Oxhey Village mural now gains support of Watford Borough Council

Ron Dillingham, who owns a property in Capel Road in Oxhey Village, had a mural of a horse and a cart professionally painted when he refurbished the house last year.

The mural honours the history of the Brown family, the iconic local greengrocers who previously lived in the house, and reflects back to the stables kept at the back of the property.

Along with the painted mural, new railings and an outside light was placed without planning permission, and in April the retrospective planning application for specifically the railings and light was refused.

The lights and railing at the house have now been accepted

But now Mr Dillingham is celebrating a victory after the council has come to an agreement with the lights placed and decided to not take further action on the railings.

Head of planning and development, Ben Martin, said: “Mr Dillingham’s property falls within an attractive conservation area in Oxhey Village.

“These areas exist to protect the special architectural and historic interest of a place. The original proposals for railings and an outside light were rejected because looked at together they were not appropriate for the area.

“We then worked with Mr Dillingham to find a solution on the light. This has now been resolved and we have decided not to take any action on the railings, as it is not in the public interest to pursue it any further.”

Previously Tom Dobrashian, the group head of Place Shaping, said that “cumulatively” the railings and lamp alter the character of the conservation area and “cause harm”.

He said that they were looking to “engage positively” in finding a resolution.

Since the mural was in place, there was an overwhelming support of the new additions, and Mr Dillingham stated, “a lot more people now know it belonged to the Brown greengrocers”.

The Browns are local icons after being greengrocers in Watford for over 100 years. Before launching a stall in the old Watford Market, the Brown family travelled around with a horse and trap selling fruit and vegetables.

The adored mural

Before creating the mural, Mr Dillingham contacted a relative from the family and had their support for the mural.

Previously speaking to the Observer, Mr Dillingham: “Because the family told me it had the railings, I thought I’d put the railings back and I’ll put a nice lamp in the front – because I have the original lamp but it’s all rusted through and no good at all – and then I thought it’d look nice to make it look like a horse was coming out through the driveway.

“It’s all snowballed. Kids come by and they want to come up the driveway to look at it, it’s really becoming a local thing.”

He explained that he believed it would be a good way to honour the history of the Brown family, and add historic value to the area.