In the second part of a new series looking at the history of the the built environment of Rickmansworth and its surrounding areas, Three Rivers Museum Trust chairman Fabian Hiscock looks at the changing High Street.

Town and villages everywhere were shaped by many things – events, people, ideas, global changes. Very little was an accident, although it certainly wasn’t planned.

Last time we looked at how the three Rickmansworth inns worked as they served both the town and the traffic on the turnpike along the High Street.

Watford Observer: Survivors: 18-20 High Street, which date from the 1620s, and the Coach and Horses.Survivors: 18-20 High Street, which date from the 1620s, and the Coach and Horses. (Image: Three Rivers Museum)

The High Street was the main commercial centre, but there was much more to it: in the middle of the 19th century it was also the main residential area, running from what’s now the roundabout by the Catholic church right through to the Uxbridge road.

Salter’s brewery dominated the start until it closed in 1924, by which time the Metropolitan Railway viaduct had already been there next to it for nearly 40 years: the brewery was on the left, its malthouse and other buildings on the right, as you approached the town.

Watford Observer: Mr Fred Bone in 1989, at his shop which had opened in 1875. The site is now occupied by M&S. Mr Fred Bone in 1989, at his shop which had opened in 1875. The site is now occupied by M&S. (Image: Three Rivers Museum)

And heading into the town centre in the 1840s, many of the buildings were residential. The Elms, now part of St Joan of Arc School, was first after the brewery house, and then on both sides a set of cottages and larger houses (some in multiple occupancy) with the occasional business premises tucked in behind, shops, pubs and beer houses in the mix and the National Boys’ School on the site of the old parish workhouse.

Watford Observer: The site of the Odeon cinema, looking at two houses, Ottawa and Basing Cottages, demolished in 1966 to make way for Northway. The site of the Odeon cinema, looking at two houses, Ottawa and Basing Cottages, demolished in 1966 to make way for Northway. (Image: Three Rivers Museum)

But behind it on both sides was largely open space: meadows, fish ponds and large gardens, with Wharf Lane running down to the wharf and its few buildings from 1805 and the River Chess providing a natural barrier. There were fewer shops, as we now know them – they emerged as ‘shopping’ became less basic during the 19th century.

Watford Observer: The butcher's shop of Alfred Mayes at 119 High Street.The butcher's shop of Alfred Mayes at 119 High Street. (Image: Three Rivers Museum)

The High Street scene will have changed relatively slowly, even after the railway’s arrival in 1862 sparked the first real infilling behind the High Street. And that will have remained so until well into the last century, when so many of the residential buildings became offices, schools or were simply removed, and the large brewery buildings were first re-purposed and then removed.

Watford Observer: The art-deco style car showroom on the corner of the High Street and Cloisters in 1992. The art-deco style car showroom on the corner of the High Street and Cloisters in 1992. (Image: Three Rivers Museum)

And so the High Street that we know now has evolved, steadily and without real planning. It’s still changing, and there’s nothing new about that.