Did you know that...
North Watford is first mentioned in a 12th-century document through which King Henry I gave permission for a local market. Until the 19th century, the zone was predominantly farmland. Callowland Farm and Bushey Hall Farm were the largest farms in the area. Housing construction started in 1890 after the Earl of Essex bought Callowland farm. The area borrowed Callowland’s name until 1916 when it got its current name. Red brick terraced houses dating from the 19th century dominate the area. Wells Watford Brewery was one of the first companies established here. The founder Ralph Thorpe was also the mayor and one of the founders of the Watford Football Club.
Dr. Tibbles’ Vi-Cocoa Company opened in 1899. Rumor has it that some of the products contained cocaine. In 1903, the building caught fire. It was the largest incident of this type in the area. In 1951, the furniture company Hille came to North Watford. Its polypropylene stacking chair designed by Robin Day turned out to be a real success and became the best selling chair in the world. Odham Press building is a WD24 landmark. It was built in 1954 and it features a clock tower that holds a water tank.
John Hudson and John Hunt designed Christ Church in North Watford. In 1904, Princess Helena the fifth daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert laid the church’s foundation stone. The Old Station House is a grade II listed building. It was built in 1836 and it was the original local station. The former station is one of the few remaining buildings that feature early railway architecture. A royal waiting room was built for Dowager Queen Adelaide while she was living at Cassiobury House. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited the station in 1843 on their way to Tamworth.
