The Watford Observer has teamed up with Watford Museum and its curator Sarah Priestley to take a journey back to the town’s past through items or places of historical significance.

We've reached number 26 in 'a history of Watford in 50 objects' and the museum's volunteer archivist Christine Orchard has made this week's selection, choosing a photograph of market place before Market Street was cut through, which means the image dates before 1888.

She said: "The building demolished in 1888 had been a butcher’s shop occupied by Francis Fisher. Fisher had already built new premises on the other side of the Rose and Crown and are not shown in the photo. Hence the date pre-1888.

"The Watford Observer reported in June 1889 that 'The Principal street laid out, which has been named Market Street, opens directly from the Market Place'."

To help orientate yourself, Christine explained the white three-storey building in the centre of the page is the Rose and Crown and became one of the corners of the new Market Street. This plot became the site for Boots and is now Nat West bank.

To the right of this building is a longish darker colour building with five windows on the top floor and a pitched roof. This building was demolished to make way for Market Street.

Watford Museum is currently closed under lockdown restrictions but you can still pay it a virtual visit at www.watfordmuseum.org.uk or find the museum on Facebook and Instagram @watfordmuseum