View the Masterplan and Conservation Management Plan executive summary.

The master plan is designed to be implemented in phases as funding becomes available. The first phase of works will be dependent on the success of the bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund. Some additional match funding from the District Council and other sources will also be required for the bid.

For a timeline of phases one and two, access here.

How you can help:
You can support the bid for funding by emailing St Albans District Council with a message of support for the improvement plans. This will be submitted to the HLF with the application for funding.

There will also be sponsorship opportunities for local businesses, groups and individuals.

The improvements outlined in a master plan are the result of an extensive period of consultation and public participation subject to HLF approval in September. Funds will be released for the detailed development and design of the proposals and the submission of applications for planning permission and listed building consent as required. At this point there will be opportunities to get involved. If in the mean time you have any comments on the various documents published here we will be pleased to receive them.

A summary of the proposals in the master plan are outlined below:
For a full schedule of the proposals access here.

Heritage and archaeology - improvements to the London Gate entrance to recreate the experience of entering the historic Verulamium City will begin a new visitor experience to the park with better interpretation boards; easier access to the Roman Wall and the appointment of an education officer to develop activities and events.

Wildlife - bird and bat boxes will encourage nesting opportunities; while new tree and hedgerow planting will provide better habitats; visitors will benefit from new ecology interpretation boards while a park ranger will also organise events for the public to better appreciate the wildlife.

Play areas - new children's play areas aimed at age groups from 0 to five; five to nine; and nine to 11 will be situated closer to the Splash Park. For older children and teenagers a new creative play area using hammocks and trampolines will be created in the centre of the park.

Sports and health - new tennis and netball courts will be situated closer to the Westminster Lodge. Jogging paths, accessible to all, will be created around Ver Meadow. Woodland walks will be created along the City Ditch.

Lakes and River Ver - restoration work to secure the future of the lakes will include removal of silt, installation of fountains, marginal planting and viewing platforms. With the aim of returning the River Ver closer to a chalk stream habitat, works will include the removal of silt, new planting
and construction of a rill providing feed to a new Mill Pond.

A zone for teenagers - with internet access and a climbing wall is one of the new attractions.

Overall aims - with the aim of developing the park for the 21st century, the plan will gradually restore and enhance the main features of the park including the lakes and Roman heritage, with a new area in the centre of the park for events and installations. It provides new play and leisure
facilities for children and it improves the overall visitor experience with a new refreshment kiosk, improved toilets, additional paths and a wildlife visitor centre. All current activities in the park, such as model boating, will continue to be accommodated.

Public consultation - access results of the consultation with young people here.

Following a comprehensive public consultation, including events specifically to gather the views of teenagers. A range of issues have emerged from the public participation exercises which will require more consultation when detailed schemes have been prepared, including cycling schemes. The plan presents indicative cycle routes but further consultation will be required before any scheme is adopted.

The proposals have emerged from a comprehensive consultation exercise with over 1100 questionnaires completed and over 4,500 visits to the park's website. There was also a public exhibition and stakeholder events for neighbouring schools and interest groups.

Scientific surveys - to complement the consultation a number of scientific surveys were
completed on: the archaeology and ecology of the site; a park condition and landscape survey and a hydrological report on issues affecting the lakes and River Ver.

Documentation relating to the research surveys and master plan will be available at: the Central Library in the Maltings Shopping Centre and the reception area at the District Council Offices in April 2008.

View the site map of the Master Plan here.

With the aim of developing the park for the 21st century, the plan will gradually restore and enhance the main features of the park including the lakes and Roman heritage, with a new area in the centre of the park for events and installations. It provides new play and leisure facilities for children and young people and it improves the overall visitor experience with a new refreshment kiosk, improved toilets, additional paths and a wildlife visitor centre. The plan also addresses the needs of teenagers, who can look forward to an area offering covered seating, offering wifi internet access and a climbing wall. All current activities in the park will continue to be accommodated.

Says the chair of the Verulamium Heritage Park Steering Group, Cllr Robert Donald: "Over a thousand individuals and groups have taken part in the consultation on the future of Verulamium Park which is one of St Albans District's greatest treasures and our premier open space.

"We now have a plan that expresses the hopes and aspirations of the community for the future of the park. These are exciting proposals that will improve the Park's unique environmental features, heritage interpretation and recreational facilities for the 21st Century. They will also encourage new groups of resident s and visitors to use the park. We can now take these proposals forward with confidence to bid for the funding they deserve."

