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For other uses, see Watford (disambiguation).
Watford
—  Town and Borough  —
Borough of Watford
Motto: Audentior[1]
Watford within Hertfordshire
Watford within Hertfordshire
Coordinates: 51°39′20″N 0°23′48″W / 51.65556, -0.39667
Country United Kingdom
Constituent area England
Region East of England
County Hertfordshire
Borough Watford
Government
 - Type Borough with Mayor & Cabinet
 - Mayor Dorothy Thornhill (Liberal Democrat)
 - MP Claire Ward (Labour)
Area
 - Borough 55. A motto (from the Italian word motto, meaning witticism sentence is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group Hertfordshire (ˈhɑːtfədʃə(r, abbreviated Herts) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Constituent country is a phrase used often by official institutions in contexts in which a country makes up a part of a larger entity or grouping England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The region, also known as the government office region, is currently the highest tier of local government sub-national entity of England, with only one The East of England is one of the nine official Regions of England. The ceremonial counties are areas of England that are appointed a Lord-Lieutenant, and are defined by the government as the Counties for the purposes of the Lieutenancies Hertfordshire (ˈhɑːtfədʃə(r, abbreviated Herts) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of The districts of England are a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government Dorothy Thornhill is the directly-elected mayor of Watford, Hertfordshire, England. The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a liberal Political party in the United Kingdom, formed in 1988 by merging the A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament. Claire Margaret Ward (born 9 May 1972 is a politician in the United Kingdom. The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. 5 km² (21. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of 43 sq mi)
Elevation 71 m (233 ft)
Population
 - Borough 80,000
 - Density 1,441. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. The elevation of a Geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point often the mean sea level. The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 4/km² (3,733. 1/sq mi)
 - Urban 121,000
 - Ethnicity[2] 83. 7% White
8. 9% South Asian
3. 4% Black
2. 4% Mixed Race
1. 6% Chinese or other
Time zone GMT (UTC)
 - Summer (DST) Summer Time (British) (UTC+1)
Postcode area WD
Area code(s) 01923
ONS code 26UK
Website: www.watford.gov.uk

Watford (pronunciation (help·info)) is a town and district in Hertfordshire, England, situated 19 miles (30 km) northwest of London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. Greenwich Mean Time ( GMT) is a term originally referring to mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London Daylight saving time ( DST UTC+1 is used in the following locations Central European Time West Africa Time Western European Summer Time For the purposes of directing mail the United Kingdom is divided by the Royal Mail into a number of postcode areas. The, also known as the Watford postcode area, is a group of 13 postal districts around the town of Watford in Hertfordshire, England. A telephone numbering plan is a plan for allocating Telephone number ranges to countries regions areas and exchanges and to non-fixed telephone networks Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially ' shire districts', are a type of local government district in England. Hertfordshire (ˈhɑːtfədʃə(r, abbreviated Herts) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. To see information about the M25 motorway under construction in Ireland, see N25 road. The borough lies just to the north of Greater London. Greater London is the top-level administrative subdivision covering London, England.

The parish of Watford Rural covers an area to the south of the borough of Watford (which is largely urbanised), in the Three Rivers District. Watford Rural is a Civil parish in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire, England. Politics District council Three Rivers is a Non-metropolitan district that elects one-third of its councillors at any one time three times every four years The nearby areas of Bushey, Rickmansworth, Chorleywood, Kings Langley, Abbots Langley and South Oxhey, located in Three Rivers and Hertsmere districts, also form part of the Watford postcode area. For other meanings see Bushi and similar. Bushey (population 24000 is a Town in the Hertsmere borough of Hertfordshire Rickmansworth is a town in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire, England, 4¼ miles (7km west of Watford. Chorleywood is a Town in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom. Kings Langley is an historic English Village 21 miles north west of central London on the southern edge of the Chiltern Hills and now part of Abbots Langley is a large village in the English county of Hertfordshire. South Oxhey is a small town in the Watford Rural parish of the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire, England. Politics District council Three Rivers is a Non-metropolitan district that elects one-third of its councillors at any one time three times every four years History The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, by a merger of the former area of Bushey Urban District The, also known as the Watford postcode area, is a group of 13 postal districts around the town of Watford in Hertfordshire, England.

The most recent official estimates put the population of Watford at 79,600 at mid-2006. [3] The borough had 79,726 inhabitants at the time of the 2001 Census. A census is the procedure of acquiring information about every member of a given population [4] The Watford urban area, which includes much of neighbouring Three Rivers, had a total population of 120,960 in the 2001 census,[5] making it the 47th largest urban area in England. This is a list of the largest cities and towns of England ordered by population.

