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The strange structure built to protect vital equipment in wartime

Town Hall Sub-Station. From A Brief History of the Watford Corporation Electricity Undertaking 1898-1948 <i>(Image: Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland)</i>
Town Hall Sub-Station. From A Brief History of the Watford Corporation Electricity Undertaking 1898-1948 (Image: Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland)

The Watford Observer is again delighted to team up with its friends at Watford Museum to look at some structures or objects from the town’s past that have either disappeared or been relocated.

This week we recall a structure that is among the more unusual looking in the town’s history – the Town Hall sub-station.

The museum’s volunteer archivist Christine Orchard said: “The image of this curious structure was printed in a booklet covering a history of electricity generation in Watford between 1898 and 1945. It shows the Town Hall sub-station which was opened in October 1938.

“As the booklet states the unique design ‘showed great foresight and attempted to ensure protection of expensive and vital plant against damage from aerial missiles in the event of war’.

Watford Observer: The red dot on this Ordnance Survey map from 1953 shows where the sub-station was believed to have been located.
Watford Observer: The red dot on this Ordnance Survey map from 1953 shows where the sub-station was believed to have been located.

The red dot on this Ordnance Survey map from 1953 shows where the sub-station was believed to have been located. (Image: Watford Museum)

“Fortunately during World War Two, which shortly followed its installation, its strength was not tested. I believe it was located to the right of the Central Library but I do not know when it was removed.”

Watford Museum is open Thursday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm.