The day we became a borough

So began a lengthy piece in the Watford Observer of October 21, 1922, celebrating the day Watford became a borough.

As you might expect – and rightly so – the Watford Observer devoted many, many column inches – plus a special souvenir pullout – to the occasion. There isn’t room to reprint it all here, so here are some edited highlights.

It begins: “It is well over 30 years since Incorporation was first discussed at Watford and it is probable that, but for the war, a Charter would have been obtained six or seven years ago.

“Leaving out of account the persistent advocacy of Incorporation by the Observer, the body which has played a greater part than any other in the movement was undoubtedly the Watford Tradesmen’s Association. In 1910, they appointed a special committee to visit a number of boroughs of similar size to Watford, and were hoping to complete their campaign... when the outbreak of war put an abrupt end to their activities.

“Prior to that, however, it had been made clear that Incorporation was regarded as desirable by practically all parties and classes in the town. Here and there were to be found opponents, but their number was always negligible.

“When peace was declared and municipal life began to take on a normal aspect, the question was again raised.

“The council appointed an Incorporation Committee in May 1920. One of the first decisions arrived at was that the area of the proposed new borough should be the existing urban district with the addition of the sites acquired for housing.

“The work in connection with the petition was well organised. The result was that 60 per cent [of householders], representing over half the rateable value of the town, signed. The petition was sent to the Privy Council early this year [1922] and a local enquiry held in March. There was no opposition and the evidence was completed in two or three hours. The Commissioner remarked at the close: ‘When you agree in Watford, your unanimity is wonderful!’

"The application proved successful and the Charter was sealed and stamped on August 28. Its reception was fixed for October 18 – hence the Charter Day rejoicings of this week.

“Under the scheme the town council do not take over the control of the police, nor do they interfere with the existing arrangements as to education and the appointments of analyst and inspector of weights and measures. The council will consist of 24 members and eight Aldermen. The elections, on November 1, will be on a different ward system from that under the Urban District Council.

"The old wards were five in number – King’s, Queen’s, St Andrew’s, North and Oxhey – and 21 members were returned. Now North Ward has been split into two [Harebreaks and Bradshaw] and King’s into three [King’s, Harwoods and Cassiobury]. Each of the eight wards will return three members. The area of the borough is 2,240 acres, population (1921 census) is 45,910, birth rate (1921) 19.1 and death rate (1921) 9.3.”

On to Charter Day itself. It was “except for one or two showers” an “auspicious” day weather-wise. “Just as the ceremony of receiving the Charter had concluded, the sky became overcast and rain fell but the sun soon came out again and for the rest of the afternoon and evening the conditions were favourable,” wrote the Observer.

The report continues: “Long before noon, crowds began to gather in High Street and to line the pavements. Those taking part in the procession began to assemble soon after 10 o’clock at the borough boundary at Haydon Road. Here a platform had been erected; it was covered with red baize, carried a score or more of chairs and at its back floated the Union Jack, flanked on either side by coloured bunting.”

The report then lists all those who officiated from “the Charter Mayor, the Earl of Clarendon” through the mace bearer (Sgt-Major C Maxted) to Judge Dawson Crawford, a number of ladies and members of the Urban District Council and other public bodies”.

“The uniforms and robes which were worn, and the municipal maces and swords carried, contributed to a brilliant spectacle”, the report adds.

“There was little time to wait before the arrival of the Charter; in fact, some ten minutes before the hour fixed, cheering announced the arrival of the motor car in which were seated Mr Dennis Herbert (chairman of the Incorporation Committee), and Mr T.R. Clark (chairman of the Urban District Council) and Mr G Blake (vice chairman). Mr Dennis Herbert was in Court dress and as soon as the car had pulled up, he rose from his seat and addressed the Charter Mayor, those on the platform standing meanwhile.

“He said: ‘The people of Watford lately besought of his Majesty that their town might be raised to the position and dignity of a Borough as befitting its size and importance. Their request was put forward in a petition, signed by a majority... of the inhabitants. His Majesty was graciously pleased to comply with that request and has granted a Charter of Incorporation, in which your Lordship is designated as First or Charter Mayor, Mr Councillor R.A. Thorpe as your deputy and Mr William Hudson as First or Charter Town Clerk. I, therefore, as chairman of the Incorporation Committee, in company with the chairman and vice-chairman of the Urban District Council, have the honour to have received this morning from his Majesty’s Secretary of State, and to hand now to you the original Charter given by warrant under the King’s sign manual.’”

The Mayor the received the Charter, said a few words of thanks and handed it to the chairman of the council for safekeeping.

He then read out a telegram to be sent to the King, George V, thanking him for granting the charter. “The telegram was at once despatched and a reply was received in time to be read by the Mayor at the subsequent meeting in the Palce Theatre,” the report notes.

Then it was time for the procession, and looking at the list of those involved, it must have gone on for some time. Police horses were first, followed by the local fire brigades, detachments of the Herts Territorial Regiment (with band and guns), the British Legion, Watford Company of Church Lads’ Brigade, Girl Guides, Boy Scouts, Watford Grammar School and other Watford schoolchildren...  the list goes on and on including, yes, the good old Watford Observer, sandwiched between the chairman and members of the Watford and West Herts Medical Society and various magistrates.

Among the more unusual vehicles was, it seems, “a full size model of Stephenson’s Rocket”.

After that, and other train exhibits, came the trade cars from “such prominent firms as the Cobra and Delectaland”. Other highlights listed included “a car on which a shoemaker was at work”.

The report concluded: “The procession, which was of great length, travelled along High Street, St Albans Road, Station Road, Woodford Road, Queen’s Road and High Street, to the Market Place.”

Once it got there, so many people had gathered “that it was found impossible to clear an open space for the proclamation of the Charter” so the officials addressed everyone from the balcony of the Essex Arms hotel.

After various speeches, the Lord’s Prayer and much cheering, a banquet was held at Buck’s Restaurant. After that, came a public meeting at the Palace Theatre with many more speeches covering not only why Incorporation was a good idea but also containing much speculation on the future.

Lord Clarendon, when he rose to address the meeting, was received with loud and prolonged cheers and a quick chorus of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” with three cheers first for His Lordship and then three more for Lady Clarendon. The Charter Mayor began with the King’s reply to their telegram, which he concluded: “the King trusts that the Borough of Watford may long prosper and flourish.” Lord Clarendon said he hoped so too and “they could all assure [the King] they would one and all do their best to merit the high honour he had conferred upon them.”

The afternoon featured many speeches and much rejoicing but even when “God Save the King” was sung, that wasn’t the end of Charter Day. Still to come was a firework display in Cassiobury Park. It was so popular three people were crushed leaving the Park and 16 suffered “fainting fits” but it seems the worst injury in the evening was “a burn of the eye from a firework spark”. A great time was clearly had by most, if not all.