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Watford, Hertfordshire, England: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gartlett_Road,_Watford_-_geograph.org.uk_-_406384.jpgAuthor: Stephen McKay
Watford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England. It is 32 km (20 mi) from central London and is close to the boundary of Greater London, separated from it by the parish of Watford Rural. Watford has a population of around 80,000 people (2012 estimate).
Located on the forded section of the River Colne, Watford has been inhabited even before Roman times. It was however mentioned in historical chronicles for the first time only in 1007. The settlement did not however appear in the Domesday Book of 1086, as it was included as part of the settlement of Cashio.
King Henry I granted a market charter to Watford to hold a weekly market in 1100. Its parish church, St Mary's, was established in 1230. The town was essentially a rural village right up to the 19th century, when the Industrial Revolution brouogh on radical development to the area.
The construction of canals enabled coal to be brought in, fuelling Watford's industrial development. Ithas a brewery and a paper-making factory. Today Watford is part of the extended suburb of London.
Mock Tudor-style shops at Oxhey, Watford: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oxhey,_Ye_Corner_-_geograph.org.uk_-_505385.jpgAuthor: Nigel Cox
Visiting Watford
From central London, take the M1 motorway to Junction 5,then continue west on the A4008 road to reach Watford.Places of Interest in Watford
- Cassiobury Park: 170-acre open space and parkland, named after Cassiobury House which was demolished in 1927.
- Harlequin Shopping Centre: Biggest shopping center in Hertfordshire, visited by over 17 million customers each year.
- Watford Colosseum: Formerly the Watford Town Hall Assembly Rooms, this is a music hall where a number of orchestral concerts are performed every year.
- Watford Palace Theatre: Only producing theater in Hertfordshire.
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