The proposals include:

Heritage and archaeology - improvements to the London Gate entrance to recreate the experience of entering the historic Verulamium City will begin a new visitor experience to the park with better interpretation boards; easier access to the Roman Wall and the appointment of an education officer to develop activities and events.

Wildlife - bird and bat boxes will encourage nesting opportunities; while new tree and hedgerow planting will provide better habitats; visitors will benefit from new ecology interpretation boards while a park ranger will also organise events for the public to better appreciate the wildlife.

Play areas - new children's play areas aimed at age groups from 0 to five; five to nine and nine to 11 will be situated closer to the Splash Park. For older children and teenagers a new creative play area using hammocks, trampolines and cycle paths will be created in the centre of the park.

Sports and health - new tennis and netball courts will be situated closer to the Westminster Lodge. Jogging paths, accessible to all, will be created around Ver Meadow. Woodland walks will be created along the City Ditch.

Lakes and River Ver - Restoration work to secure the future of the lakes will include removal of silt, installation of fountains, marginal planting and viewing platforms. With the aim of returning the River Ver closer to a chalk stream habitat works will include the removal of silt, new plating and construction of a rill providing feed to a new Mill Pond.

The master plan is to be implemented in phases as funding becomes available. The first phase of works will be subject to a £2m bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund. Some additional match funding from the district council and other sources will also be required for this bid.

A range of issues have emerged from the public participation exercises which will require more consultation when detailed schemes have been prepared, including cycling schemes. The plan presents indicative cycle routes but further consultation will be required before any scheme is
adopted.

The proposals have emerged from a comprehensive consultation exercise with over 1100 questionnaires completed and over 4,500 visits to the park's website. There was also a public exhibition and stakeholder events for neighbouring schools and interest groups.

To complement the consultation a number of scientific surveys were completed on: the archaeology and ecology of the site; a park condition and landscape survey and a hydrological report on issues affecting the lakes and River Ver.

Documentation relating to the research surveys and master plan will be available shortly at a variety of locations and on the project website: www.verpark.stalbans.gov.uk; the Central Library in the Maltings Shopping Centre and the reception area at the District Council offices.

Plan highlights include:

• New ways to interpret the varied heritage of the site to understand how St Albans has developed over the centuries
• New circular paths around the park
• Restoration work to secure the future of the lake
• Work to return the River Ver closer to a chalk stream
• Improved children's play facilities
• Enhancement of the natural environment and biodiversity.

The proposals have been extensively informed by a lively consultation programme with over 1000 responses to an online survey, an extensive programme of discussion groups, including local school students, and a project steering group made up of community groups and agencies.

Comments raised by the public about the draft proposals will be reviewed and taken on board in developing the final proposals. An application will then be made to the Heritage Lottery Fund to gain funding to implement the proposals. The success of the application for funding will be partly
dependent on demonstrating that there is strong local support for the project and that local people have been involved in the proposals as they have developed.

The council is therefore keen to encourage local people to visit the exhibition and make their comments known about the draft proposals.

Click here to view the Development Plan

Ice skating, Wi Fi and a youth pavilion are just a few of the ideas students from Marlborough and Francis Bacon secondary schools plan for the future development of Verulamium Park.

Using disposable cameras, the twenty-two sixth form and year nine students spent a morning in the park creating a photo survey of what they liked and what they thought could be improved. Issues and ideas were then explored in discussion groups.

Held on 17 October the schools event is part of a wide-ranging public consultation on the future of the park culminating in a public exhibition on the master plan. This will be launched on Saturday, 3 November at the Verulamium Museum foyer with opportunities to discuss the proposals from 12noon until 7.30pm.

Valued for its scenery, safety and heritage the park is enjoyed in the summer as a place to hang out with friends. Bonfire night and snowy days draw the young people back to enjoy the park's winter landscape.
For the future, new attractions such as ice and roller-skating would be welcome together with play equipments designed for teenagers, such as an obstacle course. Special seasonal events, such as a Halloween walk would encourage more visits all year round. While low cost food stalls, a Wi Fi area and youth pavilion would keep teenagers coming back.
Extra lighting, heritage style bins, more information, better toilets, new paths for cycling and walking and the removal of eyesores would all make the park a more inviting place.
Marlborough teacher, Nerys Fielden said:" The students have got an awful lot out of the day. They have enjoyed thinking about the future of the park and expressing their views on an important issue.

