Borehamwood
Encyclopedia
Film industry
- Main article, see: Elstree StudiosElstree Studios"Elstree Studios" refers to any of several film studios that were based in the towns of Borehamwood and Elstree in Hertfordshire, England, since film production begun in 1927.-Name:...
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". Whilst most of these studios have now closed, two still remain.
Many well-known movies including The Young Ones, Summer Holiday, Dr Zhivago, The Confessions of.... series of films,2001: A Space Odyssey
2001: A Space Odyssey (film)
2001: A Space Odyssey is a 1968 epic science fiction film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick, and co-written by Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke, partially inspired by Clarke's short story The Sentinel...
, Moby Dick, The Dam Busters
The Dam Busters (film)
The Dam Busters is a 1955 British Second World War war film starring Michael Redgrave and Richard Todd and directed by Michael Anderson. The film recreates the true story of Operation Chastise when in 1943 the RAF's 617 Squadron attacked the Möhne, Eder and Sorpe dams in Germany with Wallis's...
, 633 Squadron
633 Squadron
633 Squadron is a 1964 British film which depicts the exploits of a fictional Second World War British fighter-bomber squadron. It was based on a novel of the same name by Frederick E. Smith, published in 1956, which itself drew on several real Royal Air Force missions. The film was directed by...
, The Shining
The Shining (film)
The Shining is a 1980 psychological horror film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick, co-written with novelist Diane Johnson, and starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, and Danny Lloyd. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King. A writer, Jack Torrance, takes a job as an...
starring Jack Nicholson, the first three Indiana Jones
Indiana Jones
Colonel Henry Walton "Indiana" Jones, Jr., Ph.D. is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Indiana Jones franchise. George Lucas and Steven Spielberg created the character in homage to the action heroes of 1930s film serials...
films and the first three Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
movies were partially filmed at the former Associated British Studios
Elstree Studios
"Elstree Studios" refers to any of several film studios that were based in the towns of Borehamwood and Elstree in Hertfordshire, England, since film production begun in 1927.-Name:...
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 supermarket and the office blocks is all that remains of the original studio, which has been much reduced in size and usefulness to production companies as a result. Elstree Studios
Elstree Studios
"Elstree Studios" refers to any of several film studios that were based in the towns of Borehamwood and Elstree in Hertfordshire, England, since film production begun in 1927.-Name:...
were more recently used for the popular TV series Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? is a television game show which offers large cash prizes for correctly answering a series of multiple-choice questions of increasing difficulty. The format is owned and licensed by Sony Pictures Television International. The maximum cash prize is one million pounds...
and Big Brother
Big Brother (UK)
Big Brother UK is the British version of the Dutch Big Brother television format, which takes its name from the character in George Orwell's 1948 novel Nineteen Eighty-Four...
, as well as several major feature films. The Inspector Morse
Inspector Morse (TV series)
Inspector Morse is a detective drama based on Colin Dexter's series of Chief Inspector Morse novels. The series starred John Thaw as Chief Inspector Morse and Kevin Whately as Sergeant Lewis. Dexter makes a cameo appearance in all but three of the episodes....
TV series' production offices were based in the studios and, although the series was supposedly set in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, several exterior locations (banks, shops etc.) were filmed in the streets of Borehamwood.
The former British National Studios
British National Studios
The former British National Studio is located on Clarendon Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England. It is currently used by the BBC and has been in continuous use since its opening in 1927....
off Clarendon Road referred to locally as "The Douglas Fairbanks studios" (which were later owned by Lew Grade
Lew Grade
Lew Grade, Baron Grade , born Lev Winogradsky, was an influential Russian-born English impresario and media mogul.-Early years:...
's ATV) are now the BBC Elstree Studios. The studios have, over the years, been home to Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
's movie Blackmail
Blackmail (1929 film)
Blackmail is a 1929 British thriller drama film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Anny Ondra, John Longden, and Cyril Ritchard, and featuring Donald Calthrop, Sara Allgood and Charles Paton. The film is based on the play Blackmail by Charles Bennett, as adapted by Hitchcock, with dialogue by...
