24 Jun 2026
A blue plaque commemorating iconic local philantrophist Samuel Ryder has been unveiled at the site of his former seed and exhibition hall.
The plaque is at 27a Holywell Hill, St Albans, a Grade II listed building designed by the architect Percival Blow in 1931 and now occupied by Moka Indian restaurant and previously Café Rouge.
Samuel Ryder (1858-1936) was a seed merchant and former Mayor of St Albans who founded the Ryder Cup.
Tuesday’s ceremony was attended by the Mayor of St Albans, the Dean of St Albans Cathedral, trustees of the Samuel Ryder Foundation, and members of the Verulam Golf Club.
The guest of honour was Peter Fry, author of Samuel Ryder: The Man Behind the Ryder Cup, the definitive biography of Ryder, first published in 2000. Relatives of Samuel Ryder were also present, adding a personal dimension to the occasion.
A display about Samuel Ryder’s life, carefully researched and put together by Steve Potter, was on show, offering those present an insight into the man behind the legacy.
The Moka restaurant, owned by Sanjay Seghal and managed by Manveer Bisht, which now occupies the building, kindly offered superb hospitality to all those gathered.
Professor Tim Boatswain, chair of Blue Plaques St Albans, said: “Samuel Ryder’s legacy as a businessman, a mayor, and the founder of the Ryder Cup is woven into the fabric of St Albans. This plaque ensures that his remarkable story will be visible to residents and visitors alike for generations to come.
“It is also wonderful to see this great Percival Blow building being used for such a vibrant modern purpose. The Moka restaurant is a real asset for St Albans, and it is fitting that this fine building is once again at the heart of our city’s life.”
He also announced that Moka has been nominated for a St Albans Civic Society architectural award in recognition of its sensitive conservation work.
Peter Fry added: “It is a privilege to see Samuel Ryder’s contribution to both St Albans and the world of golf permanently recognised in this way. He was a man of extraordinary energy, generosity, and quiet determination. This plaque will help future generations understand just how much they owe to a seedsman from Holywell Hill.”
Samuel Ryder was a prominent figure in St Albans, serving as a Liberal Councillor from 1903 and as Mayor in 1905. He built his fortune through a pioneering mailorder seed business, selling “penny packets” of seeds that made gardening accessible to working people.
He later commissioned the architect Percival Blow to design the Seed and Exhibition Hall on Holywell Hill, a building that still stands as a testament to his entrepreneurial vision.
Ryder’s best-known legacy, however, is the Ryder Cup. In 1926, following an informal golf tournament between Great Britain and the USA, Ryder donated the trophy that would bear his name, establishing one of the world’s most prestigious sporting competitions.
The new blue plaque ensures that Ryder’s contributions to St Albans and to international sport are permanently recognised. It joins an increasing trail of plaques across the city celebrating figures of local and national significance.
