The Watford Observer is again delighted to team up with its friends at Watford Museum to look at some structures or objects from the town’s past that have either disappeared or been relocated.

Today we recall a method of contacting the fire brigade in an emergency, some of which were located outside pubs around the town.

The museum's volunteer archivist Christine Orchard said: "Around 1906, the first street fire alarms were being installed at prominent sites around the town. This photo shows one, probably installed in the 1930s, at the corner of St Albans Road and Gammons Lane.

Watford Observer: Street fire alarm outside The Fox pub, 204 High Street, c1930 Street fire alarm outside The Fox pub, 204 High Street, c1930 (Image: Watford Museum)

"Designs will have varied but alarms were usually set on a metal pillar and were operated by a pull-handle. The activation signal was indicated on a panel in the control room at the fire station.

"There were just three alarms installed in the town at first, but this number grew and the locations of more than 30 are known of. All were removed by 1953."

Watford Museum is open Thursday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm.

  • With thanks to Roger Middleton from the Herts Fire Museum for his help with this item.