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Dist:0.2km<br/>This is one of several attractive plantings at the Rickmansworth Road entrance to the park. The original castellated entrance gates to the Cassiobury estate and Watford Lodge were both in this vicinity until they were demolished in 1967 during the widening of the road.
©Nigel Cox
Dist:0.2km<br/>The snow has built up on the north side of the lamppost, the trees, the seats and the litter bin but not on the ground.
©Nigel Cox
Dist:0.2km<br/>Looking northwest over The Pond towards the Town Hall (not in sight). The Pond, frequented by a heron which appears completely unfazed by the passing public, has been in existence, although with many transformations, for centuries.
©Cathy Cox
Dist:0.2km<br/>The Peace Hospice is run by a charitable trust and provides specialised palliative care for people with terminal illnesses in the South West Hertfordshire area. The building was originally the Peace Memorial Hospital and the Hospital Records Database http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/hospitalrecords/details.asp?id=739&page=68 has this to say about it: The Peace Memorial Hospital in Watford began life as the Watford District Cottage Hospital in the 1880s. However, by 1917 the idea of replacing the cottage Hospital with a more modern hospital, as a memorial to those who had died in the First World War and as a permanent memorial to peace, was discussed. The project was financed on the whole by public subscription and donation. The Watford Board of Guardians bought the old cottage hospital and a new building was erected in Rickmansworth Road. The Watford and District Peace Memorial Hospital was opened in 1925 by Princess Mary. On 5 July 1948 control of the hospital passed to the North West Metropolitan Hospital Board and became known as the Watford Peace Memorial Hospital. In 1965 the hospital moved to a site in Vicarage Road on the edge of Watford and became a part of Watford General Hospital. In 1985 the remaining services in the original building were moved to the Shroedells (the old workhouse) site and in 1986 the buildings were demolished. This last statement is patently untrue. The two wings and some of the clutter behind were demolished but the central building was restored and refurbished to accommodate the hospice which opened, originally as a day centre, in 1996, and then for inpatients in 2001 http://www.peacehospice.co.uk/
©Cathy Cox
Dist:0.3km<br/>The Pond at the northern end of the High Street in Watford was originally a natural feature and was, in the past, used to water horses and cattle. It has undergone many changes in its history and at present is a long rectangle with a low wall surrounding it. At the northern end, directly in front of the photographer, is a raised feature with water falling into the lower level where the boat-shaped features are. There are also two small fountains, one of which is visible in front of the patch of reeds. Rocky islands provide places for the ducks and, in the last couple of years, moorhens to breed. There are numerous fish in the pond, invisible for the most part beneath the dark green water. There are large areas of reedmace, water lilies and irises. The Pond is currently in danger of being 'downsized' although it appears to have been reprieved from being filled in completely. A campaign is being waged to save it and its wildlife. Space is, apparently, required for "an ice rink, Ferris wheel or urban beach." The area around the Pond comprises the 'café quarter' with pubs, clubs and eating places. The Christmas lights are in place but unlit at this time of the morning, apart from one lonely rebel on the right hand side.
©Cathy Cox
Dist:0.3km<br/>The water was a rather alarming pea-green soup colour contrasting with the whiteness of the snow on the roofs.
©Nigel Cox
Dist:0.3km<br/>Yes, this is a urinal. The circular outline in the foreground is the roof of a pop-up urinal, one of two installed in Watford town centre for the purpose of reducing the necessity to use shop doorways after a night on the - er - town. Apparently they rise up at around 8pm on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays and sink at about 7 or 8am the following morning. I have no idea where the controller with, presumably, a remote is located but the command centre must surely be in contact with the CCTV operators to ensure no-one is standing on the pod when it pops up. My sources tell me that the arrival of these structures has had no discernible effect on the peeing habits of the revellers as, although they are strategically placed close to the main watering holes, they are so discreet (the urinals that is, not the merrymakers) that they are rarely noticed and the few punters who do spot them think they are drinking fountains. Judge for yourself http://healthmatic.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=56&Itemid=216 On a more serious note, no similar provision has been made for the ladies who still have to find a dark alley for a moment's privacy - not a very safe option.
©Cathy Cox
Dist:0.3km<br/>The High Street is pedestrianized. The flyover was built in 1972 and allows traffic from the A411 Exchange Road to reach Beechen Grove (one-way from left to right in this photograph). The coats of arms of Watford and its five twin towns are on the flyover parapet. They are, from left to right, Mainz, Nanterre, Novgorod, Watford, Pesaro and Wilmington. The twinning with Novgorod, which happened in 1984, met with some local opposition and the forming of the WART group (Watford Against Russian Twinning!).
©Nigel Cox
Dist:0.3km<br/>This large pedestrian and cycle underpass beneath Rickmansworth Road passes between Hempstead Road and the Parade and High Street. The underpass emerges on the south side close to the Pond [[1629876]]. The building on the right is part of the Town Hall. The large building dominating the skyline is the YMCA building situated in Charter Place and housing a hostel and fitness centre. It was built, along with Charter Place in the early 1970s.
©Cathy Cox
Dist:0.3km<br/>The Town Hall's foundation stone was laid in May 1938, and despite the start of the Second World War it was formally opened in January 1940, having cost about £186,000 to build. Watford Borough Council's website is here http://www.watford.gov.uk/ccm/portal/
©Nigel Cox
Dist:0.3km<br/>
©Steve Daniels
Dist:0.3km<br/>
©Steve Daniels
Dist:0.3km<br/>Looking south east towards the High Street. This end of the High Street is the 'café quarter' with numerous pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants.
©Cathy Cox
Dist:0.3km<br/>Watford Central Baths has finally been reduced to a heap of rubble. Watford Library can be seen behind the trees in the centre of the photograph and the building to the right of the trees is the Horns pub.
©Cathy Cox
Dist:0.3km<br/>The demolition continues. The side walls are going and the trees flanking the north-east side of the building have been grubbed out. The blue pool cover, however, is still in place as is the PA system above it. Watford Borough Council plans to replace the building with a new leisure centre with a pool, gym and sports hall http://www.watford.gov.uk/ccm/content/leisure-and-community/leisure-centres-in-watford.en
©Cathy Cox

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