Elstree

Elstree is a village in the Hertsmere borough of Hertfordshire on the A5, north of London. It forms part of the civil parish of Elstree and Borehamwood (originally known simply as the parish of Elstree).

The nearest railway station is Elstree & Borehamwood. The names of Elstree and Borehamwood can be, to a certain extent used interchangeably. The area of Borehamwood to the west of the railway line, formally Deacon's Hill is colloquially called Elstree even though it is not contiguous with the village. Elstree Film Studios lie in Borehamwood.

There was an Elstree Rural District from 1941 to 1974.

It is most famous for giving its name to the Elstree Film Studios where a number of famous British films were made. The TV soap opera EastEnders is filmed at the BBC's Elstree Studios, but these, too, are in nearby Borehamwood. In the nineteenth century Elstree became notorious for the Elstree murder.

Elstree is also the title of a song about the film studio by The Buggles on their 1979 album The Age of Plastic.

Elstree Aerodrome has a paved 656 metre runway, suitable for light aircraft use.

[edit] Notable residents

Anna Neagle lived in Deacon's Hill during her years as a film star
Simon Cowell, the Pop Idol and American Idol judge, was born in Elstree.

[edit] Schools

Elstree is home to Haberdasher's Aske's school

Elstree School, a boys' preparatory school was initially situated in Elstree; however it relocated to its current site in Woolhampton, Berkshire during the Second World War.

[edit] External links

'Parishes: Elstree', A History of the County of Hertford: volume 2 (1908), pp. 349-51.
'Elstree', The Environs of London: volume 4: Counties of Herts, Essex & Kent (1796), pp. 24-8.
Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 51.644° -0.299°
- Mapping from Multimap or GlobalGuide or Google Maps
- Aerial image from TerraServer
- Satellite image from WikiMapia