From stagecoaches to motorways, Watford's fortunes have been transformed by transport.
Watford was originally a rural market town, supplying mainly agricultural produce for the London food market. The early 1800s saw rapid changes to the town, as the Grand Union Canal opened, enabling a new range of goods to be transported in and out of the town.
Even more significant was the opening of the railway in 1837. With its links to London, the West Midlands and Lancashire, new industries blossomed such as brewing, printing and silk processing. The old village life began to disappear and new roads opened, bringing trade, new buildings and an influx of new residents.
