Watford Heritage Open Days 11-14 September

Events at Little Museum Watford Central Library Watford Labour Church (Scouts Hut) St Michaels Church BRE Sugden House Town Hall St Mary’s Church Fire Museum Holy Rood Church Henry Smith House Beechen Grove Baptist Church Peace Hospice open The Old Free School

Discover Watford’s rich heritage with special free events and openings across the town 2014 Events: 194 Lower High Street, Watford, WD17 2DT Local History museum telling the story of Watford, with Papermouth Presents an outstanding collection of art. The museum is housed in the former Benskins Mansion, a Grade II listed Rootsfest @ Watford Museum Georgian mansion house. 194 Lower High Street, Watford, WD17 2DT Exhibitions include ‘The Great War: Watford 1914’, a Join us for a night of folk music from around the Heritage Lottery funded project which explores the world! Three rooms of music, roots, spoken word initial outbreak of the war in Watford, including the and folk art for everyone to explore. Not to mention launch of an online memorial. The contemporary gallery a chance to explore Watford Museum after dark! Space2 will also showcase the work of Ross Loveday Saturday 13 September, 5 – 10pm and Alex McIntyre from Digswell Arts, who explore the No booking necessary theme of ‘line and location’ in multiple media. Open: Thursday to Saturday, 10am – 5pm...... No booking necessary For more information tel: 01923 232297 Tour of Sugden House Email: [email protected] Sugden House, 2 Farm field off Devereux Drive, Visit: www.watfordmuseum.org.uk Watford, WD17 3DF Forward by the Elected Mayor of Watford, ...... Explore Watford’s modernist gem – Sugden House, which reveals the visionary aesthetics of Peter and A Talk on Frogmore House Alison Smithson’s design in 1956. The house was Dorothy Thornhill Watford Museum, 194 Lower High Street, Watford, commissioned by Derek WD17 2DT and Jean Sugden, who are Watford has a wonderful and rich heritage which we should all be very proud Join Suzannah Fleming from the Temple Trust and inviting people into their of. The Open Day weekend gives us open access to many of the buildings discover the beautiful Grade II listed Frogmore House. home to share this Grade Suzannah will expand upon Frogmore House’s days as II listed building. and structures that have so much local historical significance, which becomes a tannery and the connected history to the River Colne. Thursday 11 September This illustrated talk is a great chance to have a glimpse 11.30am – 12.30pm

increasingly important to us as our town changes and grows. Sugden House into this closed historic building. Booking is essential. Thursday 11 September, 4 – 5pm For more information tel: 01923 232297 Booking Essential. Email: [email protected] ...... Town Hall Chambers Town Hall, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD17 3EX

Frogmore House Frogmore Join us for a guided tour of the Council chamber. Dorothy Thornhill A fantastic opportunity to see inside the Grade II Mayor of Watford listed Town Hall and find out more about the history of the building and the council. www.watford.gov.uk/electedmayor Thursday 11 September, 4pm with Chairman of , George Derbyshire Friday 12 September, 11am with Mayor Dorothy Thornhill Booking is essential For more information tel: 01923 232297 Email: [email protected] Peace Hospice Heritage Tea Room Peace Hospice Care, Peace Drive, Watford, Fashion and Textile Design Fair WD17 3PH The Old Free School, George Street, Watford, Little Cassiobury Art Sale WD18 0BX Little Cassiobury, Hempstead Road, Watford , Explore the exciting world of fashion in the historic Hertfordshire Free School. A great chance to join the celebration Join the Friends of Holy Rood Roman Catholic of British design talent and take home something Little Cassiobury unique for your wardrobe. A pop up café is also for this car park Church available for a cup of tea! art sale. Take Holy Rood RC Church, Exchange Road, Watford, Saturday 13 September11am – 4pm home an original WD18 0PJ No booking necessary piece of art, with proceeds Facebook.com/amanatris-studios Little Cassiobury going towards Peace Memorial Hospital Peace ...... this beautiful Grade II* listed building. Little Step back in time and celebrate Watford Heritage Cassiobury was built late in the 17th century A Talk on Mary Bromet week! The Peace Hospice building was originally as the dower house of the Earls of Essex’s Watford Central Library, Hempstead Road, Watford, the Peace Memorial hospital, built by public Estate. WD17 3EU subscription to mark the First World War and Join Annette Kendall, a Friend of Watford Museum, opened by Princess Mary in 1925. It became Saturday 13 September, 11am – 3pm on an exploration of the life and works of local artist a Peace Hospice in 1992 after a South West No booking necessary. Mary Bromet. Discover Watford Museum’s recently Herts Hospice appeal and enthusiastic backing www.friendsoflittlecassiobury.org.uk acquired Bromet work and visit the Bromet Peace from the Watford Observer. Have the chance to ...... Memorial sculpture. browse lovely stalls and tour this historic Hospice