The Battle Wagon's Last Hurrah ends in a discovery!

Sunday, 23rd April.

Our Battle Wagon has done us proud for a long time, but it is now time to retire her and send her to the great buggy paradise in the sky. But, before this could happen, we had to take her on one last trip.

After lunch, we took a stroll into Watford, to get a few items for home. We then headed to Pets at Home, to show Erin and Keilyn the rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, fish, snakes, etc., before deciding to make our way home. Erin was bored with being cooped up in the Battle Wagon and was demanding to be released, so that she could walk home. This was a great idea as the weight of the two girls, plus the shopping, really put a strain on the Battle Wagon, which we had abused for so long. So, we headed towards Oxhey Park and the River Colne, where it was safer for Erin to run around. With Erin running alongside the river, we followed the path to Wiggenhall Road, where we crossed onto the Riverside Recreation Ground, still following the river, until we reached Riverside Park.

Erin proceeded to enter the park and have a ride on the swings, clambered over the climbing frames and down the slides. She did this many times, before we decided it was time to head off.

Leaving the park, we joined the Ebury Way Cycle Path, heading in the direction of home. The last time that I had been on this particular piece of the Ebury Way, it had been a torrent of water due to the River Colne bursting its banks, having been swollen by the flood waters. Luckily, the ground had dried considerably, allowing the Battle Wagon to make its way unhindered, except for the odd mud puddle. With Emma pushing the Battle Wagon, Erin and I decided to head off into the undergrowth, beside the old railway line, to see how the renovation of the  line was progressing. It is due to be reopened in 2017 , as part of the Croxley Rail Link. It appears to be progressing well, with a most of the line cleared and the trees and shrubs, which had spread like wildfire, being cut right back. Getting as far as we could, we turned round and headed back to Emma and Keilyn.

[caption id="attachment_902" align="aligncenter" width="300"] A piece of the old Rickmansworth to Watford railway line.[/caption]

With the Lairage Land Nature Reserve to our right and allotments to our left, we continued on our merry way until I spotted one an old ceramic insulator 'pot' in the undergrowth. These insulator 'pots' usually hold up the third rail and, when railway lines are ripped up, are normally just left smashed by the side of the line. The Ebury Way is built on an old railway line that used to run from Rickmansworth to Watford, but fell into disuse many years ago. Eventually the cycle route was put through and it is now a busy thoroughfare. Sometimes, as now, you can find a complete one, but they are rare. So I grabbed a photo. No sooner had I done this than I noticed another insulator 'pot', which was made of glass. Having never seen one before, I took a photo, before picking it up to study. Sure enough it was an insulator 'pot' and it was made of glass. So, carefully, I placed it under the Battle Wagon, much to its consternation, before we continued on our way.

[caption id="attachment_903" align="aligncenter" width="300"] A Glass Insulator Pot, in the undergrowth of the Ebury Way.[/caption]

We then began to notice that the Lairage Land Nature Reserve was still slightly flooded, but not as much as the area around the Electricity Transmission Station and the surrounding fields, which make up the River Colne floodplain, to our left. As we crossed the river we could see swans, swimming in the middle of the cricket pitch, while the old 'Pill Box' looked to be on an island, all of its own.

With us being minutes from home and Erin's legs starting to flag, I decided to put her on my shoulders. Putting her in the Battle Wagon didn't seem right, plus, although we were now on tarmac, the extra weight makes it creak and protest. Typically, on arriving home, Keilyn had decided to fall asleep, so we left her wrapped up in the Battle Wagon, while we decanted the shopping and my 'new' garden ornament, namely the glass insulator 'pot', and proceeded inside for a well deserved coffee.

I then spent a good half hour Googling Glass Insulator Pots, finding only one image that resembled the one that now sat in my garden. A little more research led me to discover that they were an 'experimental' insulator pot, manufactured for a short time in 1934. Not many were produced, adding to their rarity, and they were predominantly used in the south of England.