, Gerry Anderson
Gerry Anderson
Gerry Anderson MBE is a British publisher, producer, director and writer, famous for his futuristic television programmes, particularly those involving specially modified marionettes, a process called "Supermarionation"....
's TV series UFO
UFO (TV series)
UFO is a 1970-1971 British television science fiction series about an alien invasion of Earth, created by Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson with Reg Hill, and produced by the Andersons and Lew Grade's Century 21 Productions for Grade's ITC Entertainment company.UFO first aired in the UK and Canada...
not to mention The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show is a British television programme produced by American puppeteer Jim Henson and featuring Muppets. After two pilot episodes were produced in 1974 and 1975, the show premiered on 5 September 1976 and five series were produced until 15 March 1981, lasting 120 episodes...
was also made there by Jim Henson, and now BBC TV's most popular soap, EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
and their popular medical drama Holby City
Holby City
Holby City, stylised as Holby Ci+y, is a British medical drama television series that airs weekly on BBC One.The series was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a spin-off from the established BBC medical drama Casualty, and premiered on 12 January 1999...
. An episode of Judge John Deed
Judge John Deed
Judge John Deed is a British legal drama television series produced by the BBC in association with One-Eyed Dog for BBC One. It was created by G.F. Newman and stars Martin Shaw as Sir John Deed, a High Court judge who tries to seek real justice in the cases before him. It also stars Jenny Seagrove...
included scenes of the Tesco Extra, but with Borehamwood crossed out and Lewes
Lewes
Lewes is the county town of East Sussex, England and historically of all of Sussex. It is a civil parish and is the centre of the Lewes local government district. The settlement has a history as a bridging point and as a market town, and today as a communications hub and tourist-oriented town...
written in its place. The studio has also been used for Question Time
Question Time (TV series)
Question Time is a topical debate BBC television programme in the United Kingdom, based on Any Questions?. The show typically features politicians from at least the three major political parties as well as other public figures who answer questions put to them by the audience...
.
Several other studios including The Gate Studio and the Danziger Studios at nearby Elstree have been demolished. The MGM-British Studios
MGM-British Studios
MGM-British was a subsidiary of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer initially established at Denham Film Studios in 1936. The films produced there were A Yank at Oxford , The Citadel , Goodbye, Mr...
complex (demolished in the early 1970s) saw the production of many well-known films such as 2001: A Space Odyssey
2001: A Space Odyssey (film)
2001: A Space Odyssey is a 1968 epic science fiction film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick, and co-written by Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke, partially inspired by Clarke's short story The Sentinel...
, Where Eagles Dare
Where Eagles Dare
Where Eagles Dare is a 1968 World War II action-adventure spy film starring Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood and Mary Ure. It was directed by Brian G. Hutton and shot on location in Upper Austria and Bavaria....
and Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969 film)
Goodbye, Mr. Chips is a 1969 American musical film directed by Herbert Ross. The screenplay by Terence Rattigan is based on James Hilton's 1934 novella of the same name, which originally was adapted for the screen in 1939.-Plot:...
, as well as many ITV television series including The Prisoner
The Prisoner
The Prisoner is a 17-episode British television series first broadcast in the UK from 29 September 1967 to 1 February 1968. Starring and co-created by Patrick McGoohan, it combined spy fiction with elements of science fiction, allegory and psychological drama.The series follows a British former...
.
Borehamwood itself has seen filming of many series, including the ever popular Most Haunted Live on Halloween, named Nightmare on Elstree
and
EastEnders is filmed there. although all the buildings investigated were in Borehamwood except the Hollybush Inn, situated in nearby Elstree the McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
drive-thru is what was the Red Lion pub. This pub stood opposite the Associated British Studios on Shenley Road and actors such as Robert Mitchum
Robert Mitchum
Robert Charles Durman Mitchum was an American film actor, author, composer and singer and is #23 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male American screen legends of all time...
were often seen drinking in there.