Watford was created as an urban district under the Local Government Act 1894, and became a municipal borough by grant of a charter in 1922. In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, an urban district was a type of Local government district that covered an Urbanised area The Local Government Act 1894 (56 & 57 Vict c 73 created a system of Urban districts and Rural districts with elected councils in all areas of England Municipal boroughs were a type of Local government which existed in England and Wales between 1835 and 1974 in Northern Ireland from 1840 to

Contents

History

Origins

Watford stands on a low hill near the point at which the River Colne was forded by travellers between London and the Midlands. The Colne is a River in England. It flows mainly through Hertfordshire and forms the boundary between the South Bucks district of Buckinghamshire A ford is a place in a Watercourse (most commonly a stream or River) that is shallow enough to be crossed by wading on Horseback or in a wheeled London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. This article is mainly about the English Midlands For other uses see Midlands (disambiguation. This route, originally a pre-Roman trackway, departed from the ancient Roman Watling Street at Stanmore, heading for the Gade valley and thence up the Bulbourne valley to a low and easily traversed section of the Chiltern Hills near Tring. Ancient trackway can refer to any track or trail whose origin is lost in antiquity Watling Street is the name given to an Ancient trackway in England and Wales that was first used by the Celts mainly between the modern Stanmore is a place in the London Borough of Harrow, England It is a suburban development situated 11 miles (18 km north west of Charing Cross. The River Gade is a river in England. It rises from a spring in the Chalk of the Chiltern Hills at Dagnall and flows through The River Bulbourne runs from Dudswell in Northchurch, through Berkhamsted and Bourne End to where it joins the River Gade at Two Waters in The Chiltern Hills are a Chalk Escarpment in Southeast England. Tring is a small Market town in the Chiltern Hills in Hertfordshire, England. The modern High Street follows the route of this road. [6][7]

The ford was close to the later site of the old gas works, now the car park of the Tesco Extra store. The town probably originated in Saxon times as a string of houses on the northern side of this ford. For their language see Anglo-Saxon language. Anglo-Saxon is the term usually used to describe the invading Tribes in the south It was located on the first dry ground above the marshy edges of the River Colne.

It is generally agreed that the town is named after the ford, but the origin of the first part of the name is uncertain. Theories include the Old English words wæt (wet), wadan (wade), watul (wattle, a fence) or wath (hunter), Watling Street, and a hypothetical Saxon landowner called "Wata". [7]

Early history

Watford is first mentioned in an Anglo-Saxon charter of 1007. It does not get a mention by name in the Domesday Book, but was included in the entry for the then more important settlement of Cashio which stood half a mile away at the crossroads of the St Albans road and Hempstead road near the modern Town Hall. The Domesday Book (ˈduːmzdeɪ bʊk also known as Domesday, or Book of Winchester) was the record of the great survey A crossroads (the word rarely appears in singular is a Road junction, where two or more Roads meet (there are three or more arms [8]

The settlement's location helped it to grow, since as well as trade along this north-south through route it possessed good communications into the vale of St Albans to the east and into the Chiltern Hills along the valley of the River Chess to the west. St Albans is the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London. The Chiltern Hills are a Chalk Escarpment in Southeast England. The River Chess is a Chalk stream which springs from Chesham, Buckinghamshire and lies in the Chess Valley in Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire In 1100 Henry I granted a charter to Watford to hold a weekly market. Henry I (c 1068/1069 – 1 December 1135) was the fourth son of William I the Conqueror, the first King of England after the Norman [6]

St Mary's Church
St Mary's Church

The parish church of St Mary the Virgin was built in 1230 on the same site as an earlier Saxon church. A parish church, in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a Parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches It was extensively restored in 1871. [9]

The great houses of Cassiobury and The Grove were built in the seventeenth centuries and expanded and developed throughout the following centuries. Cassiobury Park is the principal public open space in Watford, Hertfordshire, in England. Cassiobury became the family seat of the Earls of Essex, and The Grove the seat of the Earls of Clarendon. Earl of Essex is a title that has been held by several families and individuals of which the best-known and most closely associated with the title was Robert Devereux 2nd Earl of Earl of Clarendon is a title that has been created twice in British history [8]

The Sparrows Herne turnpike was established in 1762 to improve the route across the Chilterns, with the road maintained from charges levied at toll houses along the way. The Sparrow's Herne Turnpike road was an eighteenth century English Turnpike road from London to Aylesbury. The location of a toll house can be seen at the bottom of Chalk Hill on the Watford side of Bushey Arches close to the Wickes hardware store; set in an old flint stone wall is a Sparrows Herne Trust plaque. Wickes is a UK DIY retailer owned by Travis Perkins with 183 stores throughout the country [10]

