Bryan Janes (bryan.janes @t lineone.net) of Bridgwater, Somerset wants to know who was living at 6, Darby Road, Watford. He has a connection to this address during at least the mid to late 1930's but has no idea what or who it is.

If 6 Derby Road was a residential address the head of household should be listed in any contemporary street directories that exist for Watford - and there was probably a Kelly's Watford directory published at frequent intervals in the 1930's. Any adults living there on a permanent basis should have been listed in the contemporary electoral registers. Information on children and temporary residents (for instance if it was a nursing home) are unlikely to be available anywhere.

I know that the Watford Central Library (contact details on the Hertfordshire County Council web site) has an excellent local studies library with a good collection of trade directories, and they may have copies of the electoral registers as well. As it is a simple request you could try a polite letter addressed to the local studies librarian with stamped addressed envelope for a reply.

If such an approach fails another possibility is the Watford Observer "Nostalgia" column which regularly publishes "within living memory" style requests relating to the Watford area. Someone who lived in Derby Road may well see the request and reply.