Last Updated on: 16th January 2022, 04:58 pm
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- CASSIOBURY HOUSE, CASSIOBURY PARK, England/ English, Essex, Grand Union Canal, Heritage, MINDFULNESS, Travel, United Kingdom, Walks, WATFORD, WATFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL, WATFORD MUSEUM
BEAUTIFUL CANAL &
PARK WALKS IN ENGLAND:
GRAND UNION CANAL &
CASSIOBURY PARK IN WATFORD
190 acres
of Open Grass and Woodland
with Sports Facilities,
Kids’ Attractions and
a Nature Reserve
RUSTIC BRIDGE AND OLD MILL
The ‘Rustic Bridge’ continues a long tradition
of decorative bridges in Cassiobury.
If you look from here you can see two weirs
that were built to hold back water to run a mill
and the brick arches which supported the building.
Downstream from here there were large areas of watercress beds
which were farmed by the Payne family until the 1960s.
The mill was used to pump water up to Cassiobury House
and was left unused after the house ceased to be occupied.
It had to be demolished in 1956 as it had become dangerous.
It was important to have a mill on the site
to serve the large community of people who lived on the estate,
not just the family in the house but all thier servants
and a host of estate workers.
It is harder to find out about these ordinary people than about the Earls,
but traces of their presence can be found.
If you visit St. Mary’s Churchyard in Watford
you can see the grave of George Edward Doney
and in the Hub you can read a copy of the memoir of Alice Herring
who lived on the estate when her father was employed as a gardener.
As well as Alice’s memoir and other written records related to the Cassiobury lands
and the Earls of Essex,
Watford Museum also has an extensive collection of pictures and photos
relating to the history of Cassiobury-
many of which feature people from all walks of life
who lived and worked in, or just visited, the house or park.
To find out more about the history of Cassiobury,
follow the rest of the heritage trail.
A map of the trail can be obtained from the Hub, Cha Cafe and Watford Museum
(who have a Cassiobury collection )
or download it from www.watford.gov.uk/cassiobury
where you can also find information
about our education service and events in the park.
CREDITS: WATFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL
This Plaque was unveiled by the Hon. W. H. McAlpine,
Chairman, RAILWAY HERITAGE TRUST,
on 16th September 1987,
to commemorate the Restoration of the Grove Bridge, Watford.
The Project was Sponsored by
BRITISH RAIL PROPERTY BOARD ,
BRITISH WATERWAYS BOARD ,
RAILWAY HERITAGE TRUST