Industrial Revolution

Watford remained an agricultural community with some cottage industry for many centuries. The Industrial Revolution brought the Grand Junction Canal (now Grand Union Canal) in 1798 and the London and Birmingham Railway in 1837, both located here for the same reasons the road had followed centuries before, seeking an easy gradient over the Chiltern Hills. The Industrial Revolution was a period in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when major changes in agriculture manufacturing and transportation had a profound effect on the The Grand Junction Canal is a Canal in England from Braunston in Northamptonshire to the River Thames at Brentford, with The Grand Union Canal in England is part of the British canal system. This is about the 19th century railway company For the 21st century train operating company see London Midland The London and Birmingham Railway The Chiltern Hills are a Chalk Escarpment in Southeast England. The land-owning interests permitted the canal to follow closely by the river Gade, but the prospect of smoke-emitting steam trains drove them to ensure the railway gave a wide berth to the Cassiobury and Grove estates. A steam locomotive is a Locomotive powered by Steam. The term usually refers to its use on Railways but can also refer to a "road locomotive" Consequently, although the road and canal follow the easier valley route, the railway company was forced to build an expensive tunnel under Leavesden to the north of the town. The main Watford railway station was and remains outside of the town centre to the east at Watford Junction. [11]

These developments gave the town excellent communications and stimulated its industrial growth during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Economy

Entrance to the Harlequin Centre
Entrance to the Harlequin Centre

Watford is a major regional centre for the northern home counties. " Home counties " is an informal phrase used to designate the group of counties that border or surround London, England. It is the most westerly of these commercial centres and the only one in Hertfordshire. Hertfordshire County Council designates Watford and Stevenage to be its major sub-regional centres, heading its list of preferred sites for retail development. Place-name meaning Stevenage may derive from Old English stiþen āc / stiōen āc / stithen ac (various Old English dialects [12] The primary shopping area is the Harlequin Shopping Centre, a large purpose-built indoor mall with over 140 shops, restaurants and cafes built during the 1990s, opened officially in June 1992. The Harlequin Centre in Watford is the biggest shopping centre in Hertfordshire, England.

The High Street, running through the town centre, is the main focus of activity at night having a high concentration of the town's bars, clubs and restaurants.

The head offices of a number of national companies such as Camelot Group, operator of the National Lottery; Iveco, manufacturers of commercial vehicles; and Haden Young, the building services division of Balfour Beatty are located in the town. Camelot Group plc Note A are the operators of the UK National Lottery. Iveco is an Italian Truck, Bus, and Diesel engine Manufacturer, based in Turin, Italy. Balfour Beatty plc ( is a London -based Construction, Civil engineering and rail services company Balfour Beatty plc ( is a London -based Construction, Civil engineering and rail services company The borough is also the UK base of many multi-nationals including Total Oil, Sanyo, TK Maxx, Costco, and Beko. Total SA () is an oil company headquartered in Paris, France, and one of the six " Supermajor " oil companies in the world () is a major Japanese electronics company and member of the Fortune 500 whose headquarters is located in Moriguchi, Osaka prefecture, Japan TK Maxx is a chain of off-price Department stores in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and Germany. Costco Wholesale Corporation ( is the largest membership Warehouse club chain in the world based on sales volume headquartered in Issaquah Washington, Arçelik AŞ is a Household appliances manufacturer in Turkey.

The town was home to the Scammell Lorries Factory from 1922 until its closure in 1988. Scammell Lorries Limited was a British manufacturer of Trucks particularly specialist and military off-highway vehicles from 1921 to 1988 The site is now a residential area.

Transport

Road

Watford is close to strategic roads - the M25 motorway that rings London and the M1 motorway that connects London to the Midlands and northern England. To see information about the M25 motorway under construction in Ireland, see N25 road. The M1 is a major south – north Motorway in England primarily connecting London to Leeds, where London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. This article is mainly about the English Midlands For other uses see Midlands (disambiguation.

Rail

The town is served by one of the principal north-south rail routes – the West Coast Main Line – which connects London (terminus at Euston) to the Midlands, north-west England and Scotland. The West Coast Main Line (WCML is a busy mixed-traffic railway route in the United Kingdom. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Euston station (official name London Euston) is a major Railway station to the north of central London in the London Borough of Camden Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Some long-distance trains on this route serve Watford Junction, where there are also frequent suburban and regional trains. Watford Junction station is a railway station in Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. There is a shuttle train service to St Albans, via some local stations in North Watford, and there is a suburban loop to Watford High Street station between Watford Junction and Bushey station. The St Albans Abbey Branch Line is a railway line from Watford Junction to St Albans Abbey. St Albans is the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London. North Watford is an area in Watford, Hertfordshire. Location North Watford is situated between Central Watford and Garston. Watford High Street railway station is a railway station in Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. There is a direct rail connection to Gatwick Airport and the south coast via Clapham Junction. Gatwick Airport is London 's second largest Airport and the second busiest airport in the United Kingdom after Heathrow. "Clapham Junction" redirects here For other uses see Clapham Junction (disambiguation Clapham Junction Railway station is

London Underground serves Watford Metropolitan Line station at the outer north-western boundary of the system. The London Underground is a Metro system serving a large part of Greater London and neighbouring areas of Essex, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire Watford is a station at the end of the Watford branch of London Underground 's Metropolitan Line in the north-western part of the network in Zone 7 The Metropolitan line is part of the London Underground, coloured Magenta on the Tube map. The Metropolitan Line branch is due to be diverted to Watford Junction via the disused Croxley Green branch. Croxley Green is a village of approximately 5000 dwellings and 12000 residents located between Watford (to the north-east and Rickmansworth (to the south-west [13]

Water

Watford is on the main Grand Union Canal route northwards from London. The Grand Union Canal in England is part of the British canal system. There is little commercial use, since the advent of the railway, but the canal is used for recreational purposes.