Friday 12 September, 6 – 7pm building. Building Research Saturday 13 September 10am – 12.30pm Holy Rood Roman Catholic Church Booking essential. Establishment – The Mohne For more information tel: 0300 1234 049 No booking required. This Grade I listed Roman Catholic Church will be Email: [email protected] Dam open to explore for Heritage Open Days. Keep ...... BRE, Bucknalls Lane, Watford, WD25 9XX an eye out for stunning stained glass windows, Henry Smith House wall paintings and sculptures. The public are also St Michael and All Angels Church welcome to attend mass 12pm weekdays, 11am 3 to 5 Escourt Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, Saturday. Mildred Avenue, Watford, WD18 7DY WD17 2PT Thursday 11 September 9am -5pm St Michael and All A chance to explore the original architectural Friday 12 September 9am – 5pm Angels Church is a features and stories of Henry Smith House, Saturday 13 September 9am – 5pm very beautiful and little the first purpose built police station in mid/late No booking necessary known church in West Victorian Watford. Information on the history www.holyroodrc.com Watford. Visitors will of the house and Guideposts current and vital ...... be able to join guided mental health support work will also be on tours of the building, display. and there will also be a Free School Saturday 13 September, 2 – 4.30pm St Michael and All Angels coffee morning taking Discover the role played by the Building The Old Free School, George Street, Watford, No booking required. place. St Michael’s is particularly rich in memorials to Research Establishment in the early development WD18 0BX For more information tel: 01923 223554 the fallen of the First World War, and there will also be of the bouncing bomb and visit the once top- www.guidepoststrust.org.uk Explore one of Watford’s oldest buildings, the some special displays related to wartime local history secret model built in 1940, still at the centre of Free School, dating back to 1704. View original and people. There is also a children’s area with toys, BRE’s site near Watford. architectural features and learn more about the puzzles and colouring material. Saturday 13 September 10am – 1pm early education in Watford. Saturday 13 September 9am – 5pm Sunday 14 September 10am – 1pm Friday 12 September10am – 12pm No booking necessary Entry by timed tickets, owing to limited space For more information tel: 01923 247090 Booking essential. Henry Smith House around the model. For more information tel: 01923 232297 www.stmichaels-watford.org.uk Apply for free tickets online via www.bre.co.uk/ Email: [email protected] dambusters West Watford WW1 Exhibition Tour of St Mary’s Church Tombs Watford Museum The Scouts Hut, Durban Road, Watford, Church Street, Watford, WD18 0EG 194 Lower High Street, Watford, WD17 2DT WD18 0RN Join John Way on an exploration of the recently This exhibition put together renovated Heritage Lottery Funded church tombs. The Great War: by members of the West There is also an opportunity to hear about the Watford 1914 grey carriage horses. A ranger will uncover the Watford local history almshouses built in the 1580s. history and secrets of the park, the landscape and group, explores how Lady Saturday 13 September, tours hourly from Heritage Lottery the people who lived there. Hyde’s Scout Group did 10.30am – 4.30pm Funded Project Friday 12 and Saturday 13 their bit for the war in the Tours start at west door of the church. September former Labour church 7 August – 27 September Booking is essential. 4 rides per day starting at 9am, building. It also explores cases of The exhibition focuses on the impact of War For more information tel: 01923 232297 11am, 1pm and 3pm conscientious objectors from Watford and others Email: [email protected] as it was told at the time, concentrating on the a chance for locals to query our database of West ...... effect on those who stayed at home. It features Adult £10, child under 12 £6 Watford combatants. Tea and cake will also be on photographs and postcards from the Watford Booking essential, contact sale! Beechen Grove Baptist Church Museum Collection, which will accompany Debbie Brady, Community Ranger Saturday 13 September 2-5pm Clarendon Road, Watford, WD17 1JJ newspaper articles from the 1914 Watford Observer and photographs and articles from the For more information tel: Sunday 14 September 2-5pm Visit this grade II Romanesque church dating back to Watford Illustrated. 