[caption id="attachment_904" align="aligncenter" width="300"] An image of my cleaned up, 80 year-old Glass Insulator Pot.[/caption]

St. Mary the Virgin Church, Watford

The parish church of St. Mary the Virgin was built on the site of an earlier Anglo-Saxon church, in 1230. Being the parish church for Watford, the church was built in the middle of the town, towards the centre of the High Street. It is one of the largest churches in Hertfordshire and is also the oldest building in Watford, carrying a Grade I Listed status.

The oldest parts of the church, still remaining, are the Chancel arch, the double piscina in the Chancel, the doorway above the pulpit and the  South arcade of the Nave.

The tower was built in the 15th century and stands 24m to the top of the battlements. A narrow 96 step spiral stair forms a turret at the top of the tower, where there is also a Hertfordshire Spike, which is 9m high, in the centre of the roof. The tower has a clock face on the north, east and south sides, but not on its west face. There are many rumours as to why this is so, but no definitive answer. Many believe that as Watford was predominantly just one long street, with more buildings to the east, there was no need for a  west clock face. Also, as the Watford Union Workhouse was built to the west of the church, the planners didn't add a clock face to this side so that the 'inmates' wouldn't keep 'clock-watching'. The external plaster face of the tower walls were removed, in 1871, to be replaced with flint and dressed stone.

A Church Centre was added to the main building in 1979, to replace the old Church Halls. This space is used for church meetings, group meetings and social events.

St. Mary the Virgin has ten bells which, when rung out, can be heard for many miles around. Eight of the bells were cast in 1919, by Gillett and Johnston, who forged another two bells in 1946. There is also a smaller bell, kept in the tower, which dates from 1704, and is said to be Watford's old Market bell. The tenor bell weighs a massive 1237kg.

[caption id="attachment_889" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The Grade I listed parish church of St. Mary the Virgin, is Watford's oldest building.[/caption]

There are also twelve locally and nationally registered Grade Listed tombs, in the adjacent cemetery. One of these is to the memory of George Edward Doney.

George Edward Doney was captured from Gambia and taken to Virginia, as a child, where he was sold into slavery. In 1765 he arrived in Watford, where he worked for 44 years at Cassiobury House, for the 5th Earl of Essex, Church records show that he was baptised on August 1st, 1774. It was while working for the 5th Earl of Essex that George gained his freedom, but continued to work for the Earl. When he died, in 1809, he was listed as a widower, but no records so far give any clue as to whom he married.

Below is the inscription from his tombstone;

Poor Edward blest the pirate bark which bore 
His captive infancy from Gambia's shore
To where in willing servitude he won
Those blest rewards for every duty done -

Kindness and praise, the wages of the heart; 
None else to him could joy or pride impart,
And gave him, born a pagan and a slave,
A freeman's charter and a Christian's grave.

[caption id="attachment_890" align="aligncenter" width="225"] The grave of George Edward Doney.[/caption]

Have Battle Wagon, will travel.

Sunday, 16 February.

With Emma working a couple of night-shifts, back-to-back, I decided to take the two girls out, on Sunday morning, so that Emma could sleep.

The weather had decided that it was Spring, rather than Winter, and hit the area with sun and warmth (10c). Regardless, I dressed Erin in her pink wellies and matching pink one-piece, waterproof all-weather suit, while Keilyn wore her trainers and a one-piece outfit. With both girls suitably attired, and with provisions (raisins, bread sticks, crisps and drinks) stored in a small rucksack, I strapped the girls into the Battle Wagon, and off we set.

Our Battle Wagon is a standard two-seater buggy, with all the trimmings; Rain cover, sunshade, reclining seats, 5-point safety straps with a small shopping basket beneath the seats and a drinks holder. The wheels are standard, for a buggy, but our Battle Wagon has been everywhere. Besides the normal footpaths, for which it was designed, we have taken it along rugged cycle tracks, potholed paths, through woods and forests, around parks and through mud. It has been through hell and some fairly high water and is still going strong. Well, the brake sometimes clicks into place, at the most inopportune moments, so we have an elastic bungee holding that in place. The wheels are more ovaloid than round, due to the incessant snacking by the two year-old than the rough terrain, I feel, but it is still going, just.

