The Watford Observer is again delighted to be teaming up with its friends at Watford Museum to take another journey back to the past to recall the key events and dates that helped shape the town’s future.
The 22nd part of '50 events and dates that shaped Watford' remembers the opening of a former high street favourite on a site that has been occupied by just three businesses in more than 120 years.
The museum's volunteer archivist Christine Orchard said: "Littlewoods used to be a very well-known store on the High Street (just a short way from Queen's Road). In the 1950s Littlewoods took over Joseph Goddard's furniture store. Goddards themselves had been trading on the site for over 50 years.
J. Goddard & Co celebrating the Silver Jubilee of King George V in 1935. Picture: Watford Museum
"The exact date of this photograph (at the top of the page) is uncertain. Demolition work happened there in 1950 and as the window posters announces that a new Littlewoods store was “to be built on this site”, this is a likely date. This would have been a welcome change shop-wise but a sad loss building-wise.
Littlewoods at 109-11 High Street. Picture: Watford Museum
"It was taken prior to the closure of the Eight Bells pub, to the right of Littlewoods – the pub’s round sign with bells is just visible.
Picture: Google Street View
"Littlewoods extended their store at the end of the 1960s and continued trading until the 1990's. The shop is now Primark's store."
Watford Museum is open Thursday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm. No booking is necessary but Covid prevention measures are still in place to keep visitors safe.
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