Mr Pugh, designer of the Scammell Pioneer , driving himself up the wall in 1929 The
Watford Observer has teamed up with Watford Museum and its curator Sarah Priestley to take a journey back to the town’s past through items or places of historical significance. We ve reached the halfway stage of our journey through a history of Watford in 50 objects and number 25 was produced in the town for more than 60 years and will always be one of its finest engineering achievements, the Scammell lorry. Sarah said: The history of Scammell’s goes back to the late Victorian era as a Spitalfields-based wheelwright and coachbuilder, but its Watford story begins with the opening of a factory in Watford in 1922 to build lorries.
Changing street names reflecting “negative history” has not been ruled out as councillors agreed a new street naming policy should be adopted in Watford. A task group was set up at Watford Borough Council in 2020 after the emergence of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and to respond to the disproportionate impact Covid-19 has had on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities. The group wanted to explore the issues that mattered to BAME communities and develop recommendations that would deliver change and improved outcomes . But they also recognised the BLM movement, which according to a council report, has highlighted symbols of the past, including street names which memorialise individuals who played a role in the slave trade and British imperialism .
The coronets of the Earl and Countess of Essex. Credit: David Parker The
Watford Observer has teamed up with Watford Museum and its curator Sarah Priestley to take a journey back to the town’s past through items or places of historical significance. The 23nd item in ‘a history of Watford in 50 objects’ are two of the most glamorous objects in the museum s collection - the coronets of the Earl and Countess of Essex. Sarah said: These small crowns with rich velvet and trimmed with ermine would have been worn for the coronation of a new monarch. Only those of the title of baron/baroness or above are entitled to wear a coronet, and you can tell these were specifically made for an earl and countess because of the decoration of strawberry leaves and ‘pearls’.
Terry Challis allegorical painting The Watford Observer has teamed up with Watford Museum and its curator Sarah Priestley to take a journey back to the town’s past through items or places of historical significance. The 22nd item in ‘a history of Watford in 50 objects’ is a poster produced by this newspaper - slightly scuffed around the edges and with tell tale drawing pin holes in the corners - that is one of the most popular items in the museum s Watford Football Club gallery. Sarah said: The poster celebrates a painting by Terry Challis who was for many years the much loved cartoonist for the sports pages of the Watford Observer.
Watford mayor Peter Taylor says the the Town Hall Quarter, formerly knows as the Cultural Hub and part of the Watford High Street (North) masterplan, will create an attractive and distinctive new neighbourhood in this part of the town, promoting Watford’s fantastic cultural and heritage sectors and playing an important role in our commitment to fostering new businesses and a strong local economy .
Peter Taylor If all goes to plan, at least 300 homes are expected to be built on car park land behind the town hall, while there will be investment at Watford Colosseum, which the council says reflects its commitment to building on Watford’s outstanding reputation for culture, entertainment and live performances .