The River Gade and the River Colne also run through Watford. The River Gade is a river in England. It rises from a spring in the Chalk of the Chiltern Hills at Dagnall and flows through The Colne is a River in England. It flows mainly through Hertfordshire and forms the boundary between the South Bucks district of Buckinghamshire

Air

Regular and frequent bus and coach services connect Watford Junction station to Heathrow Airport and Luton Airport, direct train services run from Watford Junction Station to Gatwick and Birmingham International Airport. London Luton Airport (previously called Luton International Airport) is an International airport located on the edge of the Town of Luton Gatwick Airport is London 's second largest Airport and the second busiest airport in the United Kingdom after Heathrow. Birmingham International Airport may refer to Birmingham International Airport (United Kingdom, serving Birmingham England United Kingdom

Watford's closest airfield is Elstree Aerodrome, three miles (5 km) east of the town. For the World War II use of this facility see RAF Bushey Hall Elstree Airfield is located 2 Many private charters, as well as occasional holiday charters take off from here, with the on-request customs service contributing to the popularity of this airfield.

The Rolls Royce or De Havilland factory as it was known in World War II at Leavesden was responsible for the manufacture of the Mosquito fighter bomber and the Halifax bomber during the second world war and later became Leavesden Aerodrome, to the north of Watford, which is no longer operational. The de Havilland Aircraft Company (less commonly spelled de Haviland was a British aviation manufacturer founded in 1920 when Airco, of which Geoffrey World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout It was converted into Leavesden Film Studios, now famously the home of the Harry Potter films. Leavesden Film Studios is a Film and media complex constructed on the site of the former Rolls-Royce factory at Leavesden Aerodrome which was an important Harry Potter is a series of seven Fantasy novels written by British author J

Education

History

Watford Free School building
Watford Free School building
See also: Watford Grammar School for Boys#History of the Watford Grammar Schools

William Saunders noted in 1595 a "George Redhead, schoolmaster" of Watford, and in 1640 Francis Coombe gave £10 a year to a Free School in Watford for teaching the poor to cast accounts, to read English and to write. Watford Grammar School for Boys (commonly abbreviated WBGS is a Voluntary aided Secondary school for boys in Watford in Hertfordshire, [6] It was recorded then that, "The master hath the use of a room over two houses belonging to the Church Estate, nearest the churchyard. " In 1704, Mrs Elizabeth Fuller of Watford Place built a new Free School for forty boys and twenty girls on her land next to the churchyard, with rooms for a Master and a Mistress. Elizabeth Fuller (1644 – 1709 re-founded a Free School for boys and girls at Watford. [11]

In the mid-19th century, the only schools in Watford were Mrs Fuller's Free School, by now in a poor state, and St Mary's National Schools (separate schools for boys and girls) in Church Street. A national school is a type of School. England and Wales See also Education in England, Education in Wales Historically All offered elementary education. State-funded elementary schools began to appear in the 1860s and 1870s. The Free School closed in 1882, and its endowment contributed to founding the Watford Endowed Schools, which provided secondary education and charged fees. [14] After these schools, now called the Watford Grammar School for Boys and the Watford Grammar School for Girls, moved to new sites in 1907 and 1912, the building housed the Watford Central School, which taught pupils up to the age of 14. Watford Grammar School for Boys (commonly abbreviated WBGS is a Voluntary aided Secondary school for boys in Watford in Hertfordshire, Watford Grammar School for Girls is a Voluntary aided Secondary school for girls in Watford in Hertfordshire, UK. In the English education system, Central Schools were selective Secondary education schools between the more prestigious Grammar schools and the St Mary's National Schools closed in 1922, and the site is now a car park. [15][16]

Primary schools

Main article: Primary schools in Watford

All the state-funded primary schools in Watford are co-educational. This page provides brief details of Primary schools in the Watford urban area comprising the borough of Watford together with adjoining suburban areas within the Three Rivers Under an earlier system, schools were divided into infant schools, covering Reception and Years 1 and 2, and junior schools, covering Years 3 to 6. An Infant school is a type of School which caters for young children usually between the ages of 4 and 7 years A junior school is a type of School which caters for children often between the ages of 4 and 11 Most such schools have amalgamated to form Junior Mixed Infant schools or (equivalently) primary schools, and all new schools are of this type. Within the municipal borough, there are now 6 linked pairs of infant schools and junior schools, and 14 JMI or primary schools, of which 2 are Roman Catholic. The Watford urban area is also served by schools in the neighbouring districts of Three Rivers and Hertsmere. Politics District council Three Rivers is a Non-metropolitan district that elects one-third of its councillors at any one time three times every four years History The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, by a merger of the former area of Bushey Urban District

