Liberty of St Albans

The origins of the liberty are unclear, but the abbots of St Albans claimed that the privileges had first been granted by King Offa of Mercia, who founded the abbey in 793.Edward I gave the abbot of St Albans palatine powers equal to those enjoyed by the bishops of Durham and Ely.Palatine status was discontinued, although the borough and liberty retained its own quarter sessions.The Act made clear that, despite its name, the St Albans division was not to be deemed a liberty in any future legislation.In 1889 the Local Government Act 1888 created an elected Hertfordshire county council which covered both divisions.
Hertfordshire Hundreds in 1832
Hertfordshire Hundreds in 1832
libertyHertfordshirecountyabbey of St AlbansboroughOffa of MerciaLondonLincolnDomesday BookBuckinghamshireEdward IpalatineDurhamBorough of St Albansquarter sessionsHertfordLocal Government Act 1888county councilparishesAbbots LangleyAldenhamBramfieldChipping BarnetCodicoteEast BarnetElstreeHextonNewnhamNorthawNortonRedbournRickmansworthSt AlbansSt MichaelSt Paul's WaldenSt PeterSt StephenSandridgeSarrattShephallSouth MimmsWatfordBraughingDacorumEdwinstree