A man surveys the scene as the bulldozers continue to demolish what had been a school dating back to the 19th century.
These pictures were taken by a Watford Observer photographer on May 27, 1986 and show the demolition of the former Victoria School site in Addiscombe Road.
The West Watford History Group states the school was built in 1897, originally as the ‘Fearnley Street School’ and was one of the first ‘board schools’ of the time. All schools had been private or church run until boards of elected representatives were established to provide education locally.
- Looking back at a major road in quieter times
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- When a new superstore was being built in Watford
The group’s website www.westwatfordhistorygroup.org quotes a letter in the Watford Observer from February 1903. It read: “On Saturday afternoon last, the new Victoria Boys’ School, Watford, which has recently been erected to meet the growing scholastic requirements of that part of the town in which the present block of buildings named after the late Queen are situate, and more especially that part known as Harwood’s Estate, were formerly opened by Mr E. M. Chater, the chairman of the School Board.”
The school served the area for more than 50 years but in 1959 the decision was taken to move what was then called Victoria School to a new site.
The Addiscombe Road buildings ceased to be used in 1963 and the school moved to Tolpits Lane.
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