This parish poor box dates all the way back to the 1650s. There was a separate key for each lock, held by three different people as a way to prevent pilfering.

Q: What river runs through Luton?

A: The River Lea.

The clue’s in the name; Luton = Lea Town. And here is that wonderful waterway, at nearby Wheathampstead.

While visiting England in the 980s, Abbo of Fleury enjoyed a few of our tasty beers. And who can blame him? When he returned to France, however, the monk lamented that they’d made him rather portly… One of the more relatable medieval tales. 🍻

I’ve voted in the local elections! Make sure you do too, and don’t forget your ID. My thanks to everyone at the polling station for a smooth democratic experience - and to all the candidates too. It takes guts to stand. 💪🗳️

It’s May Day! May Day! But there’s no cause for distress here in sunny St Albans. Of course, the call for aid wasn’t actually named after the festival - it was invented in the 1920s from an anglicised form of the French for “help me” (m’aidez).