This century-old picture is a reminder of how rural parts of Watford once were because it is thought to have been taken along what became one of the town’s busiest roads.
The Watford Observer has again linked up with its friends at Watford Museum to look back at structures, objects or businesses from the town’s past that have either disappeared or been relocated and this week we recall this image of a summer harvest believed to have been captured along St Albans Road.
The museum’s volunteer archivist Christine Orchard said: “This commonly used method of harvest, with cut crops in stooks, has long since been replaced by mechanical methods. I assume this photo was taken because this particular summer was a bumper harvest. Sadly, no details are known about the people.
“The gentleman to the left, in a waistcoat, might be the farmer and the three in military uniform are presumably home on a kind of 'harvest leave'.
“It is thought the photo was taken somewhere along St Albans Road and could be farmland belonging to Bushey Lodge Farm whose farm house was roughly where Woodmere Avenue meets Bushey Mill Lane. Unfortunately, there aren’t any landmarks to be certain.”
Watford Museum is open Thursday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm.
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