In the 8th century Offa II of Mercia is said to have founded a Benedictine Abbey at St Albans. Few traces remain of this and later structures, but in the 11th century a new abbey was built. The gateway, constructed in 1365, was the only part of the monastery buildings (apart from the church) to survive the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539. It was used for a while as a prison, and is now part of St Albans School. This student is walking home carrying his skateboard after a long day of classes.