Croxley Green History - The Halfway House - Croxley Green History Project

The Halfway House, Cassiobridge, Croxley Green

© c1910 Cassiobridge showing the Halfway House public house. The two bridges, over the canal and the River Gade can be seen. On closer inspection an early omnibus with the stairs on the outside are visible. As colour photography was still in the future it was common practice to hand colour black and white postcards to give a more accurate picture of the view.

The Halfway House situated by the canal at Cassiobridge was in a convenient position for both road users as well as boatmen. This area became very busy particularly when John Dickinson opened his paper mill close by. Boats of all types would pass through this part of the canal carrying many types of cargo on their way north to make deliveries and at the same time collections. On their return journey they would make overnight stops on the way back to the London docks. The boatmen and their families would be non stop unloading and reloading goods as many were working independently paid on each trip . The Halfway House was therefore a welcome place for an over night stay and possibly unloading goods for an onward destination by road.
The 1841 & 51 census describes John Warn (father and son ?) in an occupation as a wharfinger at Cassiobridge.This suggests Cassiobridge was a busy area. A 'wharfinger' is described as a person who is the keeper or owner of a wharf and takes custody of and is responsible for goods delivered to the wharf. He typically has an office on the wharf, is responsible for the day-to-day activities including resolving disputes.

The 1861 census describes James Gibson now occupying The Halfway House as a Wharfinger and Beer house keeper and indicates this could be the same, if not a new premises for a secondary business.
By the 1871 census The Halfway House is listed separately. At Cassio Bridge wharf James Payne is listed as a Wharfinger living with his wife and family. The Payne family were also prolific watercress growers in this section of The Gade.
As traffic to and from Croxley Green and Watford began to increase in size as well as weight the original single narrow bridges over the canal and the River Gade became unsuitable for two-way traffic.
(Many early references to the river describes it as 'The Gad'
Originally built when horse transport was the principal means of transport another bridge was built alongside creating a dual carriageway. It was at this time when the decision was made to demolish The Halfway House. (approximately in the 1950's)
The junction with Baldwins Lane and the Watford Road a short distance away was chosen as a replacement site for a new public house and named The Two Bridges.

An article in The Resident magazine by Bob Hampson who lived at The Halfway House prior to its demolition was frequently awakened in the night-time by the noise of a cart trundling along the main road from Croxley Green and turning into the main entrance (then) to John Dickinson mill.(this is Blackamoor Lane). One night he decided to take a look with his wife and they were surprised not to see any movement. This appeared to occur frequently but there was nothing to be seen.

1841 census
John Warn - 30 years - Wharfinger
Mary Warn - 25 years - Wife
Mary Warn - 7 years - Daughter
Harriot Warn - 6 years - Daughter
Eliza Warn - 5 years - Daughter
Robert Warn - 4 years - Son
William Warn 3 years - Son
Elizabeth Warn - 8 months Daughter
John Warn - 70 years - Wharfinger / Father
Elizabeth Warn - 70 years - Mother

1851 census
John Warn - 44 years - born Watford Herts - Wharfinger
Mary Warn - 39 years born Shoreham - Wife
John Warn - 8 years born Rickmansworth - Son
Alice Warn - 5 years born Rickmansworth - Daughter
William Warn - 12 years born Rickmansworth - Son
Ruben Warn - 4 years born Rickmansworth - Son
James Warn - 2 years born Rickmansworth - Son
Thomas R Warn - 2 months born Rickmansworth - Son

1861 census
James Gibson - 35 years born Rickmansworth - Wharfinger and Beerhouse keeper
Ann Rebecca Gibson - 29 years born Berkampstead - Wife

1871 census
James Gibson - 45 years born Chorleywood Rickmansworth - Victualler
Ann Rebecca Gibson - 39 years born Berkampstead - Wife

1881 census
Henry Sills – 31 years born Nottingham - Publican
Ellen Sills – 31 years born Devon - Wife
Harry Sills - 4 years born Hertfordshire - Son

1891 census
Henry Colebrook - 42 years born Harrow Middlesex - Licensed Victualler
Eliza Colebrook - 40 years born Harrow Middlesex - Wife
Henry Colebrook - 18 years born Harrow Middlesex - Son / Grocers assistant
Amy Colebrook - 16 years born Watford Herts - Daughter
Bertha Colebrook - 13 years born Watford Herts - Daughter
Frederick Colebrook - 11 years born Watford Herts - Son

1901 Census
Henry Colebrook - 52 years born Harrow Weald, Middlesex - Licensed Victualler
Eliza Colebrook - 50 years born Harrow Middlesex - Wife
Bertha Colebrook – 23 years born Watford, Hertfordshire - Daughter / Barmaid
Helena Colebrook – 7 years Cassio Bridge, Rickmansworth - Daughter
Ada Sills – 19 years born Stanmore, Middlesex - Bar Assistant

Census 1911
Frederick William Colebrook - 32 years born Rickmansworth Publican
Maud Ann Colebrook - 32 years born Wraysbury Buckinghamshire Wife
Helena Maud Colebrook - 5 years born Rickmansworth Daughter Irene
May Colebrook - 3 years born Rickmansworth Daughter
Frederick Colebrook - 4 months born Rickmansworth Son
Jane Fox - 49 years born Puddletrenthide Dorsetshire
Barmaid Annie Barber - 26 years born Tring Hertforshire General Servant

Copyright of Census
Crown Copyright information taken from the Census has be re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence (OGL) The OGL is a free licence developed to enable freer use of government information and public sector information without the need for formal agreements or any registration transaction, This licence takes the form of a simple set of terms and conditions for re-use and can be viewed at;
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/open-government-licence.htm