Romeland Hill, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3

Architecture & History
There’s no doubt this house would have seen many guises over the centuries but prior to the current ownership, the property, when acquired, had seen life as offices. The sensitive, layered restoration retained much of the original interior fabric including a combination of panelling made up of rough sawn early Tudor and more refined Georgian, sash windows with rare half riser shutters and later Victorian fireplaces.

Overhead, what perhaps may be Medieval ceiling beams have been cleaned and waxed forming a statement feature. Heritage Farrow and Ball colours fill the house enhancing the atmospheric rooms. The front door enters into the wide, principal reception, elevated access from the street is by way of a raised entrance. Views of St Albans can be taken in through two street facing sash windows.

A second, beautifully appointed and equally atmospheric reception room lies beyond the front of the house. From here, double doors open onto a private walled courtyard, while further access leads through to the extended kitchen and dining room, added as part of the home’s wider renovation. Overhead, a vaulted, skylit ceiling rises above a bank of contemporary cabinetry, its colour palette echoing the house’s historic character. A guest WC and shower room is located at the far end of the kitchen.

Three bedrooms are arranged across the lower ground and first floors. Accessed by steps from the kitchen, the lower-ground double bedroom retains one of the house’s original oak ceiling beams. Above, two further bedrooms, one with shower en-suite, continue the theme, with time-worn period features including more ceiling beams, fireplaces and, in the second bedroom, a section of the original cruck-frame sill on display.

The family bathroom is intimate in character without compromising on space, its principal feature being a fine slipper bath. Local Area & Transport St Albans occupies an extraordinary place in English history.

Local Area & Transport
St Alban began as Verlamion, a settlement of the Celtic Catuvellauni, before becoming the Roman town of Verulamium around AD 50, one of Roman Britain’s most important urban centres.

For centuries it was a rural market town and the first coaching stop from London, its streets lined with historic inns. Rapid Victorian expansion transformed it, yet its Roman ruins, medieval lanes and great Abbey still make St Albans a uniquely layered record of English history.

St Albans is exceptionally well connected, offering a lifestyle that feels gently removed from the intensity of London while remaining a sophisticated and highly desirable place to live. St Albans City station, around ten minutes’ walk away, provides frequent services to St Pancras International in around 20 minutes, with direct trains to Farringdon, City Thameslink, London Bridge and Blackfriars in roughly 30–40 minutes. A change at Blackfriars also connects with Gatwick Airport and Sussex, while both Heathrow and Luton airports are easily accessible.

Directly opposite, St Albans Cathedral and its grounds lead, by way of a gentle stroll, to the expansive Verulamium Park with its Roman wall, and, just beyond, St Albans Abbey station. The schools in and around St Albans are among the most sought-after in the South of England, with several highly regarded grammar and independent schools close at hand—not least the esteemed St Albans School.

The neighbourhood’s thriving restaurant scene is just yards from the house. There’s of course a plentiful supply of traditional, cosy pubs, many with roaring log fires and a warm welcome for dogs all adding to the city’s enduring charm. As a thriving market town, St Albans also hosts farmers’ markets and regular markets twice a week, alongside excellent sports and leisure facilities, including swimming pools and well-equipped leisure centres. Ibeiros, Hazels, The Ivy & Prime top the list of the owners favourite social haunts.

Material Information

• Property construction: Traditional timber frame/brick masonry with historic clay-tiled pitch roof
• Heating type: Gas central heating
• Utilities: Gas, electricity, water, sewerage & broadband
• Gas & Electricity Supply: Independently supplied by Octopus Energy
• Water supply & Sewerage: Mains Connected via Affinity Water
• Broadband: Standard Download speed 15mbps; Upload Speed 1mbps. Ultrafast available (d/s 1000Mbps, u/s 100Mbps).  
• Mobile signal/coverage: Likely external cover on all major networks. Variable internal cover linked to all major networks.  
• Restrictions: Grade II Listed (listing no 1296067) and situation within the St Albans Conservation Area
• Rights and easements: Standard freehold title easements; shared party wall covenants with adjoining properties (Nos. 1 and 5 Romeland Hill); vehicular/pedestrian right of access to the rear courtyard parking area from the adjoining accessway. Romeland Hill is a public adopted highway.
• Flood risk: Low to very low risk of any type of flooding. 
• Planning permission: Historic Planning (application no 5/2012/3104. No current planning known at time of listing.  
• Accessibility/adaptations: Not suitable for wheelchair users
• Coalfield or mining area: No. 
• Flight path: Yes, London Luton Airport.

 

EPC rating: C. Tenure: Freehold, Known building safety issues or planned/required works: None known at time of listing Planning permissions: Historic Planning (application no 5/2012/3104. No current planning known at time of listing. Mobile signal information: Likely external cover on all major networks. Variable internal cover linked to all major networks. Source: Ofcom