01923 278972 No booking necessary 1877 as it opens its doors to the public for Heritage [email protected] www.westwatfordhistorygroup.org Open Days. The public are also welcome to attend Activities ...... service on Sunday at 10.30am. Sunday 14 September, 10am – 1pm WWI Watford Folk Club Sing-a-long St Mary’s Church & Tower Service 10.30am Come and sing along to WW1 classics and enjoy Church Street, Watford, WD18 0EG No booking necessary. a good cup of tea and cake at the Little Gallery Heritage in Watford Tearoom! Saturday 27 September, 1pm – not just for one Events taking place All ages welcome, free entry weekend! on other weekends Princess Christmas Box Workshop Decorate your very own Christmas tin and find out Watford Borough Council the story of Princess Mary’s special WW1 gift! Planning Policy Hertfordshire Fire Museum Saturday 15 November, 1-2pm Lower High Street, Watford, WD17 2AG Ages 7-12, free but booking is essential The council’s Planning Policy Department work on protecting Watford’s heritage through Based at the both the planning process and more proactive Watford Fire restoration projects. They provide a range of Station, the Related Heritage Events guidance on development that affects heritage St Mary’s Church Hertfordshire assets, such as conservation areas, and produce Watford’s oldest building, this Grade I listed town Fire Museum documents that detail the key characteristics of centre church and tower will be open to the public is the only one historic buildings and structures. On the council’s to enjoy. The public are welcome to attend service in the county Cassiobury Park and website (www.watford.gov.uk) are a wide range at 10.30am on Sunday 14 September. and displays the Whippendell Woods Horse ‘n’ of free documents that provide information on history of fire-fighting from the very early days. Sunday 14 September 12 – 2pm Carriage Heritage Tour the town’s architecturally significant buildings No booking necessary, Open Day: 6th September, 1 – 4pm and structures. In addition, the department are Meet at the sheltered seating area adjacent to limited numbers to visit tower. Booking not required. currently working with conservation specialists Cha Cha Cha café, Cassiobury Park www.stmaryswatford.org www.watfordmuseum.org.uk on a range of projects that will enhance the Explore the history and heritage of Cassiobury in condition and setting of heritage assets. an open carriage drawn by two beautiful dapple The Big Draw: Celebrating Watford’s Animal Farm The Parade, Watford Town Centre Watford Central Library As part of the Big Events calendar, Watford will Discover more about local and family history in Watford be celebrating the National event the Big Draw! Central Library. Visit: www.hertsdirect.org Join us and celebrate the work of Watford born West Watford Local History Group animator Joy Batchelor, the talented artist behind A group dedicated to the advancement of the research, the animated classic Animal Farm. Delve into the collection, preservation and promotion of evidence of the world of drawing and have a go at lino printing history of West Watford. Visit: with Culture Cart, stop motion animation with www.westwatfordhistorygroup.org Quirky Pictures, flipbooks with Roger Kattenhorn and not to mention an array of harvest stalls, I-Spy History Group animals, drawing exchange and chalk paving North Watford History Group is a non-commercial drawing! There will be something for everyone! organisation, run by local residents. Members of the Saturday 4 October 11am – 4pm Group have an interest in the history of the local area. A Free, all ages welcome! range of local history research activities is being pursued by the group. www.north-watford-history.org.uk ...... South West Herts Archaeological & Cassiobury: The Ancient Seat of Historical Society the Earls of Essex The Society was founded in 1954 and formerly carried out a variety of archaeological investigations in South West Herts. Some of its finds may be seen in museums in By Paul Rabbitts and Sarah Kerenza Priestley Watford and elsewhere in the area. Currently the Society provides a varied programme of lectures by experts in local, national and international topics. Monthly meetings are held, for more details please see information below. The society will be holding a ‘Then and Now – 60th Anniversary Conference’ on Saturday 11 October, at the Watford Ex-Services & Social Club. For more information on speakers, fee and booking please contact Watford Museum 01923 232297, www.watfordmuseum.org.uk www.watfordevents.info/arch Watford Museum There are always events, exhibitions and projects going on at Watford Museum. To join our emailing list for regular updates email: [email protected] www.watfordmuseum.org.uk This new book explores the history of Cassiobury, [email protected] a fascinating story that has never been told Watford Museum, 194 Lower High Street, Watford, in book-form before! Using original research WD17 2DT and Watford Museum’s world renowned art Tel: 01923 232297 and photographic collections, respected parks Open every Thursday to Saturday 10am – 5pm historian Paul Rabbitts, and museum curator Sarah Priestley share the story of Cassiobury from Watford’s Big Events monastic lands, to the seat of the Earls of Essex, to Watford’s Big Events are the largest ever outdoor the much-loved public park we know today. entertainment programme to happen in the town, and will illuminate the regenerated Parade and other public £20 - on sale at Watford Museum from late spaces. Events will encompass dance, film, animation October 2014. and music and host Watford’s flagship events, Imagine For more information visit: www.paulrabbitts.co.uk Watford and Watford Live! There’s an event for everyone, from nature walks in the park to charity fun runs. www.watfordbigevents.co.uk