Watford in 1880

 From Young Crawley's Guide to Hertfordshire

Contiguous to Bushey, with which it is connected by a bridge over the Colne, is the ancient and well-built Town of WATFORD, about three miles from Rickmansworth, and eighteen from Hertford. Being on the road from London to Aylesbury, from Uxbridge to St. Alban's, the Grand Junction Canal, the River Colne, and the London and North-Western Railway, it possesses great facilities for trade, consequently, has wonderfully increased within the last few years and now holds the first place among the towns of the county in population.

The Railway Station, in High Street, is a first-class one; and from here diverge two branch lines, one to Rickmansworth, the other to St. Alban's. Beyond the Station is a long tunnel, and there is a viaduct over the river Colne. In the neighbourhood are two large Hotels, one of which ("The Clarendon") is a noble-looking building, and stated to have cost £7000; it affords first-class accommodation and good stabling, and communicates directly with the station. Close by is the LONDON ORPHAN ASYLUM, which a few years since was removed from Clapton; it was originally founded in 1813, by Dr. Andrew Reid, and comprises seven large detached buildings, constructed, in the Early Gothic style, of red and white brick, with stone facings, and a number of turrets, pinnacles, etc., which have an imposing and pleasing appearance. In front of the Asylum is an elegant Chapel, built at the sole expense of Mrs. Godding, formerly an orphan in the Establishment. The first stone of the Asylum was laid in July, 1869, by the Prince of Wales; and the new buildings were formally opened on July 20, 1871, by the Prince and Princess of Teck. The area covered by them, including the play-ground, is sixteen acres, but there are also twenty-four acres of arable land attached. Six of the buildings are appropriated to boys, and one to girls. They will accommodate 600 orphans, and 100 officers and servants; 100 orphans being admitted every year. The children are maintained and educated from seven to fifteen years of age; the Institution is supported by voluntary contributions.

Watford is situated on the right bank of the River Colne; it originally formed a portion of the large domains which Offa bestowed upon the Abbey of St. Alban's. At the Dissolution, it was vested in the Crown, where it remained until King James I. granted the Manor of Watford and all its appurtenances to certain persons in trust for Lord Ellesmere, the then Lord Chancellor of England, "in consideration of the great services he had rendered the Crown;" from his descendants it passed into the possession of the Capels, now Earls of Essex. The name of the Town is thought to have been derived from the Roman Wading Street, and the ford over the river; Chauncy says it was derived from Wet-ford, at the south end of the Town.

The old Parish Church, dedicated to St. Mary, is a spacious and imposing structure, in the centre of the town. It was in 1871 thoroughly restored, in excellent taste; and consists of a nave, chancel, side aisles, and two chapels, one of which is dedicated to St. Catherine, the other is a mortuary chapel for the Essex family. There is a large square embattled tower at the west end, with a spire, altogether about 100 feet high, containing a fine ring of bells. In the interior, the nave is divided from the side aisles by six handsomely pointed arches on each side, resting on octagonal columns, above which are windows. The roof is of wood, supported on half figures with shields. There is a large window of stained glass at the west end, and a fine one, somewhat older, at the east end, under which has been placed an elegant reredos of Caen stone, admirably sculptured with a representation of the crucifixion in the centre, and figures of the Apostles in the niches round. There are some fine carved-oak stalls and seats in the chancel, and in lieu of the old cumbrous pews, the Church has been throughout fitted up with oak open seats. The old font has been removed, and a very handsome new one has replaced it, by public subscription; it is of elegant form, supported by pillars. A very fine organ is placed on the south side of the chancel, partly occupying a small ancient chapel; the floor of the chancel, has been re-paved with Minton tiles, at the cost of the Earl of Essex. There is an ancient piscina in the south aisle, and a portion of one in the north aisle. The south aisle, the south transept, St. Catherine's chapel, and the porches, have been almost entirely rebuilt; two new piers have been placed to support the south arcade, and new windows substituted throughout, with the exception of those at the east and west ends, and one of the memorial ones in the south aisle.

This Church is deservedly celebrated for the number and splendour of its monuments, especially those in the mortuary chapel of the Morrison and Essex families, in which is a grand old tomb to the memory of Sir Charles Morrison, Knight of Cashiobury, who died in March, 1599, aged 51. It has a canopy and pillars of various coloured marbles under which is the effigy of Sir Charles in white marble, beautifully sculptured. He has a Vandyke beard, and a large ruff round his neck; and is represented in a reclining position in armour, with a helmet placed behind his legs; at each end of the tomb is a figure kneeling, which represent his son and daughter. There is the family coat of arms, fully emblazoned; and a very long Latin inscription, describing his numerous virtues, also saying that he was the founder of this chapel.