Photography copyright Pete Stevens - CreativeEmpathy.com

On 16th October 2007 there will be a focus group at the Civic Centre, which is being attended by representatives of a number of local interest groups including St Albans Children’s Centre and Earthworks. This session will explain more about the project and allow us to engage directly with park users. Local councillors will be dropping in throughout the day.

On 17th October 2007 a youth day is being held, which will include a photo survey to prompt discussion and enable young people to express their opinions and inform us how their needs can be successfully taken care of in the proposals.

We have been working from the outset with a Steering Group, which comprises individuals representing a variety of key local organisations including, the Friends of Verulamium Park, Verulam Residents Association, St Albans Civic Society and Groundwork Herts.

Finally, on 3rd November an exhibition will be held in the park to present our proposals for the future of the park. We would like to encourage as many people as possible to attend this event and share their thoughts.

Exact location and time to be confirmed…

Pre Roman times
It was known as Verlamion (meaning 'settlement above the marsh'), the capital of the Catuvellauni tribe. The settlement was established by their leader, Vasciovanus and was one of the first places in Britain to be recorded by name.

AD50: Granted the rank of municipium meaning that its citizens had all the right of the citizens of Rome

AD60: Queen Boudicca brought the community to a swift end when it was savagely raised to the ground.

AD79: The city recovers with a new basilica and forum being dedicated.

AD115: Disaster strikes again with a huge fire ravaging through the city, following which a large part of the city is rebuilt in stone with mosaic flooring.

The theatre was also built at this time.

AD 209: Alban, the first Christian martyr and Verulamium resident is executed for his beliefs.

AD 410: Emperor Honorius instructs the Britons 'look to their own defence.' This event is typically taken to meqan the end of the Roman period in Britain.

AD 429: Germanus, Bishop of Aixerre visits the shrine to St. Albans and writes of a still flourishing civic life within the Roman walls.

AD 450-500: Roman occupation ended.

5th century to mid 8th century AD: Little evidence has been recovered for this period. What evidence there is points toward a small settlement in the centre of Verulamium itself with a larger centre to the south of the Abbey.

Early 8th century AD: Bede refers to a late Roman church at Verulamium dedicated to Alban, stating that this building was standing at the time of writing.

8th century AD to 10th century: the focus of the settlement is on St. Albans itself and the settlement at Kingsbury. The remains at Verulamium (some presumably still standing) were slowly being robbed out for building materials, this practice continues until the 19th century AD.

c. 948 AD: St. Michael's church is built (on the site of the Roman Forum) and a small village grows up around it.

Throughout the late Medieval and Post-Medieval period the majority of Verulamium Park was being used for agricultural purposes or as a source of building material for the town at St. Albans.

1531 AD: John Leland records "That noble street, which is commonly called Waterlynstrete (Watling Street) was discovered...when sand was being sought for repairing the public roads."

1847 AD: R. Grove Lowe archaeologically excavates the Theatre. This is the first 'official' archaeological excavation that occurs in the Roman city.

1929: The park was bought from the Earl of Verulam by the then City Council. Construction began on the ornamental lake giving much needed work to the unemployed during the depression.

1930s: Excavations were undertaken in the park by Sir Mortimer Wheeler and his wife Tessa during which the 1800 year old hypocaust and its covering mosaic floor were discovered.

1939: The first Verulamium museum is open to the public.

1955-1961: Excavations undertaken by Shephard Frere uncover traces of the fires from the Boudiccan revolt and provide a wealth if information on the Roman Town

1960s and 70s: Water extraction upstream creates serious problems for the River Ver, which runs through the park.

2007 - Verulamium Park Receives Heritage Lottery Funding to undertake a Conservation Management Plan and improve the facilities in the park.

The Landscape Partnership in London is commissioned to undertake this project.

Have a story to tell or facts about Verulamium Park? Please add it here....

Project background

Verulamium Park is one of the largest urban parks in Hertfordshire. It hosts a wealth of activities and occupies the site of the ancient Roman City of Verulamium, the remains of which lie preserved beneath the ground. The Landscape Partnership in conjunction with St. Albans District Council are currently working on developing a master plan for the park to preserve, enhance and improve this valuable asset and ultimately exploit the enormous potential the site contains. This blog is designed to elicit opinions regarding the park and to keep you up to date with the progress of the project. We welcome and appreciate your comments so please feel free to drop us a line at any time...