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In 1778, Daniel Defoe described Watford as a "genteel market town, very long, having but one street." [9]
Oct 8, 2024 · Defoe in his Tour (ed. 1778) describes Watford as being a 'genteel markate town, . . . very long, having but one street,' and this is a sufficient description up to the middle of the nineteenth century, when the town began slowly to expand under the impetus derived from the opening of the London and North Western Railway in 1838.
Watford has an ancient parish church, free library, and school of science and art. In the town and neighbourhood are a silk factory, straw-plait factory, wood-turning works, breweries, papermills, and some other industrial establishments. The London Orphan Asylum is situated at Watford.
Sep 16, 2018 · 1928 – Watford’s war memorial, featuring three bronze statues, by local resident Mary Bromet, is placed outside the Peace Memorial Hospital 1930 – The former Watford Workhouse becomes a hospital, later to be called Watford General Hospital. 1938 – Watford Colosseum opens as the Watford Town Hall Assembly Rooms
By Mary Forsyth. Watford began as a settlement in the 12th century when the Abbot of St Albans who owned the land here was given permission to hold a weekly market. He chose a site on a slight rise above the ford over the river Colne, along a route already used by travellers.
The town of Watford should not be confused with the famous motorway services at Watford Gap, located in Northamptonshire several miles further up the M1. Its name is taken from a lesser known Northamptonshire village also called Watford.
This site provides a brief history of the town from the twelfth century to date, and a place for the community to share photographs and their memories of Watford. Read about how to find your way around the site.
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