Rose's Lime Juice at Boxmoor Wharf

Photo:Boxmoor Wharf

Boxmoor Wharf

Hemel Hempstead Library Collection

Photo:Barrels at the wharf

Barrels at the wharf

Hemel Hempstead Library collection

Photo:Threefellows Carrying narrowboats

Threefellows Carrying narrowboats

Hemel Hempstead Library Collection

Photo: Illustrative image for the 'Rose's Lime Juice at Boxmoor Wharf' page

Hemel Hempstead Library collection

Photo: Illustrative image for the 'Rose's Lime Juice at Boxmoor Wharf' page

Hemel Hempstead Library Collection

Threefellows Carrying narrowboats
By Ellie Reid

From 1946 until its final closure in 1983, Boxmoor wharf was home to the company that made Rose's Lime Juice; at one time employing over 30 people and being the largest lime juice depot in the world.

Lauchlan Rose, the founder of L. Rose & Co. came from a family of shipbuilders. His company provided ships supplies including lime juice,a remedy for scurvy. In 1867 he had patented a method of preserving citrus juice without alcohol, and from this his business grew. From his neat lime juice, he went on to develop "Rose's Lime Juice" a sweetened bottled drink for the domestic market, which became a great success. The company's London premises were severely bomb damaged in the Second World War, so were relocated to St Albans and Hemel Hempstead. 

From 1947 unprocessed lime juice was transported by narrowboat from London to Boxmoor where the juice was stored and subsequently filtered and sweetened before being sent to St Albans to be bottled. At its height the company had up to 25,000 barrels in the yard, which in summer were sprayed to keep them cool.

The delivery of lime juice by canal continued until the early 1980s. These photos from the 1970s show Threefellows Carrying narrowboats including "Banbury" at Boxmoor Wharf. Threefellows Carrying was a partnership of three canal enthusiasts who in 1971 began acquiring former trading boats with the intention of restoring them for use for commercial carrying. The transporting of lime juice from Brentford to Boxmoor Wharf for Rose's was their first commercial trade.

Canal traffic ceased to the wharf in 1981 and Rose's Lime Juice which had become part of Cadbury Schweppes,finally left Boxmoor in July 1983. The site is now occupied by a B&Q DIY store.

Can you add to this story? Do leave a comment or add your own memories to Our Dacorum.

 

 

This page was added by Ellie Reid on 30/06/2011.

Comments about this page

I remember seeing all the barrels outside the Lime juice Factory when I was little. I used to love going past it in the summer when all the sprinkers were on to keep the barrels damp, I think to stop them from leaking.

By Joyce Scott
On 02/07/2011

I used to go and see the Roses Lime Juice Pair through at dawn at the end of their overnight trip to Roses Depot in Hemel Hempstead. They were certainly the only working pair that I knew of back then. They used to crash the lock gates "breasted- up". Very spectacular albeit very naughty. Must Have been the early 80s. Very interesting that they must have been just making a living.

By Mike Russell
On 03/02/2012

Used to live nearby Roses Lime Juice as a child vividly remember the wonderful scent of limes that used to permeate the air every time you passed by the wharf. All the barrels would be stacked up in neat rows and regularly sprayed with water during the hot summer months to stop the wooden barrels from drying out.

By Bernard Henderson
On 02/08/2012

I used to walk down pass there with my father on he way to the bus depot where he worked, we would always stop and watch them loading the bargess and you could smell the fresh lime.

By paul andrews
On 08/01/2013

Just talking with my Dad today about his days as a truck driver. He worked for a firm of coopers (barrel-makers) and was telling me about transporting some of the lime juice barrels. Apart from the beautiful countryside, the smell of the barrels was aparently heavenly, making it more of a day out, rather than simply "fetching a load"

By Tony Cooley
On 28/05/2013

I used to go fishing with my dad in the late '60's early '70's, all along the Grand Union Canal through Hemel. The Rose's site was a really good spot, good fishing.

By Andy Sawyer
On 11/06/2013

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