easter to mid-September. There are great views from the top of the Abbey, Roman Verulamium,
and the rooftops of St Albans – even the London Eye, reputedly!
The Society benefits from our involvement with the Clock Tower as we receive part of the "takings" each
year, which represents a useful income to the Society and helps to keep our subscription rates down.
We rely on a regular team of helpers to keep it open and welcome more members to help at weekends
and Bank Holidays. It is not at all onerous; we enjoy doing it and "clockateers" are invited
to the annual party in March as a "thank you".
