Forge in Red Lion Yard (From Watford Observer)

Forge in Red Lion Yard

11:52am Tuesday 16th June 2009 in

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Following a number of correspondents, a photograph of two men working at a forge in Watford also identified by reader Dorothy Woodward.

Ms Woodward said: “The forge pictured in the Watford Observer, dated January 9, 2009, was in Red Lion Yard.

This picture prompted Dorothy Woodward to write in.

“My grandfather, William Grimsdell, moved from Amersham to Watford in 1895 and worked as a farrier at Neil’s Yard, High Street, Watford.

“In 1908, he moved to the forge in Red Lion Yard and became the owner in 1909.

“My father, Arthur Grimsdell, went into the business for a short time, before he was signed up by Harry Kent, the manager of Watford Football Club, and then later transferred to Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.

“After my grandfather’s death in 1928, the forge was carried on by the family. I am not sure when the two men in the picture, Jack Sheehan and Ernie Flowerday, joined the forge, but in 1936, Jack took over as owner and ran the forge until the Harlequin Centre swallowed the whole site.

“I can well remember spending many happy hours watching them shoe the horses.”