The following is a transcript of a talk given by Mary Reid at
a meeting of the West Watford History Group in April 2012.
~ o O o ~
Background Information:
I became Chairman of the West Watford and Oxhey Garden and Allotment
Society in 1999 and Site Supervisor for my own site (I had had a plot since
1975) soon afterwards.
In 2002 I started researching. I read the Council Minutes up to 1907,
cross-referencing with the Watford Observer reports of the meetings up to 1902.
The Watford Museum has a cuttings book of newspaper reports of Council
meetings in the First World War - not full, but useful.
As Paddock Road celebrated 120 in 2009, I wanted some more recent
information, so have also covered some random years over the decades 20's -
50's.
I have found some maps which are helpful in identifying these sites,
which are no longer here.
Peacocks - 1895, 1900, 1909, 1913
Watford Museum 1951 map of allotments
Ordnance Survey maps and plans - coutresy of Mouchel
Maps of Watford 1766 - 1938 by Mary Forsyth
Aerial photos - 1945/8 - courtesy of Mouchesl
1921 Rookery, p 158, Book of Watford
1962 Scammells p 273, Book of Watford
1948 Council plans of sites.
The West Watford Sites
Farm Terrace: Behind Vicarage Road F.C. The second oldest site,
set up in 1896.
Holywell: Remaining part of a bigger "Holywell" begun in 1900
where Rose Gardens/Laurence Haines School are now. The Council plan shows how
the numbering started there and continued onto the current site. I'm not yet
sure of a start date for this section; it is not in the Peacocks 1913, but it
is on the Mouchel 1914 Segment A8.
Brightwells: Started around 1959 - on Mouchel, segment A8.
Chester Road: I'm not sure of the origins - a 1914 map marks it as an old
gravel pit. It is not on the Council 1948 plans and the first map I've seen
marking it as allotments is 1959. Part of the original Harwoods Farm ?
The 1905 Peacocks map has a small black mark no. 7, as if there was a
building, but there was no index.
Old sites now gone.
Harwoods Farm: A private site set up by the Hon. Reginald Capel, son of
the 6th Earl of Essex in 1881. It was west of Cassio Road between the West
Herts Sports Club and the cemetery. By 1887, there were 8 acres with 110 plots.
The land was sold for building and was replaced by the Council site of Farm
Terrace.
Willow Lane: Bordered by Willow Lane and the extension of Cardiff Road, this
was given up in the 80's and is now designated for the new Hospital expansion.
The ruins of the old Pest House in the corner would be worth exploring.
Tolpits Lane: This pre-dated the current Holywell site and can
be seen on the Peacocks 1913 map. It is still shown on a 1960 map, but not 1965
when the pub and church are shown. Westfield School occupies the W section. The
full extent is visible on the aerial photo.
West Watford: This was by the Isolation Hospital (in Tolpits Lane) and was laid
out by the Council in 1920 to accommodate people who had lost the extra plots
provided during the First World War.
