Borehamwood
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Borehamwood | |
  Borehamwood shown within Hertfordshire |
|
| Population | 31,616 (2001 census) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Parish | Elstree and Borehamwood |
| District | Hertsmere |
| Shire county | Hertfordshire |
| Region | East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BOREHAMWOOD |
| Postcode district | WD6 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Hertfordshire |
| Fire | Hertfordshire |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| European Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament | Hertsmere |
| List of places: UK • England • Hertfordshire | |
Borehamwood (sometimes referred to as Boreham Wood) is a town in southern Hertfordshire, just 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.
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[edit] 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.
[edit] Transportation
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.
[edit] 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 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 to film 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 2001: A Space Odyssey, 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.
[edit] Notable companies
Adecco UK Limited has it's Head Office based in Borehamwood.
The 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 it's Head Office on Elstree Way. Nat West, George Wimpey, Barclays, DVLA and Alstom also have large offices within the town.
[edit] 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
[edit] Sport and recreation
The first third of the 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.
Borehamwood has a large newly built public swimming pool called The Venue. 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 Virgin Active gym.
Borehamwood has a large shopping area called Borehamwood Shopping Park, which can currently provide free parking for more than 600 cars. This features large stores such as Marks & Spencer Simply Food, Next, Outfit - which includes Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans and Miss Selfridge. There is also a small Playboy and Ben Sherman section, WH Smith, Boots and many more. A new Costa Coffee has just opened in the park. There is a multiplex cinema in Borehamwood at the Point Centre.
The Crown pub has been purchased by Smith & Jones and has just been refurbed to a very high standard. Two coffee shops (Caffe Nero and Costa Coffee) have recently opened on the high street.
[edit] Schools
Borehamwood has a number of primary and secondary schools including Hertswood School, the new 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 Cowley Hill Primary School.[1]
