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The Roman city of Verulamium was established in AD 49 and subsequently rebuilt after being destroyed by fire during the revolt of Boudicca in AD 60. Verulamium developed into a walled Roman city of 200 acres and flourished for over 400 years, continuing to be inhabited even after Britain ceased to be a part of the Roman Empire in AD 410. In the third century an inhabitant of Verulamium, Alban, was martyred for his Christian faith and executed by the Romans on what became the site of St. Albans Abbey (opposite Romeland House).

By the seventh century Hertfordshire was ruled by the Kings of Mercia. Offa, the greatest of the Mercian kings, is credited with the foundation of St. Albans Abbey in 793. By the time of the Norman Conquest a small town was clustered around the Abbey of St. Alban. The first Norman Abbot, Paul of Caen, had the Abbey almost entirely rebuilt in 1077 and by 1086 the Doomsday Survey revealed a population of 500 living in St. Albans.

St. Albans thereby grew as a consequence of its position on the old Roman road between London and Chester. By 1577 there were 27 inns, 2 taverns and 26 alehouses catering for travellers passing through the town. In 1637 the first regular coach service began between London and St. Albans.

Romeland House stands on the site of a Roman villa and, subsequently, the site of various dwellings built since Roman times. It is recorded that in AD 1200 there was monastic school on the site.

Romeland House was constructed in the early 1700s (circa 1710) by Sir Christopher Wren’s stone mason, Edward Strong, who was also responsible for Blenheim Palace, the Royal Naval College at Greenwich and St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. Edward Strong became Master of the Masons Company and built for himself Ivy House in St. Peter’s Street, St. Albans, opposite the Church of St. Peter (where he is buried).

Romeland House was built as the residence for Dutchman Frederick Vandermeulen. Records show that in 1726 Frederick was living in the newly built Romeland House; his garden covered a whole block and his estate included land off Dagnall Lane and in St. Michael’s village, as well as the King Harry pub. In the 1750s Frederick employed leading architect, Sir Robert Taylor, to design and oversee major work on Romeland House. Sir Robert Taylor worked on many notable residences of his day including the Prime Minister’s residence at 10 Downing Street. Taylor was responsible for the entire Athenian frontage at Romeland House. Much of the interior design and plasterwork was also Taylor’s.

In 1739 Frederick Vandermeulen had been made a naturalised British subject by Royal Assent and later that year he had married Elizabeth Pomfret. Frederick was a popular man by all accounts; having served as Alderman in 1760 he was elected Mayor of St. Albans in 1762, but declined on the grounds that he was not English by birth.

In 1770 Frederick died and was buried in the family vault in St. Albans Abbey. His property passed to his only son, Joseph Pomfret Vandermeulen, who remained at Romeland House and in 1775 married Susannah Hitch of Cambridgeshire. Joseph and Susannah had twelve children. Joseph served as Mayor of St. Albans in 1793 and 1794.

Joseph’s daughter Elizabeth eloped with Thomas Fowler, the musician son of local builder George Fowler. George Fowler and Sons had carried out alterations on Romeland House in the early 1800s, however, Thomas and Elizabeth’s love for one another met with the disapproval of Elizabeth’s father. One night in 1812, Elizabeth and Thomas let themselves out through the side wooden gate in the garden wall at Romeland House to elope together. Soon after the elopement Joseph Pomfret Vandermeulen moved his family away to Cambridgeshire. Thomas and Elizabeth Fowler later returned to set-up home in a cottage in Blue Row opposite Romeland House and Thomas was appointed organist to the Abbey in 1820.

Published in 1908, the book 'A History of the County of Hertford; the City of St Albans', states that "On the north side of Romeland stands Romeland House, a large red brick house with excellent masonry details…the house contains some good specimens of plaster work and is now the property and residence of Canon G.H.P Glossop". Sadly, the St Albans High Street War Memorial records that on 4th May 1915, aged just 19, Second Lieutenant Ernest Glossop of Romeland House, the son of the Rev. Canon Glossop and Frances Mary Glossop, died of his wounds during the First World War and is buried at Bailleul in Northern France. Moreover, it is recorded that the following year on 4th September 1916, aged 21, Ernest’s brother Lieutenant Bertram Glossop of Romeland House, was killed in action and, with no known grave, his death is commemorated at the Thieval Memorial, Sommes, in Northern France.

In the 1950’s Romeland House was extended for use as offices; the rear 1950s extension was rebuilt in 1987. The Mack Brooks Group acquired the offices in 2004 and, after extensive refurbishment, moved into the building on 25th April 2005.