Elstree, situated 15 miles north of central London has its origins in Roman times. Through most of antiquity Elstree was sparsely occupied, and the location of a number of country seats. In the nineteenth century Elstree was the centre of attention for a famous murder. Charles Dickens was a frequent visitor, and Sir Richard Burton, explorer was born in Allum Lane. It remained rural until after the Second World War, and much of historic interest has survived development.Borehamwood with a history dating back to the Domesday Book was a hamlet of Elstree. With the arrival of the railway and its proximity to London, by 1914 it had attracted the film industry. It is now a major media centre hosting the BBC Television Centre where EastEnders and Holby City are made. This new books shows the development of two rural communities that after the Second World War became important centres in their own right.