IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Hempstead Road, WATFORD, WD17 3EZ

This is the new leisure centre being built to replace Watford Central Baths. According to the Watford Council website the facilities on offer will include - * Six lane 25 metre swimming pool * Learner pool * Four court sports hall * 60 station gym * Dance studio * Climbing wall * Cafe * Function room * Creche * Viewing gallery * Wet & dry changing facilities At present the building appears to be an empty shell but is due to open in May 2008. The photo is taken from approximately the same spot as http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/62987 and http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/324382

The College was built in the grounds of Little Cassiobury house off the Hempstead Road, and is now one of four campus sites in use by the College.

This is a sort of figure of eight roundabout first crossing the A roads and then the local road here and college entrance behind this view.

As Watford Central Baths is dismantled, features such as this fine brickwork round the main window, hidden for forty years or more behind the offices built over the entrance hall, come into view for the last time.

View of the front of Watford Central Baths. Opened in May 1933, it was reputed to be the first all-electric (i.e. electric heating as well as lighting) swimming baths in England - possibly in the world! In October 2005 it is no longer all-electric. It has been under threat of closure for many years but still provides bathing facilities for the people of Watford.

The demolition continues. The side walls are going and the trees flanking the north-east side of the building have been grubbed out. The blue pool cover, however, is still in place as is the PA system above it. Watford Borough Council plans to replace the building with a new leisure centre with a pool, gym and sports hall http://www.watford.gov.uk/ccm/content/leisure-and-community/leisure-centres-in-watford.en

Watford Central Baths has finally been reduced to a heap of rubble. Watford Library can be seen behind the trees in the centre of the photograph and the building to the right of the trees is the Horns pub.

Watford Central Baths closed its doors for the last time on Sunday 10 December 2006, seventy three years after its opening. Now it is in the process of being demolished.

Watford's Public Library was opened on its present site in December 1928 after 17 years of planning at a cost of £20,000. It was opened by Lieut.-Col. J.M. Mitchell, Secretary of the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust (which contributed over £5,000 towards the cost) who remarked that "You have, on the whole, the best Library of its size in Britain," Today it offers, according to the notice to the left of the entrance, 'Free Internet, DVDs, Bestsellers, Music, Information, Newspapers, Magazines and Children's activities' - worthy literature is notable by its absence! The library houses a good reference section on the first floor with much information of interest to local historians and genealogists. The side wings were originally single storied, the upper storey on each side being added in the 1960s; they house temporary exhibitions and talks.