The newer Millennium Studios is situated on Elstree Way, Borehamwood.
Notable companies
Adecco UK Limited had its Head Office based in Borehamwood until 2009 until it relocated to London, Birmingham and Budapest. Adecco House is still owned by Adecco but remains empty.The UK headquarters of Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut is an American restaurant chain and international franchise that offers different styles of pizza along with side dishes including pasta, buffalo wings, breadsticks, and garlic bread....
are based within the town and, until 2003, so were the headquarters of the United Kingdom subsidiary of T-Mobile
T-Mobile
T-Mobile International AG is a German-based holding company for Deutsche Telekom AG's various mobile communications subsidiaries outside Germany. Based in Bonn, Germany, its subsidiaries operate GSM and UMTS-based cellular networks in Europe, the United States, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
, with both being based in the office blocks standing on part of what used to be the old Elstree Studios. Regent Inns
Regent Inns
Regent Inns was the parent company of Walkabout, Jongleurs/Bar Risa and Old Orleans chains.It went into administration in October 2009.The part-time executive chairman was Bob Ivell.-Brands:...
has its head office on Elstree Way. NatWest, George Wimpey
George Wimpey
George Wimpey was formed in 1880 and, based in Hammersmith, operated largely as a road surfacing contractor. The business was acquired by Godfrey Mitchell in 1919 and he developed it into the UK’s pre-eminent construction and housebuilding firm. In 2007, Wimpey merged with Taylor Woodrow to create...
, Barclays, Bradford & Bingley
Bradford & Bingley
Bradford & Bingley plc is a British bank with headquarters in the West Yorkshire town of Bingley. In 2008, partly due to the credit crunch, the bank was nationalised and in effect split into two parts; the mortgage book remained with the now publicly owned Bradford & Bingley plc, and the deposits...
, DVLA and Alstom
Alstom
Alstom is a large multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. According to the company website, in the years 2010-2011 Alstom had annual sales of over €20.9 billion, and employed more than 85,000 people in 70 countries. Alstom's headquarters are...
also have large offices within the town.
Notable people
- Frank Alexander Adams (1907–1998), public servant, lived in Borehamwood.
- Simon CowellSimon CowellSimon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
, brought up in Elstree by his parents, Eric and Julie Cowell. Left School at 16. - Jaye DavidsonJaye DavidsonJaye Davidson is an American-British former actor and model. He is best known for his roles as transgender "Dil" in the 1992 suspense-drama thriller film The Crying Game, for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, making him the first Black British actor...
, nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in the movie The Crying GameThe Crying GameThe Crying Game is a 1992 psychological thriller drama film written and directed by Neil Jordan. The film explores themes of race, gender, nationality, and sexuality against the backdrop of the Irish Troubles...
, grew up here and went to Hillside Comprehensive School (now Yavneh College). - Den DoverDen DoverDensmore Ronald Dover, known as Den Dover, is a British politician. He was a Member of the European Parliament for the North West England region from 1999 to 2009....
(b.1938)), Member of the European Parliament, lives in Borehamwood. - Prof. Angus Charles GrahamAngus Charles GrahamAngus Charles Graham , Professor of classical Chinese at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, was a noted sinologist....
(1919–1991), Professor of Classical Chinese, London University, 1971–84, lived in Borehamwood. - James Hay StevensJames Hay StevensJames Hay Stevens C.Eng, FRAeS, was an aviation journalist, editor of Aircraft Engineering magazine, illustrator and pilot. He is known for creating the Skybirds range of 1/72 scale model aircraft kits produced by A. J. Holladay & Co., the same scale later being adopted by Airfix...
(1913–1973) FRAeS. Aviation journalist, editor Aircraft Engineering (1945–1957), illustrator and pilot lived in Borehamwood. He is known for developing the 1:72nd scale model used by AirfixAirfixAirfix is a UK manufacturer of plastic scale model kits of aircraft and other subjects. In Britain, the name Airfix is synonymous with the hobby, a plastic model of this type is often simply referred to as "an airfix kit" even if made by another manufacturer....
and many other toy manufacturers. - Sir Robert Holland (c.1283–1328), nobleman, was murdered in Borehamwood on 15 Oct 1328.
