Adored Oxhey Village mural at risk of being removed

Ron Dillingham, who currently owns the house in Capel Road in Oxhey Village, had a mural of a horse and a cart professionally painted when he refurbished the house near October.

The mural honours the history of the Brown family, the iconic local greengrocers who previously lived in the house, and reflects back to the stables kept at the back of the property.

Along with the painted mural, new railings were installed, and an updated external light was placed without the council’s permission.

The adored mural that the communitywants kept

The Browns are local icons after being greengrocers in Watford for over 100 years. Before launching a stall in the old Watford Market, the Brown family travelled around with a horse and trap selling fruit and vegetables.

Talking about the history of the Brown family, Mr Dillingham said: “They used to live in Fearnley Street in Watford and had 14 children, then they moved to Capel Road and there they lived, and the kids grew up, one bought a business up in the market, then one up in Bushey High Street.

“All the horses were kept in the back of the property, and all the carriages as well. Because basically that house was a carriageway, that house was built in 1874.”

Talking about the refurbished touches he added, he said: “It got to the time it needed doing up, I hadn’t touched it for 28 years. Then the family told me there was a big lamp out in the front for the carriageway, and I thought that’d be nice to bring back a little history for the village. That’s how it all started.

“Because the family told me it had the railings, I thought I’d put the railings back and I’ll put a nice lamp in the front – because I have the original lamp but it’s all rusted through and no good at all – and then I thought it’d look nice to make it look like a horse was coming out through the driveway.

“It’s all snowballed. Kids come by and they want to come up the driveway to look at it, it’s really becoming a local thing.”

Outside the former Brown house

He explained that he believed it would be a good way to honour the history of the Brown family, and add historic value to the area.

“A lot more people now know it belonged to the Brown greengrocers,” he said.

But despite the charming touches to the property, Watford Borough Council has now issued a planning application to the property as the mural, railing and light requires official planning decisions.

It has caused some locals to fear that the mural could be taken down if the planning is not approved.

But there has been an overwhelming sense of support from the public in the planning application portal.

And after the Watford Observer shared an image of the mural on Facebook, briefly explaining the current situation, many readers also stated the mural should be kept.

One reader, Alison Grant-Davey wrote: “It’s beautiful and charming and needs to stay. It is a little hidden gem in the village and a relevant window into the history of the house and village.”

Another reader, Jackie Baines wrote: “I love this mural. I show my young grandson the mural every week. I believe Ron Dillingham should be applauded for his initiative. Under no circumstances should it be removed. It should be the first of many such murals around the village.”

For now, it is unclear whether the mural will be taken down if the planning application is refused.

When asked about whether a planning application was necessary and if the mural could be removed, a spokesperson from Watford Borough Council said: “We invited the submission of a planning application (because the property is in a conservation area and also has an Article 4 Direction on it). Nothing will happen now until a planning decision has been made.”