EAW029476 ENGLAND (1950). The town, Rickmansworth, 1950

Ricky Parsonage Road School

This oak tree is in the garden of 34 Berry Lane. This was our family house from 1977 to 2015.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/24): S0000539

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/24): S0000538

This attractive area was replaced in the 1960s by a disgracefully ugly mixed residential and retail development known as Penn Place. The development included a rather disreputable modern pub called the Artists' Retreat. The name was a reference to an attractive villa that stood on the site, which served as a retirement home for artists. Penn Place was in turn replaced by another ugly residential development of expensive Lego block apartments.

These structures are possibly prefab housing or temporary government buildings erected during the war. They seem to be in an area now occupied by the car park opposite the William Penn Leisure Centre in Shepherds Lane.

This locomotive water tower still exists. At the time of the photo it would still have been used to replenish the steam locomotives still using the station.

This area (now a service station) was once, I suspect, the horse and livery stables for the adjoining Victoria Hotel (now demolished) at a time when motor transport was still a thing of the future. It is probably already a garage, but utilising the original stable buildings.

London bound Metropolitan-Vickers Bo-Bo electric locomotive heading a rake of six 'Dreadnought' carriages approaching Rickmansworth. The train has left the stabling sidings north of the station as the mainline was not electrified north of this point at that time. Another Metrovick loco appears to remain in the sidings and must have been the loco that had originally headed the northbound train. No doubt it would reposition to the changeover sidings south of Rickmansworth station in readiness to take over another southbound train. Had the train's original destination been Amersham or beyond, a steam locomotive would have taken over for the remainder of the journey. Rickmansworth remained the changeover point for steam and electric locos until September 1961. At one time, the Metropolitan Railway (and London Transport) operated one of two pullman carriages on selected services, which, for a supplementary charge, provided light meals and refreshments in comfortably appointed surroundings. This service was withdrawn as a wartime economy measure in 1939 and was never reinstated.

The old wartime British restaurant. Closed in 1965. I believe the building may have thereafter been used by the WRVS. In all probability it would have been the WVS (the forerunner of the WRVS) who ran the wartime facility. British Restaurants were communal restaurants set up by the Ministry of Food during WW2 to provide the public with cheap and nutritious (if very plain) meals that were not subject to the rationing quota. Many continued for some time after the war when food rationing continued.

The Feathers public house. A very old hostelry originally called The Cock.

Upper area of Highfield Way before any house built

Saint Joan of Arc School

Hampton Hall Farm

Moor Lane

A new block of government offices, which incorporated a driving test centre. Now adapted into a private care home for the elderly.

St Mary's Church

The old Salter's brewery maltings buildings. At this time occupied by Moussec Champagne and Wine Co, makers of British sparkling wine. I doubt if they would get away with the reference to Champagne nowadays. Their product was a very slightly more sophisticated alternative to Babycham.

The original police station. Replaced by the High Street building in 1897. The building still exists. It is hard to see anyone being locked up here as there was no obvious provision for cells.

Shepherds Lane

Berry Lane running through empty fields.

The Happy Man pub would be built here. Happily, it burnt down.

St Peter's Church, Mill End

Halfway House pub

The Kings Arms pub. Now converted as an office premises.

Bridge Motors. This site has changed very little apart from the addition of an awning over the petrol pumps

This row of cottages would have been swept away at the time that Riverside Drive was constructed.

There seems to be quite an area of allotments in this locality. No doubt they are a legacy of the 'Dig for Victory' effort of WW2.

Type 24 Pillbox. This has been removed.

In 1952 the police station and fire station were relocated here. Only the fire station remains.

Bowling green (still exists)

Methodist Church (demolished 1984)

Coach & Horses pub

Remains of Sabey's Cut (lock gates still in situ at top)

Sabey's Pool

Salter's Cut

Town Wharf

The original Fire Station

The old Police station in the High Street, currently a bookmakers, which replaced the original in Talbot Road in 1897. Replaced in turn in 1952 by the building in Rectory Road. (Now also demolished.)

Fox & Hounds pub

The Western pub

The Swan Hotel

The Bury

Town swimming pool. Opened in 1909. It appears to be fed by the town ditch. Goral Mead flats built on the site.

Three Rivers Council offices built on this site.

Rickmansworth Library built here.

The Watersmeet Theatre was eventually built here.

Odeon cinema

Basing House

This shed was used by locomotives used in the changeovers from steam to electric haulage and vice versa, which took place at Rickmansworth.

Victoria Hotel

Postal sorting office.

Telephone exchange

Franklin's soft drinks factory.

The Railway Arms (later the Batchworth Arms)

Rickmansworth Station. Now all that remains is the 3-4 mile Ebury Way Footpath to Watford over the old Railway Line. In Watford best picked up end of Cardiff Rd

Coal yard

Rickmansworth station on the Metropolitan and Great Central joint line

Lock