One of the more fascinating structures in Watford's past was located behind the Palace Theatre.
The Watford Observer has again teamed up with Watford Museum and is delighted to showcase some pictures from its archive – this week we remember Meadow's Mausoleum.
The museum's volunteer archivist Christine Orchard said: "Meadow’s Mausoleum was a pyramid-shaped structure that stood in the grounds of the Lime Tree Hotel and behind Watford Palace Theatre. It was erected in 1781 to the memory of Thomas Meadow, who lived at Watford House – the memorial was erected in the estate of that house.
"The structure was described as being 25ft tall and had a skull carved over the entrance. Williams wrote in his History of Watford (1884), that it was 'at the end of a dell shaded by large elm trees and underwood, on the banks of which ferns, primroses, and bluebells grow each season, and is approached by a wide gravelled path'."
An old plan showing the location of the mausoleum
Christine does not know when the memorial was demolished although it still existed in the 1930s.
Correction: This article originally stated the mausoleum was 15ft high and erected in memory of Thomas Meadow, who lived at Watford Place. This is incorrect. It was in fact 25ft high and erected in memory of Thomas Meadow, who lived at Watford House.
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