Asked by the Coroner at a Hemel Hempstead inquest to describe what he saw of a fatal accident, a man in a car involved opened with: “Well, sir. I was sitting in the back of the car looking at nothing, talking to my daughter-in-law about nothing in particular and not thinking about nothing at all, when there was a terrific crash, the car toppled gently over and there we were all of a heap, sir.”

[From the Watford Observer of February 17, 1934]

The second Battle of St Albans was fought on February 17, 1461.

In the first battle, on May 21, 1455, Henry VI was taken prisoner but possession of the Monarch was regained in the second encounter and records say that “St Peter’s Church and churchyard were stuffed full with bodies of the slain”.

The royal party resorted to the Abbey and were received “with hymns and songs” by the abbot and monks.

John Wheathampstead, the abbot at the time, was granted a charter by King Edward IV (the Earl of March of the conflict between the Lancastrians and the Yorkists) which added to the civil powers of the abbots “within their towns of St Albans, Watford and Barnet, and also the Hundred of Cassio and the whole Liberty of St Alban.”

[From the Watford Observer of February 15, 1946]

Lunch-time strip shows at two Watford pubs have been called off following discussions between police and breweries.

Chief Supt Roy Purton, head of Watford Police, had informal talks with Ind Coope and Trumans Brewery directors on Friday. As a result, shows planned for the Leviathan and Verulam Arms pubs, in St Albans Road, on Sunday were cancelled.

Last week officials from County Hall ruled that stripping did not conflict with the entertainment licences for the two pubs. But Chief Supt Purton said legal problems connected with obscenity laws could arise. He also feared the shows would attract the wrong type of people to Watford.

[From the Watford Observer of February 16, 1973]

The 18th Century pewter communion plate, which disappeared from Chipperfield Baptist Church 100 years ago, has been found in a Kensington antique shop.

While Mr C Savory, of Hatfield, was browsing round the shop, which is in Brompton Road, he noticed a set of plate bearing the inscription: “Presented by Mr Robert Davis to the Dissenting Meeting Place of Chipperfield, Hertfordshire.” He telephoned a friend [who lives in the village] who herself then inspected the plate, and it was ascertained that it originally belonged to the Baptist Church.

Mr C.S. Walden, of Chipperfield Road, Chipperfield, treasurer of the Baptist Church, told an “Observer” reporter this week that the pewter set, which consists of two plates, two chalices and an urn, may have been sold in 1860 to meet the cost of the present silver set. He did not think it had been stolen. He went on to say that steps were now being taken to repurchase the plate.

[From the Watford Observer of February 24, 1961]

These stories conclude the Nostalgia column first published in the Watford Observer on February 14, 2014. The next Nostalgia column – with information on the naming of Watersmeet, a talk by BBC man John Timpson and the birthday gigt that kept on giving, among many other things – can be found in this week’s Watford Observer (dated February 21, 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