Entrance to the Watching Loft, St Albans, September 2018
It is not uncommon find watching lofts inside churches, where monks and locals could sit to keep guard over important religious and costly items.
The right hand door in the image above, leads onto steps up to a loft above that provided room for the watchful to keep an eye on St Albans’s Shrine below. The whole structure was created in around 1400 and is ornately carved throughout.
Like many of England’s shrines, the original one was demolished as part of the dissolution of the monasteries in the late 1530s. In 1872, however, fragments of the Purbeck marble pedestal of the shrine were recovered and the object was reconstructed.
A second restoration took place in 1993, with the shrine being rededicated in the presence of HM The Queen Mother in that year.
St Alban’s Shrine, September 2018
Copyright Debbie Smyth, 13 September 2018
Posted as part of Norm’s Doors
Travel with Intent 
The carving work is breathtaking. This must have been quite a place to visit.
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I’m very lucky – it’s in my home town and they are very friendly to all visitors, even those wielding cameras.
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I do not love a lot of
Religious art or architecture – but I am glad they found pieces and were able
To restore history –
And the opening photo is my fav
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I’m often not a fan either but some of the carving in here is wonderful.
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Oh my goodness yes! And wow – history – masterful Loy crafted and beautiful – triple win! And then photographed so well – quadruple hit
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Marvelous carvings. Most impressive.
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Oh, goodness….I didn’t get any of that? How did I miss it?
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Did you not? I thought you were taking photos of it!
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No, no, I meant the understanding of what it was…. And my photos are nothing like this!
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Ah! Sorry. I’m amazed how well the photos came out actually – had to brighten a lot in Lightroom!
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Beautiful carving. When you think of the tools they used at that time it is even more impressive on the detail of their work. Thank you for sharing.
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The whole Cathedral is full of amazing work – so much detail in both stone and wood.
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How interesting
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I’ve not come across that feature before, Debs. Could you climb up there? (and did Sue go with you?
🙂 ) It looks a wonderful church.
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It is an amazing place – it’s huge and I spot new things each time I go in.
Sue was with me but we couldn’t go up the stairs as a) they are very small! and b) they are behind wire.
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I didn’t think so 😕
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