Secondary schools

Although all state-funded secondary schools in Hertfordshire are comprehensive, there is a great deal of differentiation in the southwestern corner of the county, centred on Watford but also including most of the Three Rivers district and Bushey in Hertsmere district. Hertfordshire (ˈhɑːtfədʃə(r, abbreviated Herts) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of A comprehensive school is a Secondary school and State school for children from the age of 11 to at least 16 that does not select children on the basis of academic Politics District council Three Rivers is a Non-metropolitan district that elects one-third of its councillors at any one time three times every four years For other meanings see Bushi and similar. Bushey (population 24000 is a Town in the Hertsmere borough of Hertfordshire History The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, by a merger of the former area of Bushey Urban District Within this area, there are:[17]

The partially selective schools and Bushey Meads School operate common admissions tests in mathematics and non-verbal reasoning each autumn. In addition to those seeking selective places, all applicants to Bushey Meads and Queens' Schools are required to take the tests, so they are taken by the majority of Year 6 children in the area. The partially selective schools also operate a common test and audition procedure to select children for specialist music places. [17]

Results achieved by the schools at GCSE are also widely spread, including the three highest and the two lowest scoring state schools within Hertfordshire. The General Certificate of Secondary Education ( GCSE) is the name of an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject generally taken in a number of subjects by Hertfordshire (ˈhɑːtfədʃə(r, abbreviated Herts) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of [20][21] The area also has by far the highest incidence in the county of children allocated to schools to which they had not applied. [22]

Sport

Watford v Coventry at Vicarage Road in May 2000
Watford v Coventry at Vicarage Road in May 2000

Watford is home to professional football team Watford F.C., who reached the FA Cup Final in 1984 (as well as three other semi-finals), also finishing as league runners-up in 1983. Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The 1984 FA Cup Final was contested by Everton and Watford at Wembley. They were relegated from the old Division One in 1988. In 1996, Watford were relegated from the new Division One (now Football League Championship). The Football League Championship (often referred to as The Championship for short or the Coca-Cola Football League Championship for sponsorship reasons

Watford won the then Nationwide Division Two championship in 1998, then the following season (1998–99) reached the Premiership by winning the First Division Play-Off Final, beating Bolton Wanderers F.C. at Wembley Stadium by two goals to nil. From 1892 until 1992 the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football. The Premier League, colloquially referred to as the Premiership, is an English professional league for football clubs The Football League Championship play-offs are a series of Playoff matches contested by the teams finishing from 3rd to 6th in the Football League Championship table Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football club based in Horwich, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater original Wembley Stadium was a football Stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the Unfortunately, the club were relegated the season after.

After five years of uncertainty, Watford won the Football League Championship Play-Off Final against all the odds to achieve promotion to the Premiership once again in 2006, this time beating Leeds United A.F.C. by three goals to nil. The Football League Championship (often referred to as The Championship for short or the Coca-Cola Football League Championship for sponsorship reasons The Premier League, colloquially referred to as the Premiership, is an English professional league for football clubs Leeds United Association Football Club, commonly referred to as simply Leeds United or informally Leeds, are an English professional football Again, as before they were relegated to the Football League Championship after a single season (2006–2007) in the Premiership. The Football League Championship (often referred to as The Championship for short or the Coca-Cola Football League Championship for sponsorship reasons

Singer-songwriter Sir Elton John is a keen, long-term supporter of Watford F. Sir Elton Hercules John CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947 is an English pop / rock Singer, Composer C. and a former club chairman. He still maintains his links with Watford as Honorary Life President. [23] The current Chairman is Graham Simpson and the Chief Executive is Mark Ashton.

Since 1997 the club has shared its ground, Vicarage Road, with Saracens Rugby Football Club. Vicarage Road, a Stadium in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, is the home of the football club Watford and their tenants The Saracens Rugby Football Club, also known as Saracens FC or usually just Saracens, are a professional Rugby union team based in Watford,

Places of interest

Cassiobury Park

Daffodils in Cassiobury Park
Daffodils in Cassiobury Park

Cassiobury Park is on the grounds of Cassiobury House and consists of 190 acres (0. Cassiobury Park is the principal public open space in Watford, Hertfordshire, in England. 77 km²) of open space. The house itself was demolished in 1927 and the original imposing gatehouse entrance to the park in the 1970s due to road widening. In July 2007, the park won a Green Flag Award, which recognises the best green spaces in the country. [24] It has a children's play area which includes a paddling pool, play equipment, mini train track for children's rides, bouncy castle, ice cream van and a kiosk where you can buy food and drinks. The Grand Union Canal passes through the park. The Grand Union Canal in England is part of the British canal system.