- Donald Victor House (1900–1992), Member, Restrictive Practices CourtRestrictive Practices CourtThe Restrictive Practices Court is a senior court of record in the United Kingdom. It was created in 1956 to foster competition through enforcement of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1956. Though the Court was overhauled in 1976, by the end of the century, the legislation was perceived as...
, and president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (1954–55). lived in Borehamwood. - Marilyn, early 80s New Romantic singer went to St Teresa's Catholic School
- Shona McGartyShona McGartyShona Bernadette McGarty is an English actress from Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, best known for her role in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, as Whitney Dean.-Career:...
, plays Whitney Dean in EastEndersEastEndersEastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
. - Sir William Edmund Skyes (1884–1961), businessman, lived in Borehamwood.
- John Frederick TaylerJohn Frederick TaylerFrederick Tayler was a 19th century English landscape watercolour painter, and president of the Royal Watercolour Society.-Personal:...
(1806–1889), watercolour painter, and President of the then-called Old SocietyRoyal Watercolour SocietyThe Royal Watercolour Society is an English institution of painters working in watercolours...
, was born on 30 April 1806 at Borehamwood.
Sport and recreation
The first third of the Watling Chase Timberland Trail stretches from Elstree & Borehamwood railway stationElstree & Borehamwood railway station
Elstree & Borehamwood railway station is in the Hertsmere district of Hertfordshire. The station lies on the Midland Main Line and is served by First Capital Connect trains as part of the Thameslink Line service. It is in Travelcard Zone 6...
up to Shenley
Shenley, Hertfordshire
Shenley is a village and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England, between Barnet and St Albans. The village is located 18.7 miles from Central London.-History:...
.
Borehamwood is home to Boreham Wood F.C., Arsenal Ladies
Arsenal L.F.C.
Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal F.C.. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won 34 major trophies to date; which are 12 FA Women's Premier League titles, 11 FA Women's Cups, ten...
and Watford F.C. Reserves who play their home games at Meadow Park
Meadow Park (Borehamwood)
Meadow Park is a football ground, located in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England. It is the home of Boreham Wood of the Conference South division, Arsenal Ladies of the FA Women's Premier League, and Watford Reserves of the Football Combination East division. The stadium has a capacity of 4,502...
. 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
Marks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
, Next, Outfit
Arcadia Group
The Arcadia Group Limited a British company that owns the high street clothing retailers Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Miss Selfridge, Topman, Topshop, Wallis and BHS, and the out of town chain Outfit, which sells lines from the other group chains...
- which includes Burton, Dorothy Perkins
Dorothy Perkins
Dorothy Perkins, whose trading name was inspired by a rambler rose of the same name, is a large British women's clothing retailer, active mostly in the United Kingdom.- History :...
, Evans
Evans (clothing retailer)
Evans is a women's clothing retailer located in the United Kingdom and Ireland. They have over 300 stores around the UK selling plus-size clothing, lingerie, wide fitting shoes, swimwear and accessories.- Timeline :...
and Miss Selfridge
Miss Selfridge
Miss Selfridge is a nationwide UK high street store which began as the young fashion section of Selfridges department store in London in 1966. Miss Selfridge got its name when Charles Clore, the owner of Selfridges at the time, saw a window display in the Bonwit Teller store in New York which...
, WH Smith, Boots, and more recently JD Sports
JD Sports
JD Sports Fashion plc, more commonly known as just JD, is a sports-fashion retail company based in Bury, Greater Manchester, England with shops throughout the United Kingdom and with one in Ireland...
, which takes place of JJB Sports
JJB Sports
JJB Sports plc is a United Kingdom sports retailer. It currently operates 251 stores in the UK and Ireland.- History :The sportshop chain was founded in 1971, when ex-footballer Dave Whelan acquired a single sports shop in Wigan. The original store was established by JJ Broughton in the early...
