Leavesden Hospital and Abbots Langley were celebrated as part of Heritage Day at the weekend.

Three Rivers Museum, in High Street, hosted the heritage day event, which highlighted the history of Leavesden hospital with lots of newly found pieces from the 1800s.

Watford Observer:

Among the pieces was a photograph of a vicar called JR Watson, who worked at the hospital between 1872 and 1902.

Martin Brooks, who is on the board of directors at Three Rivers Museum, said: "It was a completely one off photo."

Also featured in the collection was a stool that was donated by the daughter of a lady who worked at the hospital in the 1970s. It was made by one of the patients as part of their therapy. Visitors were also able to see a ledger book from the first year the hospital was in operation, showing what the staff salaries were like at the time.

Mr Brooks said: "We had the normal Abbots Langley display. Surprisingly, there isn’t that much in that display, but perhaps a lot of people like to keep family heirlooms for sentimental reasons."

The event was sponsored by Three Rivers District Council chairman, Les Mead, and was organised to raise money for two new rooms.

Mr Brooks said: "It was absolutely brilliant. I was very impressed with it. I got to meet the High Sheriff and she was just lovely and seemed to really understand what we were trying to do. In the long run I think we are going to get a lot of support from her. Les Mead did an excellent job in organising it. It was really well attended, once it was open to the public in the afternoon we had a lot of people coming in off the street.

"It really showed everyone how much stuff is actually there at the museum and why we need those extra two rooms. The more people that showed up, the more easily Les Mead could go to the council and say they need the rooms. As well as raising awareness though, it was a celebration of the richness of Three Rivers."