Watford Colosseum

The Watford Colosseum was used to record the Lord of the Rings, the Sound of Music, The Star Wars Trilogies, Sleepy Hollow soundtracks and is world renowned for its acoustic qualities, which are often said to be the best available in the UK. The Lord of the Rings is an epic The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located It has housed performances from world renowned performers as The Who, Robbie Williams, Oasis and was well-known for its Seventies Disco's featuring Jensen D Groover & Carlos Fandango up until 2003. It is now in administration after funding difficulties, but is still open to bookings whilst the local council decides its fate. [25]

It is regularly used to host concerts by the BBC Concert Orchestra, in particular the long-running Friday Night is Music Night. Friday Night is Music Night is a long running live BBC radio programme featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra, broadcast most Fridays on BBC Radio 2

Watford Palace Theatre

Palace Theatre
Palace Theatre

The Watford Palace Theatre is the only producing theatre in Hertfordshire. Hertfordshire (ˈhɑːtfədʃə(r, abbreviated Herts) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of It presents a selection of comedy, drama, world premieres, family-friendly shows and an annual traditional pantomime. Situated just off the High Street, the Edwardian theatre building is approaching its centenary and has recently been refurbished. Class and society Socially the Edwardian era was a period during which the British Class system was very rigid

The Pumphouse Theatre and Arts Centre

The Pump House Theatre and Arts Centre is based in an old pumping station situated in Watford's lower high street. The building was converted for use as a theatre, with rehearsal rooms, and meeting place for local arts based groups. Current facilities include a 124 seat theatre, rehearsal rooms, and live music venue. Community groups currently meeting at the Pump House include Dance House (children's ballet), Pump House Clog Morris (women's Morris dancing), Pump House Jazz (jazz club), Open House (live open mic music), Woodside Morris Men (men's Morris dancing) and youth and adult theatre groups. Woodside Morris Men are a UK Morris dance side based in Watford, Hertfordshire. [26]

"North of Watford"

The phrase "North of Watford" is used light-heartedly to describe areas of the United Kingdom that are north of London. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located This is possibly because Watford was one of the first places that horses were changed on the route to the north-west from London. Alternatively, the phrase may refer to the Northamptonshire village of Watford, about 50 miles (80 km) further north, which was traditionally an important waypoint on the old east-west and north-south coaching routes. Northamptonshire (or archaically the County of Northampton; abbreviated Northants Watford is a village and Civil parish in the Daventry district of the county of Northamptonshire in England. This was the point where the main north-south road, rail and canal routes came together at a gap in the hills known as Watford Gap. This article is about Watford Gap and village For the larger town 80 km (50 miles south see Watford, Hertfordshire. Watford in Hertfordshire is much better known and so frequently mistaken, in the context of this phrase, for the same place.

Suburbs

Including areas outside Watford Borough:

Twin towns

Watford has five twin towns:[27]

Notable people

Watford was the birthplace of:


Watford is the burial place of:

