Historical pictures of more pubs from the past in Watford

From shops and cinemas to views of roads that have often changed beyond recognition, we hope you are continuing to enjoy these images and they bring back some memories.

Here is another to revisit some historical pictures of pubs in the town batch the original captions kindly provided by the museum’s volunteer archivist Christine Orchard.

Read more: Looking back at more pubs from Watford's past

The Hit or Miss

The Hit or Miss in Lower High Street (Image: Watford Museum)

Christine said: “The Hit or Miss was at 274 Lower High Street which was almost opposite Ausdens. The pub was first named the Carpenter's Arms when it opened around 1850 as the landlord, George Clarke, was also a journeyman carpenter.

“By the 1870s it had been renamed the Hit or Miss and was run by Susan Lovegrove. She was widowed and had her three youngest children with her. In the 1891 Census, her youngest son Thomas, by then aged 24, was described as being a cricketer.

“Unfortunately I have not discovered which team he played for but it may have been fairly large one as he would have stated some other occupation for the census.”

The Leviathan Steamer

The Leviathan before its 1928 rebuild. (Image: Watford Museum)

Christine said: “The Prince George pub at the corner of Bedford Street and St Albans Road, was first named the Leviathan Steamer, although it was not as large as it is today. This photograph, which comes from a street directory of Watford, shows the original building at a period when it had a little single-storey grocers shop next to it.

“The pub was constructed around 1838 or 1839 by Henry Parsons, a brewer and was one of the earliest buildings in St Albans Road being near to Watford’s first railway station. The pub is believed to have be given the original name after a class of new transatlantic steam ships, although it soon became known as just the Leviathan.

“When the pub was rebuilt around 1928 it was extended and took over the plot of land occupied by the grocers. The new building was given a black and white tudor-style which, although repainted, still exists today.”

The Compasses

The Compasses pictured by A Whitford Anderson on June 10, 1898. (Image: Watford Museum)

Christine said: “The Compasses public house (later the Joseph Benskin) was on the corner of the High Street and Market Street. The pub closed around 1980 and is now a shop.

“The building we see today was constructed around 1928 and replaced that shown in the photograph. There had been a pub here in the early 18th century and by 1740 it was described as having '5 large vessels in the cellar or vault with a brewhouse attached'.

“The little window that can be seen on the side of the current building would have belonged to this early building.”

The Crystal Palace

The Crystal Palace pictured by A Whitford Anderson on June 26, 1907. (Image: Watford Museum)

Christine said: “The Crystal Palace Public House was located on the High Street not far from Queens Road – it is difficult to locate today as this stretch of shops is part of the Atria shopping centre.

“It is believed the pub was opened in 1854 and one of the first families to run the pub were the Rossons. Joseph Rosson was also a greengrocer although it seems unlikely he traded from the pub.

“This photograph was taken by a local architect, A Whitford Anderson and is dated June 26, 1907. It is probably the last views of the pub before it was closed.”

The Fox

The Fox and Fox Alley c1930. (Image: Watford Museum)

Christine said: “The Fox Public House was at 206 High Street which is roughly opposite the fire station. The pub is believed to have opened around 1854, the earliest known landlord was George Colley. As well as a beer house keeper George was also a blacksmith.

“This 1930’s photograph includes an alley, known as Fox Alley, and shows a number of buildings so it is possible that he had a workshop or forge behind the pub.

“The pub closed in 1956 and eventually this building and those adjacent were demolished.”