Potters Bar
Potters Bar shown within Hertfordshire
Population	21,618[1]
OS grid reference	TL255015
District	Hertsmere
Shire county	Hertfordshire
Region	East
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	POTTERS BAR
Postcode district	EN6
Dialling code	01707
Police	Hertfordshire
Fire	Hertfordshire
Ambulance	East of England
European Parliament	East of England
UK Parliament	Hertsmere
List of places: UK • England • Hertfordshire

Coordinates: 51°41′53″N 0°10′59″W / 51.698, -0.183

Potters Bar is a town in the Hertsmere borough of Hertfordshire, England,^[2] located 18 miles (29 km) north of central London. Hertfordshire (ˈhɑːtfədʃə(r, abbreviated Herts) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using Latitude and Longitude The districts of England are a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government History The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, by a merger of the former area of Bushey Urban District Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties are one of the four levels of Subdivisions of England used for the purposes of Local government outside Greater London Hertfordshire (ˈhɑːtfədʃə(r, abbreviated Herts) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of The region, also known as the government office region, is currently the highest tier of local government sub-national entity of England, with only one The East of England is one of the nine official Regions of England. Constituent country is a phrase used often by official institutions in contexts in which a country makes up a part of a larger entity or grouping England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland This list of sovereign states, alphabetically arranged gives an overview of States around the world with information on the extent of their Sovereignty. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located A post town is a required part of all postal addresses in the United Kingdom, and a basic unit of the postal delivery system UK Postal codes are known as postcodes. UK postcodes are Alphanumeric. The EN postcode area, also known as the Enfield postcode area, is a group of 11 postal districts in north Greater London which are subdivisions of seven Post The UK Telephone numbering plan, also known as the National Telephone Numbering Plan, is the system used for assigning Telephone numbers in the United There are a number of law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom. Hertfordshire Constabulary is the Home Office Police force responsible for policing the county of Hertfordshire in England. The fire service in the United Kingdom operates under separate legislative and administrative arrangements in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is the Statutory fire and rescue service for the County of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust is the authority responsible for providing NHS Ambulance services in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, East of England is a Constituency of the European Parliament. This is a list of the 646 constituencies currently represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, as at the 2005 general election Hertsmere is a Constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. A Gazetteer of place names in the United Kingdom showing each place's County, Unitary authority or council area and its geographical coordinates List of places --> List of cities in the United Kingdom List of towns in England Lists of places This is a list of settlements in the ceremonial county of Hertfordshire, England. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. History The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, by a merger of the former area of Bushey Urban District Hertfordshire (ˈhɑːtfədʃə(r, abbreviated Herts) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. In 2001 it had a population of 21,618. ^[1]

The town started life in the early 13th century and remained a small settlement until the arrival of the Great Northern Railway in 1850. The Great Northern Railway (GNR was a British railway company established by the London & York Railway Act of 1846 ^[3] It is part of the London commuter belt^[4]

Etymology

The origin of the Potters component of the town's name is uncertain but is generally thought to have been derived from evidence of a Roman pottery that was thought to have been sited locally, or from the family Pottere who lived in the South Mimms parish. The London commuter belt is the Metropolitan area surrounding London, England from which it is possible to commute to work in the capital Roman Britain refers to those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between AD 43 and 410 South Mimms is a village forming part of the Hertsmere district of Hertfordshire in the East of England. ^[5] The Bar component is thought to refer to the gates leading from the South Mimms parish and into the Enfield Chase parish, or possibly from some sort of toll on the Great North Road. Enfield Chase is an area of the London Borough of Enfield, was once covered by woodland and used as a royal Deer park A toll road, (also known as a tollway, turnpike, pike, or toll highway, especially if it is constructed to Freeway standards ^[5] The original "Bar" is said to have been at what is now the Green Man pub, or at the current entrance to Movern House.

Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, looking north towards the railway bridge

History

Potters Bar was located on the Great North Road, one of two road routes from the City of London to the north of England. For London as a whole see the main article London. The City of London is a geographically Northern England, The North, The North of England or (less commonly The North Country refers to the parts of England north of an ill-defined line ^[6] The road was originally numbered as the A1, and later the A1000. The A1000 is a main road in the United Kingdom, running north from Highgate, North London for approximately 20 miles to Welwyn where it

Potters Bar was historically part of Middlesex^[7] and formed the Potters Bar Urban District of that county from 1934. South Mimms Rural District (1894-1934 and Potters Bar Urban District (1934-1974 were local government districts occupying the area around the town of Potters Bar ^[8] From 1894 to 1934 its area had formed the South Mimms Rural District. South Mimms Rural District (1894-1934 and Potters Bar Urban District (1934-1974 were local government districts occupying the area around the town of Potters Bar ^[9] In 1965 the district was transferred to Hertfordshire while most of the rest of Middlesex became part of Greater London. Greater London is the top-level administrative subdivision covering London, England. ^[10][11]

The urban district covered an area of 6,129 acres. ^[8] In 1939 it had a population of 13,681 and in 1971 this was 24,613. ^[12] In 1974 the urban district was abolished and the area became part of the borough of Hertsmere. Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. History The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, by a merger of the former area of Bushey Urban District Having been part of Middlesex, the area continued to form part of the Metropolitan Police District; with the creation of the Greater London Authority it was transferred to the Hertfordshire Constabulary in 2000. The Metropolitan Police District (MPD is the area policed by London 's Metropolitan Police Service. The Greater London Authority ( GLA) is the city-wide governing body for London, England. Hertfordshire Constabulary is the Home Office Police force responsible for policing the county of Hertfordshire in England. ^[13]

Transport

The A1 was built as a major 'arterial' road and a crossroads at Bignells Corner linked it to the Barnet - St Albans road. High Barnet or Chipping Barnet is a place in the London Borough of Barnet in North London, England. St Albans is the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London. Potters Bar is now also served by junction 24 of the M25 motorway. To see information about the M25 motorway under construction in Ireland, see N25 road. ^[2]

Potters Bar railway station is the highest on the line between London's King's Cross railway station and York. Potters Bar railway station serves the town of Potters Bar in Hertfordshire, England. King's Cross station is a major railway terminus opened in 1852 York ( is an historic Walled city sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The First Capital Connect route serving Potters Bar links the town to various North London suburbs in the southbound direction before terminating at either King's Cross or Moorgate station. First Capital Connect (FCC is a passenger train operating company in England that began operations on the National Rail network on 1 April 2006 North London is the northern part of London, England. The area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes Moorgate station is a London Underground and National Rail station in the City of London, on Moorgate, north of London Wall. Northbound, the railway connects Potters Bar to Peterborough, Cambridge and Letchworth Garden City as well as towns en route to these destinations such as Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage. History Early history Present-day Peterborough is the latest in a series of settlements which have at one time or other benefited from its situation where the Nene The city of Cambridge (ˈkeɪmbrɪdʒ is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England For the US businessman see William Pryor Letchworth. For the New York State Park see Letchworth State Park. Hatfield, originally Bishop's Hatfield, is in the Welwyn Hatfield district of Hertfordshire, in the south of England. Welwyn Garden City is a Town in Hertfordshire, England. Welwyn Garden City is also referred to in Council parlance as WGC or less correctly Place-name meaning Stevenage may derive from Old English stiþen āc / stiōen āc / stithen ac (various Old English dialects ^[14]

