Ye Olde Fighting Cocks is a public house

Public house

A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...

 in St Albans

St Albans

St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...

, Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...

, which is one of several that lay claim to being the oldest in England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

. It currently holds the official Guinness Book of Records title, but Ye Olde Man & Scythe in Bolton

Bolton

Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...

, Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...

 has claimed it is older by some 234 years. Another contender is Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem

Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem

Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem in Nottingham is one of the 20 public houses which claim to be the oldest drinking establishment in England. Its painted sign states that it was established in 1189 AD...

 in Nottingham

Nottingham

Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...

 which is claimed to date from the 12^th century.

The main structure is free-standing and has an octagonal appearance, attributable to its original use as a pigeon house. It has been added to over the years but the original timber-framed structure is clearly visible. It was originally located close to St Albans Cathedral

St Albans Cathedral

St Albans Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral church at St Albans, England. At , its nave is the longest of any cathedral in England...

 (when it was St Albans Abbey) and was moved to the present site after the dissolution of the Abbey

Dissolution of the Monasteries

The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...

 in 1539. Its foundations

Foundation (architecture)

A foundation is the lowest and supporting layer of a structure. Foundations are generally divided into two categories: shallow foundations and deep foundations.-Shallow foundations:...

 are even older, dating from around 793. It is thought that there are tunnels running between the cathedral and the pub's beer cellars which were once used by monks.

As with many old buildings, the ceilings are quite low. An original bread-oven is next to one of the fireplaces. It has a very large beer garden

Beer garden

Beer garden is an open-air area where beer, other drinks and local food are served. The concept originates from and is most common in Southern Germany...

 with different seating arrangements, as well as seats out the front.

It was originally known as "The Round House" until it was renamed "Ye Olde

Ye Olde

Ye Olde is a pseudo-Early Modern English stock prefix, used anachronistically, suggestive of a Deep England feel.A typical example would be Ye Olde English Pubbe or similar names of theme pubs....

 Fighting Cocks" probably in the 19th century, in reference to the sport of cock fighting

Cockfight

A cockfight is a blood sport between two roosters , held in a ring called a cockpit. Cockfighting is now illegal throughout all states in the United States, Brazil, Australia and in most of Europe. It is still legal in several U.S. territories....

 which was popular at the time and which took place in the main bar area. It is known by locals as 'The Fighters' or 'The Cocks'.

The pub is at the end of Abbey Mill Lane beside the River Ver

River Ver

The Ver is a river in Hertfordshire, England. The river begins in the grounds of Markyate Cell, and flows south for 12 miles alongside Watling Street through Flamstead, Redbourn, St Albans and Park Street, and joins the River Colne at Bricket Wood....

, just outside the perimeter of Verulamium Park

Verulamium Park

is a park in St Albans, Hertfordshire. Set in over of beautiful parkland, was purchased from the Earl of Verulam in 1929 by the then City Corporation. Today the park is ownered and operated by...

, not far from St Albans Cathedral

St Albans Cathedral

St Albans Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral church at St Albans, England. At , its nave is the longest of any cathedral in England...

in the oldest part of the city.

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