References

  1. ^ Virgil. This article is about the village in Hertfordshire For the London Transport Bus Overhaul Works see Aldenham Works. For other meanings see Bushi and similar. Bushey (population 24000 is a Town in the Hertsmere borough of Hertfordshire Garston is a village in Hertfordshire, England, more or less contiguous with Watford and now despite retaining a fiercely strong local identity is Rickmansworth is a town in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire, England, 4¼ miles (7km west of Watford. Maple Cross is a village in Hertfordshire, England with a large proportion of the housing being either council owned or formerly council owned Kings Langley is an historic English Village 21 miles north west of central London on the southern edge of the Chiltern Hills and now part of Abbots Langley is a large village in the English county of Hertfordshire. Radlett is a large village located north of London in the county of Hertfordshire between St Albans and Elstree on Watling Street Oxhey is a suburb of the borough of Watford in the county of Hertfordshire, England. South Oxhey is a small town in the Watford Rural parish of the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire, England. Carpenders Park is a suburb of Watford in the Watford Rural parish of the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire, England. Croxley Green is a village of approximately 5000 dwellings and 12000 residents located between Watford (to the north-east and Rickmansworth (to the south-west Mainz (ˈmaɪ̯nʦ (Mayence is a City in Germany and the capital of the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Nanterre is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Veliky Novgorod (Вели́кий Но́вгород is the foremost historic city of North-Western Russia and the administrative center of Novgorod Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Pesaro is a town and Comune in the Italian region of the Marche, capital of the Pesaro e Urbino province, on the Adriatic. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Barbara Joan Estelle Amiel, Baroness Black of Crossharbour (born in Watford, Hertfordshire, England on December 4, 1940 Stephen Andrew is a Canadian journalist born in Watford, England and is best known for his work as a Television news Reporter Michael Bentine CBE ( 26 January 1922 - 26 November 1996) was a Comedian, comic Actor, and founding The Goon Show was a British Radio comedy programme originally produced and broadcast by the BBC Home Service from 1951 to 1960 Michaela Alica Breeze (born 17 May 1979) is a Welsh Weightlifter. Ray Cooper (born 19 August 1942 in Watford, Hertfordshire) is an English Musician. Sir Elton Hercules John CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947 is an English pop / rock Singer, Composer Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE (born 30 March 1945 is an English Blues-rock Guitarist, singer Songwriter and Composer Anthony Berkeley Cox ( July 5, 1893 – March 9, 1971) was an English Crime writer. Chris Date (born 1941 is an independent author lecturer researcher and consultant specializing in relational database technology Paul Field (born June 24, 1967) is a British Bobsledder who competed in the early 1990s See also Gladiators (2008 UK TV series Gladiators was a British television series produced by LWT for ITV from 10 October Cyril Fletcher ( June 25 1913 &ndash January 2 2005) was an English Comedian; his catchphrase was 'Pin back your lugholes' Nicola Rachele-Beth Grahame (born April 28 1982) rose to fame in the UK when she was chosen to be a housemate on Big Brother 7 in Robert Glenister (born 11 March 1960) is an English Actor who is best known for his role in the 2004 British TV series Hustle Geraldine Estelle "Geri" Halliwell (born 6 August 1972 is an English pop Singer-songwriter, Children's author, Actress The Spice Girls are a BRIT Award -winning English pop Girl group formed in 1994 Kenny Jackett (born 5 January 1962 in Watford) is a former Welsh football player who is now a manager Swansea City AFC ( Welsh: Clwb Pêl-droed Dinas Abertawe) is a Welsh football team playing in the Coca Cola Championship from Vincent Peter "Vinnie" Jones (born 5 January 1965) is an English -born Film actor and ex- footballer, having represented Matt King (born 31 January, 1968) is an Actor and Comedian. He is known for his role as crack-addicted Super Hans in the Bafta Nicholas Verity Knight (born Watford, Hertfordshire, England on 28 November 1969) is a former England Cricketer Nicholas Leeson (born February 25, 1967) is a former derivatives trader whose unsupervised speculative trading caused the collapse of Barings Barings Bank (1762 to 1995 was the oldest Merchant bank in London until its collapse in 1995 after one of the bank's employees Nick Leeson, lost £827 Timothy Paul Lovejoy (born 28 March, 1968) is a British Television presenter, most famous for hosting Saturday morning Football Soccer AM is a British Saturday-morning football show presented by Helen Chamberlain and Max Rushden. Gerald Moore CBE (30 July 1899 &ndash 13 March 1987 was an English pianist best known for accompanying many famous singers in the performance and recording Marjorie "Mo" Mowlam PhD (18 September 1949 &ndash 19 August 2005 was a British Politician, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Mark Oaten (born 8 March 1964, Watford) is a Liberal Democrat politician in the United Kingdom, and Member of Parliament Richard Pacey (born 1982) is a British Radio presenter. Biography Richard Pacey born in Watford, Hertfordshire, and Stuart Parkin PhD is an experimental physicist IBM Fellow and manager of the magnetoelectronics group at the IBM Almaden Research Center in San Jose The Reverend Canon Arthur Robert Peacocke MBE ( 29 November 1924 - 21 October 2006) was a British theologian and scientist For the Millwall defender see Paul Robinson (footballer born 1982. West Bromwich Albion Football Club (also known as West Brom, The Baggies, Albion, The Albion, The Throstles or WBA) are Terry Scott ( 4 May 1927 &ndash 26 July 1994) was an English Actor and Comedian who appeared in seven The Carry On films were a long-running series of low-budget British comedy films directed by Gerald Thomas and produced by Peter Rogers. In the United Kingdom, a blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person or event Grant Shapps (born September 14, 1968, Watford) is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Welwyn Hatfield in the Welwyn Hatfield is a Constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Kelly Smith, MBE (born 29 October 1978 in Watford) is an English football player who currently plays in England for Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English Women's football club affiliated with Arsenal FC. Bradley Walsh (born 4 June 1960 in Watford, Hertfordshire) is an English comedian and Television Actor Coronation Street (commonly known as 'Corrie' is an award-winning Soap opera created by Tony Warren Melanie Walsh (Born 8 July, 1980 in Watford) is an English Glamour model. Thomas Webster Rammell was born in Dent de Lyon on the Isle of Thanet, Kent, United Kingdom. The Crystal Palace was a cast-iron and Glass building originally erected in Hyde Park, London, England, to house the Publius Vergilius Maro ( October 15, 70 BCE &ndash September 21, 19 BCE later called Virgilius, and known in English as Virgil or Aeneid, VI, 95. For the group of nine Ancient Egyptian deities see Ennead. The Aeneid (əˈniːɪd in  “Tu ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito. trans. : Yield thou not to adversity, but press on the more bravely. ” 
  2. ^ Area: Watford, Resident Population Estimates by Ethnic Group, Office for National Statistics.
  3. ^ Mid Year Population Estimates Hertfordshire 2006, Office for National Statistics, August 2007, revised October 2007.
  4. ^ 2001 Census, Key Statistics for Local Authorities, Office for National Statistics, 2003.
  5. ^ Census 2001, Key Statistics for urban areas, Office for National Statistics.
  6. ^ a b c Samuel Lewis (ed. ) (1848). "Watford (St. Mary)", A Topographical Dictionary of England, 7th edition, p486. Retrieved on 2008-03-22. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 238 - Gordian I and his son Gordian II are proclaimed Roman emperor.  
  7. ^ a b W. R. Saunders (1931). History of Watford. Watford: Peacock.  
  8. ^ a b William Page (ed. ) (1908). "Watford: Manors", A History of the County of Hertford: volume 2, Victoria County History, pp451-464. The Victoria History of the Counties of England, commonly known as the Victoria County History or the VCH, is an English History project begun in 1899 in Retrieved on 2008-05-19. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1535 - French explorer Jacques Cartier sets sail on his second voyage to North America with three ships 110 men and  
  9. ^ William Page (ed. ) (1908). "Watford: Churches and Charities", A History of the County of Hertford: volume 2, Victoria County History, pp464-469. The Victoria History of the Counties of England, commonly known as the Victoria County History or the VCH, is an English History project begun in 1899 in Retrieved on 2008-05-19. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1535 - French explorer Jacques Cartier sets sail on his second voyage to North America with three ships 110 men and  
  10. ^ Sparrow Herne Trust Turnpike Marker, Lower High Street, Watford, Images of England, English Heritage National Monuments Record. English Heritage is a Non-departmental public body of the United Kingdom government ( Department for Culture Media and Sport) with a broad remit of
  11. ^ a b William Page (ed. ) (1908). "Watford: Introduction", A History of the County of Hertford: volume 2, Victoria County History, pp446-451. The Victoria History of the Counties of England, commonly known as the Victoria County History or the VCH, is an English History project begun in 1899 in Retrieved on 2008-03-22. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 238 - Gordian I and his son Gordian II are proclaimed Roman emperor.  
  12. ^ Hertfordshire: an Economic Overview. Hertfordshire County Council (November 2004). Retrieved on 2008-05-19. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1535 - French explorer Jacques Cartier sets sail on his second voyage to North America with three ships 110 men and
  13. ^ Croxley Rail Link. Transport for London. Retrieved on 2008-05-19. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1535 - French explorer Jacques Cartier sets sail on his second voyage to North America with three ships 110 men and
  14. ^ W. R. Carter (1894). "Mrs. Fuller's Free School". Watford Endowed Schools Journal 3.  
  15. ^ R. E. Slinn (1957). A History of Elementary Education in Watford 1704-1903. University of London Institute of Education.  
  16. ^ J. B. and L. V. Nunn (2003). The Book of Watford: A portrait of our town, 2nd edition.  
  17. ^ a b Moving On – Applying for a Secondary or Upper School place, Hertfordshire County Council, 2007.
  18. ^ Ofsted reports for these schools describe their intake.
  19. ^ Ofsted reports for these schools discuss the affect on their intake.
  20. ^ Hertfordshire: GCSE (and equivalent) results, Secondary School achievement and attainment tables 2007, Department for Children, Schools and Families. The Department for Children Schools and Families ( DCSF) is a British government department created on 28 June 2007 following the disbanding of the
  21. ^ Secondary schools in Hertfordshire: GCSE-level. BBC News (2008-01-10). 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon, signaling the start of civil war. Retrieved on 2008-06-03. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, proclaims himself Roman Emperor, entering
  22. ^ Admissions Update 2007, Agenda Item No. 4, Hertfordshire County Council Admissions Forum, 14 June 2007. Events 1276 - While taking exile in Fuzhou in southern China, away from the advancing Mongol invaders, the remnants of the Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
  23. ^ They Shaped the Club", Watford F. C. History, 3 February 2008.
  24. ^ Cassiobury Park, Green Flag Awards.
  25. ^ Watford Colosseum, Watford Borough Council.
  26. ^ The Pump House Theatre & Arts Centre
  27. ^ Twinning, Watford Borough Council, accessed October 12, 2007. Events 539 BC - The army of Cyrus the Great of Persia takes Babylon. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
  28. ^ Oral history interview with C.J. Date by Thomas Haigh on the Computer History Museum website
  29. ^ Roll of Honour, The Heritage Foundation.
  30. ^ "Great Scott!", Chortle, 2003-05-09. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1457 BC - Battle of Megiddo (15th century BC between Thutmose III and a large Canaanite coalition under the King of  

External links

Coordinates: 51°39′20″N 0°23′48″W / 51.65556, -0.39667

A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system.
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