Borehamwood

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Borehamwood
civil_parish= Elstree and Borehamwood
latitude= 51.6578
longitude= -0.2723
population= 31,616 (2001 census)
shire_district= Hertsmere
shire_county= Hertfordshire
region= East of England
constituency_westminster= Hertsmere
post_town= BOREHAMWOOD|postcode_district = WD6
postcode_area= WD |dial_code= 020
os_grid_reference= TQ195975

Borehamwood (sometimes referred to as Boreham Wood) is a town in southern Hertfordshire, situated 16 miles / 25km north of London. It is part of the borough of Hertsmere within the London commuter belt. As of April 2004, the town had approximately 30,000 residents. There is one weekly newspaper, the "Borehamwood and Elstree Times", commonly known as the "Borehamwood Times".

History

The town was part of the ancient parish of Elstree; the two still share a local council, Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council. Borehamwood is undergoing a large transformation which has seen hundreds of new homes built over the last 5 years. There are currently two developments being built and more are expected.

Transport

On the west side of Borehamwood is a railway station, Elstree & Borehamwood railway station, served by trains operated by First Capital Connect, (formerly Thameslink). The same railway line is used by Midland Mainline between St Pancras station and Nottingham, although these trains do not stop.

The A1 road passes just to the east of the town, and the M25 motorway passes about two miles north of it.

Film industry

Since the 1920s, the town has been home to several film studios and many shots of its streets are included in final cuts of 20th century British films. This earned it the nickname of the "British Hollywood". Most of the studios have now closed, although two remain.

Many well-known movies including "Moby Dick", "The Dam Busters", The Shining starring Jack Nicholson, the first three "Indiana Jones" films and the first three "Star Wars" movies were partially filmed at the former Associated British Studios in Shenley Road. These were partly demolished in the 1980s to make way for a Tesco Extra supermarket on one side and an office block complex on the other. The area between the two has been redeveloped to form Elstree Studios where, more recently, the TV series "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" and "Big Brother" were filmed, as well as several major feature films. The "Inspector Morse" TV series' production offices were based in the studios and, although the series was set in Oxford, several exterior locations (banks, shops etc) were filmed in the streets of Borehamwood.

The former British National Studios off Clarendon Road (which were later owned by Lew Grade's ATV) is now the BBC Elstree Centre. The studios have, over the years, been home to Alfred Hitchcock's movie "Blackmail", Gerry Anderson's TV series "UFO" and now BBC TV's most popular soap, "EastEnders" and their popular medical drama "Holby City". An episode of "Judge John Deed" included scenes of the Tesco Extra, but with Borehamwood crossed out and Lewes written in its place. The studio has also been used for "Question Time".

Several other studios in the town have been demolished. The MGM-British Studios complex (demolished in the early 1970s) saw the production of many well-known films such as ", Where Eagles Dare" and "Goodbye, Mr. Chips".

The building opposite Elstree & Borehamwood station that housed the former Gate Studios was demolished in April 2006. This site is now being developed as an executive housing development by Taylor Woodrow homes. The McDonalds drive-thru is what was the converted Red Lion pub. This pub used to stand adjacent to the MGM Studios and actors such as Robert Mitchum were often seen drinking in there.

Recent E4 show, "The Inbetweeners" is filmed and set in Borehamwood.

The newer Millennium Studios is situated on Elstree Way, Borehamwood.

Notable companies

Adecco UK Limited has its Head Office based in Borehamwood.

The UK headquarters of Pizza Hut are based within the town and, until 2003, so were the headquarters of the United Kingdom subsidiary of T-Mobile, with both being based in the office blocks standing on part of what used to be the old Elstree Studios. Regent Inns has its head office on Elstree Way. Nat West, George Wimpey, Barclays, DVLA and Alstom also have large offices within the town.

Notable people

*Jaye Davidson, nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in the movie The Crying Game, grew up here and went to Hillside Comprehensive School (now Yavneh College).
*Ashley West, British abstract artist
*Marilyn Early 80s New Romantic singer went to St Teresa's Catholic School

port and recreation

The first third of the [http://enquire.hertscc.gov.uk/CMS/explore/walk/timberland/default.htm Watling Chase Timberland Trail] stretches from Elstree & Borehamwood railway station up to Shenley.

Borehamwood is home to Boreham Wood F.C., Arsenal Ladies and Watford F.C. Reserves who play their home games at Meadow Park. There are several parks in the area. Aberford Park is featured with the source of the brook which has been artificially been made to look like a lake. Meadow Park includes a large playing field, tennis courts and basketball courts.

Borehamwood has a large shopping area called Borehamwood Shopping Park, featuring large stores such as Marks & Spencer Simply Food, Next, Outfit - which includes Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans and Miss Selfridge, WH Smith and Boots.

chools

Borehamwood has a number of primary and secondary schools including Hertswood School, the Jewish secondary school, Yavneh College and Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' and Girls' schools. Typical of the exemplary post-war work of the Herts County Architect's Department is [http://www.cowleyhill.herts.sch.uk Cowley Hill Primary School] . [Source: Nikolaus Pevsner, "Buildings of England: Hertfordshire, 2nd ed." 1972, Penguin, pp 37-38.]

Nearby

* Arkley
* Barnet Gate
* Elstree
* Radlett
* Ridge
* Shenley
* Well End

Twin towns

*Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
*Offenburg, Germany

References

External links

* [http://www.hertsdirect.org/atozofservices/twcoun3y/twytow4y/548970 Hertfordshire County Council page about Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council]
* [http://www.borehamwoodtimes.co.uk "Borehamwood and Elstree Times"]
* [http://www.borehamwoodshoppingpark.com "Borehamwood Shopping Park]