It become one of Watford’s most recognisable shops as Woolworths and is now the home of McDonald’s, but for more than 100 years part of the site was the home of a pub.

The Watford Observer has again teamed up with Watford Museum and is delighted to showcase some pictures from its archive – this week we remember the Kings Arms.

The museum’s volunteer archivist Christine Orchard said: “The Kings Arms was on the corner of King Street and High Street and had a narrow front on the High Street. It opened around 1852 in the former gate lodge of Watford Place.

“An early landlord was William Seear, a Watford-born man, who was both wood sawyer and beer house keeper.

Watford Observer:

Woolworths on the corner of King Street in July 1982

“John Spicer, had the pub between at least 1871 and 1891. He was able to offer rooms for rent and this provided handy accommodation for three mail cart drivers who presumably were associated with the recently opened Post Office in Queens Road.

Watford Observer:

The site is now McDonald's

“The pub closed in 1961 and was demolished. Later Woolworths expanded their store to include the King Street corner site and today we have a McDonald’s.”

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.