The Event Post Cards of Frederick Downer of Watford

Post Cards

Watford

Frederick Downer Biography

At the beginning of the 20th century few local paper contained many, if any, pictures and there was a ready market for photographers to rapidly produce postcards recording local events. One of the leading practitioners was Frederic Downer, who founded the Watford Engraving Company which also printed cards for other photographers.

 Under Construction - The aim is to restructure this page to include a few examples in detail, together with an index, which will include many other cards, with links to old news pages where relevant.

watford-event-flood-high-st-1903 1903 June The Flood --- Watford High Street

[no attribution]

1903 June 16th Lower End of Watford High Street

Downer

1905 February 1 The Fire at Gaddesden Place

Downer

August 1905

The Bedford Volunteer Brigade Camp at Ashridge Park, August 1905

Downer

1906 January 24th West Herts Election: Declaration of the Poll

Coles, Photographer, Watford

1906 December 26th The Pond, Watford, on Boxing Day, 1906

Downer

1907 July 18th The Lord Mayor's visit to St Albans Pageant

Downer

1907 July A Scene in St Albans During Pageant Week (George Street)

Downer

1907 July 22nd The Scene at Watford Station after the Great Storm of Monday July 22nds 1907

Downer copyright Photo

1907 July 22nd The Great Storm at Watford July 22nd 1907 - A Burst Main in Lower High Street

W. J. James Photo - The Watford Engraving Co,

1907 Dec 2nd The Great Fire at the Anchor Maltings, Bishop Stortford

Watford Engraving Co

1908 March 15th The Disastrous Fire at Hazelwood, Abbots Langley 

Downer Watford

1908 April 24th April Snowstorm

Watford Engraving Co

bushey-heath-fire-1908 1908 June 23rd The Fatal Fire at Bushey Heath

Downer

1908 June 26th The Funeral of the Bushey Heath Fire Victims

Downer

1908 Aug 15th The Great Fire at High Barnet

The Watford Engraving Co

1909 July 17th H.M. the King's Visit to The Grove - Passing up the High Street

Downer Photo

1909 July 18th H.M. the King attending Divine Service at Watford Parish Church

Downer Photo

watford-misc-kilburn-fire thumb

1910 January 13th The Great Fire at Kilburn

The Watford Engraving Co  Copyright

1910 April 27th The £10,000 Aeroplane Flight from London to Manchester. M Paulman, the winner, passing over Watford. [Roof in middle distance reads "F Haywood, Plumber & Decorator"]

Downer Photo

watford-event-edward-vii-funeral-downer

1910 May 29th The Funeral of King Edward VII - The Queen's Carriage in the Mall

Downer & Sons, Photo, Watford

1911 Feb 16th

The Fire at Heath Works, St Albans,

 

Watford Engraving Co.

Page updated April 2016