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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.[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.[10]
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. 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.[13] 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. St Mary's National Schools closed in 1922, and the site is now a car park.[14][15]
[edit] Primary schools
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All the state-funded primary schools in Watford are co-educational. 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. 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.
[edit] 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. Within this area, there are:[16]
- partially selective schools, which offer a proportion of places according to ability or aptitude, and the rest to siblings or those living near the school: Parmiter's School, Queens' School, Rickmansworth School, St Clement Danes School, Watford Grammar School for Boys and Watford Grammar School for Girls.
- Bushey Meads School, which selects 10% and uses banded admissions to ensure a comprehensive intake for the remainder.
- non-selective Roman Catholic schools, whose intake is evenly spread: St Joan of Arc Catholic School and St Michael's Catholic High School.[17]
- other non-selective schools, whose intake is markedly affected by the above partially selective schools: Bushey Hall School, Francis Combe School and Westfield Community Technology College.[18]
The partially selective schools 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.[16]
Results achieved by the schools at GCSE are also widely spread, including the three highest and the two lowest scoring state schools within Hertfordshire.[19] The area also has by far the highest incidence in the county of children allocated to schools to which they had not applied.[20]
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. They were relegated from the old Division One in 1988. In 1996, Watford were relegated from the new Division One (now Football League Championship).
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. 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. Again, as before they were relegated to the Football League Championship after a single season (2006–2007) in the Premiership.
Singer-songwriter Sir Elton John is a keen, long-term supporter of Watford F.C. and a former club chairman. He still maintains his links with Watford as Honorary Life President.[21] 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.
[edit] Places of interest
[edit] Cassiobury Park
Daffodils in Cassiobury Park
Cassiobury Park is on the grounds of Cassiobury House and consists of 190 acres 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.[22] 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.
[edit] Watford Colosseum
The Watford Colosseum was used to record the Lord of the Rings soundtracks and is world renowned for its acoustic qualities, which are often said to be the best available in the UK. It is now in administration after funding difficulties, but is still open to bookings whilst the local council decides its fate.[23]
[edit] Watford Palace Theatre
The Watford Palace Theatre is the only producing theatre in Hertfordshire. 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.
[edit] 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.[24]
[edit] "North of Watford"
The phrase "North of Watford" is used light-heartedly to describe areas of the United Kingdom that are north of London. This is possibly because Watford was one of the first places that horses were changed on the route to the north-west from London[citation needed]. Alternatively, the phrase may refer to the Northamptonshire village of Watford, about 50 miles further north, which was traditionally an important waypoint on the old east-west and north-south coaching routes. 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. Watford in Hertfordshire is much better known and so frequently mistaken, in the context of this phrase, for the same place.
[edit] Suburbs
Including areas outside Watford Borough:
[edit] Twin towns
Watford has five twin towns:[25]
[edit] Notable people
Watford was the birthplace of:
- Barbara Amiel, Lady Black of Crossharbour, journalist
- Stephen Andrew, Canadian television reporter, anchor and talk show host
- Michael Bentine, politician and ex-Goon
- Michaela Breeze, female weightlifter
- Ian Cashmore, television presenter of Ghosthunters
- Ray Cooper, percussionist (performed in both Elton John's and Eric Clapton's bands)
- Anthony Berkeley Cox, crime fiction author
- Paul Field 1994 Gladiators champion, police officer and two-time Winter Olympian from South Oxhey.
- Cyril Fletcher, comedian
- Terry Flynn, political author
- Nikki Grahame, reality star and television personality (is actually from Northwood)
- Geri Halliwell, singer and Spice Girl
- Kenny Jackett, former Swansea City FC manager
- Vinnie Jones, a British football player turned actor.
- Nick Knight, cricketer
- Nick Leeson, rogue securities trader responsible for the collapse of Barings Bank in 1995
- Tim Lovejoy, Sky Sports Soccer AM presenter
- Gerald Moore, pianist
- Mo Mowlam, Labour politician
- Mark Oaten, Liberal Democrat politician
- Richard Pacey, radio presenter
- Stuart Parkin, physicist
- Arthur Peacocke, biochemist and Anglican theologian
- Thomas Webster Rammell, engineer Crystal Palace,
- Paul Robinson, West Bromwich Albion football player
- Terry Scott, TV and Carry On actor and comedian
- Grant Shapps, Conservative MP for nearby Welwyn Hatfield
- Kelly Smith, England and Arsenal footballer
- Bradley Walsh, Coronation Street actor and comedian
- Melanie Walsh, actress and model
- Matt King, comedy actor, Peep Show
[edit] References
- , Virgil. Aeneid, VI, 95. “Tu ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito. trans.: Yield thou not to adversity, but press on the more bravely.”
- , Area: Watford, Resident Population Estimates by Ethnic Group, Office for National Statistics.
- , Mid Year Population Estimates Hertfordshire 2006, Office for National Statistics, August 2007, revised October 2007.
- , 2001 Census, Key Statistics for Local Authorities, Office for National Statistics, 2003.
- , Census 2001, Key Statistics for urban areas, Office for National Statistics.
- , a b c Samuel Lewis (ed.) (1848). "Watford (St. Mary)", A Topographical Dictionary of England, 7th edition, p486. Retrieved on 2008-03-22.
- , a b William Page (ed.) (1908). "Watford: Manors", A History of the County of Hertford: volume 2, Victoria County History, pp451-464. Retrieved on 2008-05-19.
- , William Page (ed.) (1908). "Watford: Churches and Charities", A History of the County of Hertford: volume 2, Victoria County History, pp464-469. Retrieved on 2008-05-19.
- , Sparrow Herne Trust Turnpike Marker, Lower High Street, Watford, Images of England, English Heritage National Monuments Record.
- , a b William Page (ed.) (1908). "Watford: Introduction", A History of the County of Hertford: volume 2, Victoria County History, pp446-451. Retrieved on 2008-03-22.
- , Hertfordshire: an Economic Overview. Hertfordshire County Council (November 2004). Retrieved on 2008-05-19.
- , Croxley Rail Link. Transport for London. Retrieved on 2008-05-19.
- , W.R. Carter (1894). "Mrs. Fuller's Free School". Watford Endowed Schools Journal 3.
- , R.E. Slinn (1957). A History of Elementary Education in Watford 1704-1903. University of London Institute of Education.
- , J.B. and L.V. Nunn (2003). The Book of Watford: A portrait of our town, 2nd edition.
- , a b Moving On – Applying for a Secondary or Upper School place, Hertfordshire County Council, 2007.
- , Ofsted reports for these schools describe their intake.
- , Ofsted reports for these schools discuss the affect on their intake.
- , Hertfordshire: GCSE (and equivalent) results, Secondary School achievement and attainment tables 2007, Department for Children, Schools and Families.
- , Admissions Update 2007, Agenda Item No. 4, Hertfordshire County Council Admissions Forum, 14 June 2007.
- , They Shaped the Club", Watford F.C. History, 3 February 2008.
- , Cassiobury Park, Green Flag Awards.
- , Watford Colosseum, Watford Borough Council.
- , The Pump House Theatre & Arts Centre
- , Twinning, Watford Borough Council, accessed October 12, 2007.
[edit] External links
Coordinates: 51°39'20?N 0°23'48?W? / ?51.65556, -0.39667
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