This high street shop is now a café to enjoy a coffee in Watford but it was once a place where you could buy meat.
The Watford Observer is delighted to share pictures from the Watford Museum archive and this week we recall Russell’s butchers.
The museum’s volunteer archivist Christine Orchard said: “The butcher's business is that of Arthur Russell at 102 High Street. He had been trading here for at least 25 years when this photo was taken. The image is dated December 19, 1865 so it must be showing his Christmas produce.
“Arthur retired in favour of his son Joseph in 1869 and the business continued until the late 1870s when the shop was taken by Joseph Austin, a draper and alterations were made to combine it with his shop next door.
“An advert was placed in the Watford Observer in 1877 advertising "a shop front for sale…apply 102 High Street" although I don’t know if this was 102’s old shop front.
“The site was developed again in 1926 for Lilley & Skinner and today is Caffé Nero.”
Watford Museum is open Thursday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm.
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