On the opposite side is another magnificent monument to Sir Charles Morrison, Bart. (son of the above), who died in August, 1628, aged 41, and to his wife also. It is in its general form, similar to the one just described, but somewhat more elaborate. The figures of the baronet and his lady are both exquisitely sculptured. He is represented in armour, reclining on his right side, resting on his elbow, and his hand placed on a scroll. The lady reclines on a double cushion, and has a very handsome dress of the period, beautifully carved in all its details; the folds of her drapery are most gracefully arranged. On a lower stage are the figures of a youth and a boy kneeling, and on the opposite side a young lady kneeling, with flowing drapery. The inscriptions on the tomb are in Latin, and very lengthy indeed. These two monuments are remarkable as works of art, and were executed by Nicholas Stone, a celebrated sculptor of his day. It is stated in Horace Walpole's Anecdotes, that the former of these tombs cost £260, "besides four pieces given me for drink," as stated in the sculptor's pocket book; and the latter one, £400, a large sum in those days, but one utterly inadequate for such works in the present.

In the middle of the chapel are two large table monuments; the one to the east is to the memory of Bridget, Dowager Countess of Bedford, who died in 1600, aged 75; she had three husbands, the first of whom was Sir Richard Morrison. Her figure is in alabaster, well sculptured, in a reclining position, on the top of the tomb; she is elaborately dressed with a close cap and coronet on her head, and a large cloak. there is a square projection on the tomb, and a half-sized figure in armour on each side is kneeling on a cushion. A very long inscription records her virtues and her marriages. Clutterbuck says that she founded this chapel in 1595.

The other large central monument on the west side, is to the Lady Dame Elizabeth Russell, the wife of William Lord Russell, and "daughter and sole heir of Henrie Longe, of Shingay, in the countie of Cambridge." She died in June, 1611, aged 43; her dress has formerly been painted, and at her feet is a coronet and a lion. There are two very long inscriptions upon the tomb, in the usual laudatory style. Two monumental tablets against the south wall, record the memory of the Hon. Jolm Forbes, son of the Earl of Granard, who died in March, 1796, aged 82, and his wife, Mary Forbes, daughter of William, third Earl of Essex. On the floor of the chapel are three brass figures, inlaid in a large stone, inscribed to Henry Dickson, George Miller, and Anthony Cooper, late servants of Sir Charles Morrison, and afterwards in the service of Dorothy Lady Morrison, and Sir Charles Morrison, their son, 40 years, "in memory of them, the sayd Dorothie Lady Morrison hath youchsafed this stone and inscription." Amongst other memorials to the Capel family in the chapel, is a mural monument to the memory of George fifth Earl of Essex, who died April 23rd, 1839, in his 81st year; it has a coronet and scroll, and coat of arms beautifully sculptured. Another tablet is to Harriet, the daughter of George, fifth Earl of Essex, who died May 14th, 1837, aged 29. There is on this tablet a long verse. Another records the memory of Caroline Janetta, the wife of Arthur the sixth Earl of Essex, and daughter of the third Duke of St. Alban's; she died in 1862. There is also a handsome brass tablet on the wall to Randolph, the second son of Arthur sixth Earl of Essex, who served in the naval brigade at Inkerman and Sebastopol, and died at Rio Janiero, in 1857, aged 25, "much lamented, soon after he had reached that place." Some marble steps, inlaid with jasper, with the words, "Holy, holy, holy," have been placed in the Sacrarium of this Church, and were uncovered April 31st, 1877. They bear the following inscription on a brass plate:-

"To the glory of God, and to the memory of the Rt. Hon. LOUISA CAROLINA ELIZABETH COUNTESS OF ESSEX, these steps have been placed by the Vicar, Churchwardens, and Parishioners of \Vatford, in remembrance of her loving care for the adornment of God's House, and tender regard for the welfare of all around her. A.D. 1877."

In the chancel are two brasses of a priest and a woman, and several inscriptions to the Baldwyns, Ewers of the Lea, and other families of former days.

In the south aisle is a memorial window to the memory of Henry Blenkinsop, who died November 2nd, 1865, erected by his mother; and in the north aisle is a very handsome window to the memory of Lieut.-Col. Chester, Capt. J. Fagan, and Capt. Billiard, of the Bengal Native Infantry, who were killed in the Indian Mutiny. This window was erected out of respect to their memory by their brother officers in the Indian army.

In what is called the Chorister's Vestry, formerly a chapel, is a handsome white marble tablet to the memory of R. Clutterbuck, Esq., the author of a History of Hertfordshire; he died May 25th, 1831, in the 59th year of his age. This monument was erected by his widow. In a vault beneath are also interred many of the Clutterbuck family. There are tablets in the south aisle to the memory of Sir William Buck, Bart., who died' in 1717, aged 62; his daughter Frances, who died, aged 31, in 1713, and his son Sir Charles Buck, who died in June, 1729, aged 37. On the south wall of the nave is a tablet of white marble to the memory of Jane Bell, wife of John Bell, Esq., who died in her 53rd year; it is remarkable for a long epitaph, from the pen of Dr. Johnson, in his usual elegant but peculiar style. The chapel on the south side contained, according to Chauncy, inscriptions to former inhabitants of the Grove Park. A slab in the middle of the nave is inscribed as "the entrance to the Clarendon vault," but the late Earl and Countess of Clarendon were interred in a vault in the cemetery.

For an earlier account see Watford in 1807