The Market is believed to date as far back as 1100 when a Royal Charter was granted by Henry I for a market to be held. At that time Watford was owned by the Abbots of St Albans. After the dissolution of the monastaries by Henry VIII, ownership of the franchise passed through several holders, including from 1770 to 1887 the Earl of Essex whose estates covered Cassiobury Park. A market hall stood in the High Street in front of what is now the town square. This was in the traditional style with wooden pillars supporting the upper floor where grain was stored. It acted as a Corn Exchange and would have been the focal point of the market where, on Saturdays, stalls would be set up in the street. Unfortunately the Hall burned down in 1853 and was never rebuilt. © Brian Macfarland

On Tuesdays, farmers would bring their animals into town, and the High Street would become a bustling livestock market - dirty, smelly and noisy! The sounds of cows lowing, pigs squealing and sheep bleating would have been punctuated by the sharp rap of the auctioneers hammer throughout the day. Watford High Street cattle market around 1910 The village became a town, with a population which continued to grow from 5000 in 1840, and still only one street, to around 15000 in 1888.

While Watford owed its growth and early prosperity to its status as a market town, there were mixed feelings about this weekly invasion which made normal shopping hazardous and left the town smelling like a farmyard for several days! It was a burning issue at many a town council meeting, but the council was in any case powerless to prevent any farmer who paid the toll to bring in his livestock to sell. Likewise the Charter gave the right to hold market to the owner of the franchise, and with an income of £40 to £50 a year in tolls, that right was duly exercised! Finally , in 1926, the town council managed to buy the ownership for £19,500. That was a lot of money in those days, probably the equivilant of over a million pounds! However, it gave the council the authority to hold the market wherever they wanted. A new site was found in due course, and the last street market finally took place on 22nd September 1928.