Nostalgic memories of Watford's local history
Share your own memories of Watford and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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Displaying Memories 31 - 40 of 45 in total
I can remember my mum taking us to Watford market, I just loved it, I was about 8 or 9, and loved looking at all the cheap jewellery, and coloured rubber balls, and toys, it had such a magical feel about it to me. Mum always had to have a bowl of cockles with vinegar and pepper on them, from the fish stall. We would just wander around, there were puppies for sale and kittens! And mum used to buy some Gibsons ...see more
I worked in this cinema in 1960, just tearing tickets. There was a woman who worked in the confectionery kiosk who had been there since it opened; her first job had been as pianist during the silent era. She went on to work until the cinema was closed and pulled down. (Sorry I do not know her name). It was during my sojourn there that the film "Psycho" was distributed and I recall that during the week it as ...see more
I remember walking in deep snow in Watford in January 1982. I had to carry my son David Norfolk on my back through the snow to reach Field Infants School. When we got there I discovered that the school had tried to close for the day by phoning parents to warn them. The message failed to reach our family as we had very recently moved into Oxhey Village from Northwood so our David (coming up for his ...see more
My great grandfather was in the met police force in his day. His name Walter Lewis Cox.He lived in a big house 43 capel road. I would like to know if the address still stands and what is the dwelling. Walter lived in that house for over 50yrs his serviving daughter at the time of his death in 1966 sold the property some yrs later her name was Edith Cox she sometimes got Marjorie did anyone know this lady and are there any photograghs of Capel road old or new. I would be most greatful
my memories of Watford start in 1947 when I was born in the front bedroom of our house in Liverpool Road from the 1950s till approx 1968 there is not much I didn't know about the town I first went to school at Watford fields changing to Victoria boys school. We did our train spotting at Watford Heath where the train had to slow down to take on water from the chutes that ran between the lines. the cattle market was ...see more
My family moved to Watford in 1953 to a large house in Rosslyn Road, a side road within a few yards of the Rickmansworth Road right opposite the Town Hall concert hall entrance. I spent virtually all my childhood there plus the teen years and left when I was 20 to live in Dorset. My enduring memories of Watford include the wonderful Mocha Bar on the Parade where we could buy real Italian Espresso Coffee. The ...see more
Close to the Grand Union Canal which runs through Cassiobury Park is a splendid miniature railway. It loops through woodland, has level crossings over footpaths and criss-crosses several lines before returning to the terminus beside the canal. I remember going on this as a child myself, and then taking my son David in the 1980s. More recently I took my niece for a train ride in 2002 one hot ...see more
It was always my understanding that the person buried had asked for a fig to be put in one hand and a plum stone in the other and if there were a God, the fig would grow!
I remember seeing this tree in St. Mary's churchyard. It was growing out of a grave, and the story was that the tree was growing out of the buried person's body.
Around 1954 my Mother took me to Watford shopping and the market. We lived at the time in South Oxhey, we would catch the train from Carpenders Park Station and get off at Watford High St station which was the lower part of the high street. This particular day I remember walking up the high street holding my mothers hand and I remember a lot of people running and panicking. My mum held me tight and rushed me into a ...see more