Newspaper Articles
Over the past 10 years or so, I have had the opportunity to write many articles about the people, places and events that made up the history and heritage of the Leavesden Asylum/Hospital and the local community it served for over 127 years. Many of these articles appeared in the Watford Observer’s (Newsquest Media Group Limited) Nostalgia page or as featured articles in the online and print versions of the paper.
I have collected as many as I could find and have uploaded them to this page of our website to make it easier to find them all in one place.
I have also included links to various other stories that have appeared in the My Abbots Magazine.
Enjoy.
Want to know more about the newest chainsaw carving by artist Will Lee in Leavesden Country Park? Here is the link to the details from Three Rivers District Council.
The value and benifits of keeping our local history/heritage alive.
ABWTT-WO-23-4-2021.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [623.7 KB]
The Leavesden Asylum/Hospital's Recreation Hall was built in 1889 and was the largest entertainment venue in the area at that time.
Recreation hall articel WO 3-9-2021.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [578.1 KB]
The history of a small park in Watford that had a very colourfull back story.
Russells House WO 11-6-2021.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [1.1 MB]
How art was used as a form of physical and mental therapy over time.
The Art of Well-being WO article 22-11-2[...]
Adobe Acrobat document [127.1 KB]
Stories of some of the ghostly goings-on that have been reported in and around the Leavesden Asylum/Hospital grounds and the East Lane Cemetery.
Things that go bump in the park 12-11-21[...]
Adobe Acrobat document [1.6 MB]
DEMAND (Design, Engineering and Manufacture for Disability) moves out of the Chapel of the Good Shepherd after 26 years.
WO Demand Stained Glass April 2023-recre[...]
Adobe Acrobat document [918.0 KB]
A rare and unique 75 year old artefact from the hospital displaying what a large general hospital would have looked like if it had been built on the south side of the hospital site by the NHS in the 1950s.
WO Doll Hosue story.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [4.1 MB]
Such royalty as HRH King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and the Duchess of York took time to visit the Leavesden Hospital and the Canadian Kaki University.
WO Royalty Visits.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [1.1 MB]
I spent the night on patrol with the Watford Police and learned what it was like to walk a mile in their shoes (boots).
Ride long with Watford Police.jpg
JPG image [1.6 MB]
What is it like to run a village pub and can a marriage handle it.
Swan Pub 29-6-18.jpg
JPG image [2.5 MB]
How the local streets around the Leavesden Hospital got their names.
It's All in the Name.jpg
JPG image [452.7 KB]
An interview with Barbara Owen, Chair of the Three Rivers Museum Trust.
Barbrah Owen March 2018.jpg
JPG image [1.7 MB]
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