We often think museums have been around almost as long as their exhibits, but that’s often not the case. It was barely three decades ago, in 1982, Watford Museum celebrated the end of its first year with an exhibition featuring the work of Sir Hubert von Herkomer.

Here’s how then chief reporter David Cutler reviewed the exibition in the Watford Observer of February 19, 1982.

He wrote: “To visit the Herkomer exhibition staged by Watford Museum as a climax to its first year is also to step back into the pages of Bushey history.

“Although a native of Bavaria, Sir Hubert von Herkomer lived in Bushey from 1873 until his death in 1914. He was one of the village’s most colourful characters and, without doubt, responsible for laying the foundation for Bushey’s painting heritage.

“It is fitting that in this, the first major exhibition to be staged on Herkomer since his death, the display is dominated by the original of Our Village.

“As most Bushey people will know, this is the famous painting depicting children on the green in front of St James’s Church and featuring the giant elm felled only five years ago through disease. The painting is on loan from Aberdeen Art Gallery.

“Many art galleries, as well as relatives and individuals, have loaned pictures and other items of interest associated with the artist who, as the display and the catalogue make clear, had a passion for work throughout most of his 65 years.

“To visit the exhibition and study the carefully compiled catalogue in conjunction with the exhibits, is to follow the life of an artist whose school of painting in Bushey produced many more artists of repute.

“Herkomer fulfilled a life-long dream when he built the Romanesque and Gothic fairytale mansion in Melbourne Road, Bushey, which he called Lululaund.

“Also to be seen in the exhibition are such well-known Herkomer paintings as On Strike, the artist’s Royal Academy diploma picture, and Hard Times, which had its origin in Coldharbour Lane and is on loan from Manchester Art Gallery.

“The thing which most impressed those who attended the private preview before Saturday’s opening was that so much of Herkomer’s work had been assembled under one roof for the first time.

“The museum curator, Mrs Helen Poole, said some offers of help had come from as far afield as Thailand and the United States.

“Among those present for the preview was Ms Lee Edwards from New York who has been extensively researching the life and work of Herkomer as a thesis for Columbia University.

“She has visited the Herkomer State Museum at Landberg which is about eight miles from the village of Waal where the artist was born and found a relative of Herkomer in Florida who was able to show her many letters.

“Others present for the preview included Mrs Lulu Herkomer, a daughter-in-law still living in Bushey.

“From Llanelli in Wales came members of the Mansell Lewis family whose grandfather was closely associated with the artist and bought a number of his paintings.

“Miss Cox, of Oundle Avenue, Bushey, who is a relative of H.T. Cox who was Herkomer’s engraver, was also there.”

ONLINE TOMORROW: More stories from Februaries past

These stories formed part of the Nostalgia column first published in the Watford Observer on February 7, 2014. The next Nostalgia column – a Valentine's Day special featuring a matchmaking mayor, a heart-shaped bed and a lovesick ghost, among many other things – can be found in this week’s Watford Observer (dated February 14, 2014 and available in newsagents now, priced just 90p) or read online here from 4pm on Thursday.

If you have anything to add – or would like to tell us anything you think our readers may enjoy about Watford’s history – we are always pleased to hear from you. Contact Nostalgia, by clicking here watfordnostalgia@london.newsquest.co.uk