Leavesden, Hertfordshire
| Leavesden | |
  Leavesden Leavesden shown within Hertfordshire | |
| Population | 5,612 (ward)[1] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | TL102001 |
| District | Three Rivers |
| Shire county | Hertfordshire |
| Region | East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WATFORD |
| Postcode district | WD25 |
| Dialling code | 01923 |
| Police | Hertfordshire |
| Fire | Hertfordshire |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament | Watford |
| |
Leavesden is a residential and commercial area in Hertfordshire, England, contiguous with the northern suburbs of Watford. It lies within the M25 Motorway. On its eastern side it is bounded by the M1 Motorway. Leavesden is part of Abbots Langley civil parish and is also the name of a district council ward in Three Rivers District. Leavesden Green is an adjoining residential community which lies partly in Three Rivers and partly in the Borough of Watford.
Leavesden is the location of Leavesden Studios, built on the site of RAF Leavesden a former World War II airfield and wartime aircraft factory, and where the James Bond and Harry Potter film franchises were produced.
History
In the period before the Norman Conquest the hamlet of Leavesden was in the hundred of Dacorum, historically a detached part of the ecclesiastical parish of Watford which was in the hundred of Casio. In the 12th century it became part of the parish of Bushey[2] In 1853 Leavesden became an ecclesiastical parish with the building of the church of All Saints and St Hilda designed in the Victorian gothic style by the architect Sir George Gilbert Scott.[3] In 1870 the Metropolitan Asylum for Imbeciles was founded by the Metropolitan Asylums Board. Later known as Leavesden Hospital it closed in 1997 and is now the site of Leavesden Country Park.[4]
Before the First World War Leavesden was an agricultural community. During the 1930s several housing estates were built. In the 1950s major road network developments commenced with the building of the North Orbital Road and North Western Avenue and the M25 Motorway.[3]
Shortly after the outbreak of World War II in 1940 RAF Leavesden was established. In addition to a runway capable of dealing with heavy bombers and associated aircraft hangars the de Havilland company, which had plants at Hatfield built two factories to manufacture Halifax bombers and Mosquitoes. Production continued until 1950 when the site was sold to Rolls Royce who operated the factories as aircraft engine assembly plant until 1995.[5] Eon Productions took over the site in 1995 for the production of the James Bond film GoldenEye. Leavesden Studios were developed and acquired by Warner Bros. and parts of the former airfield were sold for housing development.[5]
Present Day
Property development company MEPC plc is redeveloping the former aerodrome site, including the studio complex and adjoining land known as Leavesden Park. The plans comprise a film studio, a media and telecommunications business park, leisure and retail outlets, and a nature reserve.[6] In addition Bellway Homes have proposals for construction of 425 homes.[7]
Education
Within the Leavesden ward are the following schools.[8]
- Primary Schools: Kingsway Infant School, Alban Wood Primary School, St Catherine of Siena RC Junior Mixed Infant (JMI) School, Coates Way JMI and Nursery School, Leavesden Green JMI School and Nursery.
- Secondary Schools: Parmiter's School, St. Michael's Catholic High School, Francis Combe Academy.
- Special School: Garston Manor School
Sport and Recreation
To the north, Leavesden Country Park comprising 110 acres of mature woods, parkland, football pitches, BMX track, outdoor gym, walks and playgrounds was created out of the grounds of Leavesden Hospital which closed in 1997. Some buildings have been converted for use as a Health Club[9]
Watford Town Cricket Club has its ground at Woodside in Leavesden Green. There is a youth club in Leavesden Green. Local public houses include The Hammer in Hand, The Swan. Leavesden Green Community Centre is located to the south of the Orbital Road.
Transport
Rail
The nearest mainline railway stations are King's Langley and Watford Junction.
Road
Leavesden is close to the M1 and M25 motorways, the A405 (London Orbital Road) and the A41 (North Western Avenue).
Air
Since the closure of the aerodrome at Leavesden, the nearest airport is Heathrow, 21 miles away.
Waterways
The Grand Union Canal passes to the west of Leavesden.
Notable People
- Sid Kimpton, (born 12 August 1887 – 15 February 1968) Gabriel Sibley "Sid" Kimpton and also known as George Kimpton, was an English football player, who spent his entire playing career with Southampton and subsequently became a manager in Europe including the France National Football Team.
- Malcolm Lesiter (born 31 January 1937) who was Archdeacon of Bedford from 1993 to 2003 was the incumbent at Leavesden All Saints and St Hilda's Church from 1973 to 1988.
- James Newcome (born 24 July 1953) is the current Bishop of Carlisle in the Diocese of Carlisle and began his curacy at All Saints and St Hilda's Church Leavesden fron 1979 to 1982.
- Bradley Walsh (born 4 June 1960) an English entertainer, actor, television presenter and former professional footballer was born and grew up in Leavesden.
References
- ↑ Neighbourhood statisitcs Leavesden ward 2001 census, Accessed 2 February 2013
- ↑ British History Online Hertfordshire Hundreds, Accessed 21 January 2013
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Parish of Leavesden, Accessed 21 January 2013
- ↑ British History Online, Watford, Accessed 21 January 2013
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Leavesden Studios, Accessed 21 January 2013
- ↑ Leavesden Park planning application Three Rivers DC, Accessed 22 January 2013
- ↑ Three Rivers District Council agree amendments to 425-home proposals for Leavesden Aerodrome site, Accessed 22 January 2013
- ↑ Hertfordshire CC Schools in Leavesden Ward, Accessed 22 January 2013
- ↑ Three Rivers District Leavesden Country Park, Accessed 21 January 2013
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