St Albans on Market Day
St. Albans is a fine city with a 11th century Abbey and Roman ruins, but market day brings the added dimension of its 1000-year-old general market. St Albans market today is one of the most colourful and vibrant street markets in the South of England. With over 160 stalls on Wednesdays and Saturdays, it offers everything from fish to fancy goods so you will be spoilt for choice. In June the city comes alive celebrating the feast of St Alban with a procession of giant puppets to the cathedral.
The Alban Pilgrimage takes place annually and is held in honour of the citys namesake, St Alban, who died on 22nd June over 1700 years ago. He was executed for giving shelter to a Christian priest later named Amphibalus who was fleeing persecution by the Romans. Moved by the priest's faith, Alban became a Christian and the two men swapped cloaks, enabling the priest to escape. Alban was arrested instead, brought to trial and executed on the hill where St Albans Cathedral now stands.
Stunning 12-ft tall carnival puppets and a procession of around 300 children, teenagers and adults from the local community dramatize the tale of Albans martyrdom, with the final scene taking place at the West End of St Albans Cathedral, the oldest site of continuous Christian worship in Britain.
Below is a list of pick-up points available on this tour.
Below is a list of pick-up points available on this tour.
Name | Address | Contact Details |
---|---|---|
Ashingdon Golden Cross | Golden Cross, By Fox (Welcome Homes) | |
Ashingdon Post Office | Ashingdon Post Office | |
Basildon Trafford House | Trafford House (Adjacent to Basildon Rail Station) | |
Chalkwell Park | Chalkwell Park Bus Stop | |
Cricketers Westcliff | Cricketers Bus Stop, Southend on Sea | |
Grays Oak PH | Oak PH, Socketts Heath, Grays | |
Hadleigh - Vic House Cnr | Vic House Corner, Kiln Road, Hadleigh | |
Hadleigh Church | Hadleigh Church, Bus Layby | |
Hockley Spa | Spa Road Bus Stop, Hockley | |
Kents Hill Lights | Kents Hill Lights Bus Stop, London Road, Benfleet | |
Kiln Road (Kenneth Road) | Kiln Road (Kenneth Road) - Thundersley | |
Lakeside | Lakeside Bus Station Bus Stop E | |
Leigh on Sea - Elms | Elms PH, London Road, Leigh on Sea | |
Leigh on Sea - Thames Dr | Thames Drive, Leigh on Sea | |
North Shoebury Road | Bus Stop , outside Asda (St Marys) North Shoebury Road, Shoeburyness | |
Pitsea | Granada Bingo, Pitsea | |
Rayleigh Websters Way | Websters Way, Rayleigh, opp Rayleigh Lanes | |
Rochford Station Bus Stop | Rochford Station Bus Stop, Bradley Way | |
Shoeburyness - Kathryn Ct | The Cambridge.(Kathryn Ct.), Shoeburyness | |
South Benfleet Clare Rd | Tarpots Coach Stop (opp Clare Road), Sth Benfleet | |
Southchurch Tyrrel Drive | Southchurch Road - Tyrrel Drive (Swintons) | |
Southchurch White Horse | White Horse Bus Stop, Southchurch | |
Southend Airport | Bus Stop, Southend Airport, Eastwoodbury Crescent | |
Southend Queensway | Bus Layby, Rear of Sainsburys, Southend | |
Thorpe Bay Station | Station, Acacia Drive, Thorpe Bay | |
Vange Barge | Vange Barge Bus Stop, High Road, Pitsea | |
West Leigh Schools | West Leigh Schools, London Rd, Leigh on Sea | |
Westcliff Halfords | London Road Westcliff, Halfords |