VIA ST. ALBANS 175 



the building was not so strong as it should be, inas- 

 much as in so remote a year as 1323 two immense 

 columns on the south side fell, pulling down with 

 them the entire wooden roof, part of the southern 

 aisle, and much of the cloister wall. 



Scarcely less vehement than the Battle of the 

 Gauges, waged by Brunei and Stephenson fifty years 

 ago, was the Battle of the Koofs which ensued on the 

 proposal to replace the low-pitched roof of the abbey 

 by one of high-pitch. In the end, the question being 

 as it were put to the vote, the ' high-pitchers had it.' 



A country's history, it has been said, may be 

 found broadly written in sign-boards. St. Albans 

 and Barnet being ever loyal to the throne, there was 

 a Crown Inn in both. Herts is famous for its herds ; 

 so the Bull figures in each town. The Woolpack at 

 Barnet, on the great road to Leeds, and at St. 

 Albans, on that to Kendal and the North -West, 

 symbolized a staple trade of the midland counties. 

 The Hartshorn recalled at Barnet the glories of 

 Enfield Chase, and at St. Albans the antlered herds 

 of Gorhambury. The Red Lion, still to be found at 

 both places, was, I suppose, heraldic, and had the 

 same origin as the Green Dragon, the Blue Boar, and 

 other strange beasts which still figured on the sign- 

 boards of roadside inns in the old coaching days. 



There were two other points of similarity between 

 the towns. Both possessed a cage for the temporary 

 incarceration of evil-doers. I recollect the position 

 of ours, near Wood Street, Barnet. The cage at 



