A Destructive Fire at Watford

In 1853 the Illustrated London News reported that the corn exchange and ancient market house at Watford had been destroyed by fire. Read the Full Report to see details of who was affected.

I have appended to the report an engraving showing the old market house, from Hassell's Picturesque Rides and Walks with Excursions by Water, Thirty Miles round the British Metropolis, published in 1817/18.

The Illustrated London News Online

The Illustrated London News has been digitised and is available to members of subscriber organisations. In Hertfordshire you can use it either in a public library or at home (assuming you are a library member). Your own library may also have access arrangements. I decided to see if it had any information on previous drought conditions in Hertfordshire and found this picture from 1934. (Overseas visitors to this site should note that, at a time when most reservoirs should be brim full, water restrictions are in place over virtually all of South East England.)