The village of Well End
Well End, Hertfordshire
Well End is a village which lies on the edge of Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.It has a notable pub, the Mops and Brooms, reputedly the site of a battle between travellers and village folk, although another explanation, that it commemorates mop weddings and broomstick weddings which once took place...
has a notable pub, the Mops and Brooms, reputedly the site of a battle between travellers and village folk, although another explanation, that it commemorates mop wedding
Mop wedding
Mop weddings, or mop marriages, were once a traditional marriage method, mainly in England. It is presumed that, like the earliest Mop Fairs where they were celebrated, they date back to the 13th or 14th century, though it is possible that the tradition originated in pagan practices.Evidence from...
s and broomstick weddings
Jumping the broom
Jumping the broom is a phrase and custom relating to wedding ceremonies in different cultural traditions: "many diverse cultures, those of Africa − Europe including Scotland, Hungary and Gypsy culture – include brooms at wedding rituals." It is particularly associated with the Romani gypsy people...
which once took place there, has also been advanced.
Schools
Borehamwood has a number of primary and secondary schools including Hertswood SchoolHertswood School
Hertswood School is a secondary school situated in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.It was established in 2000 by an amalgamation of five former local schools. It enrolls boys and girls from the age of 11 to 16 . It also offers a sixth form for students aged 16-18 who wish to continue their studies into...
, the Jewish secondary school, Yavneh College
Yavneh College, Borehamwood
Yavneh College is a Jewish Voluntary Aided Comprehensive School in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.The school opened in 2006 on the site of the former Hillside School with Dr...
and Haberdashers' Aske's Boys'
Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School
The Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School is a British independent school for boys aged 4–19. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and of the Haileybury Group....
and Girls' schools. Typical of the exemplary post-war work of the Herts County Architect's Department is Cowley Hill Primary School and Parkside School.
Hillside School is also situated in the area and is notable for being the base of the school in the TV series Grange Hill
Grange Hill
Grange Hill is a British television drama series originally made by the BBC. The show began in 1978 on BBC1 and was one of the longest running programmes on British television...
from 1985 to 1990.
Nearby
- ArkleyArkleyArkley is a village in the London Borough of Barnet. It is located north north-west of Charing Cross, and at above sea level is one of the highest points in London....
- Barnet GateBarnet GateBarnet Gate is a small hamlet located on the far outskirts of the London Borough of Barnet, England. It is located in the west hand side of Arkley. It is near to the Stirling Corner junction with the A1. Just to the west is the town of Borehamwood.-Geography:...
- ElstreeElstreeElstree is a village in the Hertsmere borough of Hertfordshire on the A5 road, about 10 miles north of London. In 2001, its population was 4,765, and forms part of the civil parish of Elstree and Borehamwood, originally known simply as Elstree....
- RadlettRadlettRadlett is a small town in the county of Hertfordshire between St Albans and Borehamwood on Watling Street with a population of approximately 8,000. It is located in the council district of Hertsmere and is covered by two wards, Aldenham East and Aldenham West...
- RidgeRidge, HertfordshireRidge is a village and civil parish in the Hertsmere borough of Hertfordshire, situated between Potters Bar and Shenley. It has a small church, St Margaret's and a small playground. There is a public house called the Old Guinea which serves food on most days. The village also holds a fete day on...
- ShenleyShenley, HertfordshireShenley is a village and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England, between Barnet and St Albans. The village is located 18.7 miles from Central London.-History:...
- Well EndWell End, HertfordshireWell End is a village which lies on the edge of Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.It has a notable pub, the Mops and Brooms, reputedly the site of a battle between travellers and village folk, although another explanation, that it commemorates mop weddings and broomstick weddings which once took place...
External links
- Elstree & Borehamwood Town Council
- Borehammwood at Hertfordshire County Council
- Borehamwood and Elstree Times
- Borehamwood at the BBC Domesday Project
- "Elstree with Boreham Wood" 1855 Post Office Directory, via Historical Directories
- "Elstree with Boreham Wood, 1894 Kelly's Directory of Essex, Herts & Middx