Luckily, for me, the Ebury Way cycle path is just a few hundred yards from the house, so we were on it in minutes, heading in the direction of Rickmansworth. But, what with the recent flooding, I had decided that it might be fun to explore Croxley Common Moor, which is a natural flood plain for the River Gade. Within fifteen minutes we arrived at the Moor, where I released Erin from the buggy and tilted Keilyn's seat back, as she had decided to doze off. Something she does whenever we go out somewhere different.

[caption id="attachment_866" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Erin is ready for mud and puddles.[/caption]

With the Battle Wagon now a half-ton lighter, now that Erin was no longer weighing it down, it was a lot more manoeuvrable. Even so, I locked the front wheels in place and we began our stroll across the Moor.

Erin was in her element. She pounced on every puddle and mashed every muddy pool. Her pink clothing was gradually getting darker and blacker, but she didn't care, and neither did I for that matter, because that is what kids love to do.

[caption id="attachment_865" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Croxley Common Moor is becoming a Marshland, due to the excessive rain.[/caption]

Croxley Common Moor is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Local Nature Reserve. Covering some 100 acres it is a historic grassland which, after years of grazing and being the flood plain for the River Gade, which flows along its western edge, has turned it into an amazing and diverse habitat for wildlife. During the Summer months, cows are grazed on the Moor, which helps to keep down scrub and trees from taking over. Since no pesticides or chemicals have ever been used, the grassland is perfectly suited for all wildlife, which has seen some rare animals taking up residence. Water Voles, Red Kites, a Red Backed Shrike and some uncommon, and rare, spiders, moths and even glow worms have been seen on the Moor. There are also over 100 different species of grassland plant, some extremely rare, to be found on the site.

Making our way south west along a fairly smooth grassed path, parallel to the Ebury Way, we soon hit an obstacle. Some of the dips in the Moor, were filled with water and, although not very deep, they were wide enough to prevent the Battle Wagon from progressing. So, we backtracked slightly until we found a route. This went on as the morning progressed and the heat began to rise. Erin didn't seem to mind. She was off clambering over mounds and jumping in ditches, before running off to see what was around the next bush. All the while Keilyn slept. Slowly we made our towards the river Gade, where we sat and had a drink and a snack. Keilyn had awoken and was busy munching on a bread stick, while Erin demolished her hula hoops. The river Gade was very swollen, from the localised flood water, and was flowing at a fair speed. The water was crystal clear, allowing us to see the small fish who were harbouring at the water's edge.

[caption id="attachment_863" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Looking north along the crystal clear waters of the River Gade.[/caption]

With time getting on, and the girls suitably nourished, we turned North and headed back along the river Gade. We exited the Moor via its northern entrance, crossing the bridge across the river Gade and followed the path to the Grand Union Canal. The water level in the Grand Union Canal was so high that it was pouring over the top of the lock, which I had never seen it do before.

[caption id="attachment_864" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The Lock at Croxley Common Moor struggles to hold back the water.[/caption]

We then followed the canal, passed Byewaters, towards the weir. Since we had a few bread sticks left, Erin decided to feed them to the Canada geese, ducks and Swans, saving the last one for her little sister. Bless her.

[caption id="attachment_861" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Never have I seen the weir flowing with so much water.[/caption]

From here we made a slight detour. Instead of following Blackmoor Lane, towards home, we took Beggars Bush Lane, just because I thought it would be different. This brought us under the old bridge that carried the Watford to Croxley rail line, which ceased in 1996, allowing me to get some photographs.

[caption id="attachment_862" align="aligncenter" width="180"] One of the old bridges that hasn't seen a train since 1996.[/caption]

We then turned out on to Watford Road, then crossed Ascot Road, which brought us out just minutes from home. With Erin beginning to flag (she had walked about 3 miles, which isn't bad for a two year-old) she got back into the Battle Wagon, much to its groaning, and I pushed them the final distance home.

All in all it was a great morning out.