Home > Hertfordshire > Hemel Hempstead > The Albion The Albion

Picture source: Terry Ryder

The Albion was situated on Durrants Hill Road. This pub is now used as flats.

Source: Darkstar

The Albion was owned by Groome’s Brewery of King’s Langley, after having been built around 1836 by Thomas Ebbern who gave his name to Ebberns Rd and was bought from him by Groome’s in 1852 when he went bankrupt. Being a canalside pub close to John Dickinson’s paper mills, it was always closely linked with the boatmen and papermakers trade and came into the hands of Benskin’s Watford Brewery in 1897 when they took over Groome’s brewery and tied estate. 60 years later it became an Ind Coope house, when they bought out Benskin’s, who by then owned over 600 pubs throughout Hertfordshire and neighbouring counties. Itwas locally known as the Wooden Box and was attractively made from flint and brick. It remained in Benskin’s maroon and gold colours until 1967, however, by which time Ind Coope had decided to phase out Benskin’s identity. The author of this piece still has the Albion’s old Ind Coope inn sign, dated 1967. In the 1980s it reverted to Benskin’s paint scheme for some years, as Allied Breweries revived the name, but by the 1990s the pubs days came to an end, it was demolished and replaced by housing.

Adrian Perry (November 2015)

Do you have any anecdotes, historical information, updates or photos of this pub? Become a contributor by submitting them here. Like this site? Follow us on Make email contact with other ex-customers and landlords of this pub by adding your details to this page.

Other Photos

Picture source: Terry Ryder