LOST WATFORD

A new book of historic images of Watford charts the changing town through more than a century.

- John Cooper

Standing on the steps of the dominant Watford Town Hall building today, the centre of local civic administration, watching the rush-hour traffic streaming relentlessly down the underpass or heading towards the roundabout, it is difficult to imagine that over a hundred years ago this was a peaceful area known as the Four Crossroads. In those days, all that existed was a signpost indicating the directions to the High Street, St Albans Road, Hempstead Road and Rickmansworth Road, the only traffic being the horse-drawn haywains going to market. A short distance from the crossroads was – and still is, although much changed – the pond, a picturesque oasis where in the early days of the 20th century, carters used to water their horses in the heat of a summer’s afternoon, or where excited youngsters would sail a toy yacht. Today, with the area pedestrianised and a footbridge traversing the water, it now provides a quiet haven to sit and while away a few leisurely moments.

One of the more unpopular losses to the town was that of the historic, castellated, Tudorstyle Cassiobury Park gates in Rickmansworth Road, which were the entrance to the long driveway leading to Cassiobury House. It was on Friday 24 July 1970 when the demolition men started to reduce part of Watford’s heritage to rubble in order to facilitate a road widening scheme – an act that was deeply felt by Watfordians.

‘The lasting legacy is the beautiful Cassiobury Park, now the jewel in Watford’s crown’