Potters Bar has a bus depot which services local bus routes as well as some London bus routes. Wiki enviro 400 metrolinepng|thumb|right|300px|A Metroline Enviro400]] Metroline, owned by ComfortDelGro Corporation of Singapore, is one of many companies The 84 bus route travels to New Barnet in the South and St. Albans in the northwesterly direction. Hertfordshire bus route 84 is a contracted bus service for Hertfordshire County Council in London and Hertfordshire, England. New Barnet is an area in the London Borough of Barnet in north London, United Kingdom. St Albans is the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London. Other routes include the 298 to Arnos Grove, the 313 towards Enfield and Chingford, the 242 to Waltham Cross and the 398 service to Borehamwood. Arnos Grove is an area in the south west corner of the London Borough of Enfield, England. Enfield Town is a location in the London Borough of Enfield. It is north north-east of Charing Cross. Chingford is a town in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is a suburban development situated northeast of Charing Cross. Waltham Cross is the most south-easterly town in Hertfordshire, England, bordered by Greater London to the south and northerly rural Essex to Borehamwood (sometimes referred to as Boreham Wood) is a town in southern Hertfordshire, situated 16 miles / 25km north of London. There are also school bus services run from various places to Dame Alice Owen's School and to Chancellor's School. Dame Alice Owen's School is a mixed voluntary aided secondary school in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, England, founded in the London Chancellor's School in Brookmans Park, Hertfordshire, is a Secondary school (including sixth form

Potters Bar rail accidents

Main article: Potters Bar rail accidents

Potters Bar has been the scene of two major train crashes. There have been at least two railway accidents in Potters Bar, a town in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, just north of Greater London. On the night of 10 February 1946, a local train hit buffers at the station, became derailed, and two express trains travelling in opposite directions struck the wreckage. On 10 May 2002 a northbound train derailed at high speed, killing seven and seriously injuring another eleven. Events 1291 - Scottish Nobles recognize the authority of Edward I of England. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. In memorial to those killed, a small piece of art work that resembles 7 faces, was erected on 10 May 2003 and can be seen at the station. ^[15]

Education

Mount Grace School is a mixed grant maintained School in Potters Bar opened in 1954. ^[16] The school used to be a Manor House which was turned into a school long ago.

Dame Alice Owen's School is a mixed grant-maintained school in Potters Bar. Dame Alice Owen's School is a mixed voluntary aided secondary school in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, England, founded in the London Grant-maintained schools were State schools in England and Wales in the United Kingdom that under provision of the Education Reform Act ^[17] Originally founded in 1613 and based in Islington until the 1960s, Dame Alice Owen's School is unusual in its 'Visitation' and 'Beer Money' traditions. Islington is the central district of the London Borough of Islington. ^[18] The trustees of the Dame Alice Owen Foundation are the Worshipful Company of Brewers. The Worshipful Company of Brewers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. It is a partly selective school (25% of its intake is on the basis of pupils doing well on its entry test). It also reserves some places for children from Islington. It specialises in languages, and offers GCSEs in a wide range of languages. It has recently become a music and science college on top of being a language college.

Sports, entertainment and recreation

Potters Bar has a King George's Field in memorial to King George V which is situated behind the Furzefield Centre (A national centre of sporting excellence), a swimming pool and leisure centre run by Hertsmere council. History The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, by a merger of the former area of Bushey Urban District ^[19] Also in the town is Potters Bar Town F.C., Potters Bar Swimming Club (PBSC)^[20], a tennis club, a cricket club, a golf course and the Wyllyotts Centre; a theatre, cinema and events venue. Potters Bar Town FC is a football club based in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, England. It is also the location of the town's museum. ^[21] Potters Bar is also home to the Hertfordshire Showband (formally known as the Marching Blues)^[22]. Formally known as 'The Marching Blues ----The Hertfordshire Showband is based in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire and is one

In 1983, the area around Potters Bar was used for the on-location filming of the comic-horror film, Bloodbath at the House of Death. Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Bloodbath at the House of Death is a Comedy Horror film produced in 1983 starring the British Comedian Kenny Everett Also, in 2005, David Walliams and Matt Lucas shot two scenes for the third season of the comedy, Little Britain. ^[23]

Famous Residents

• James Carter - celebrated jazz musician and former actor
• Acker Bilk - Famous clarinetist divides his time between Pensford, Somerset and Potters Bar^[24]
• Terry Lightfoot - jazz musician was born in Potters Bar spent his early years there^[25]
• Potters Bar Golf Club was the home golf club of Tony Jacklin, winner of the British and US Open, and former Captain of the Ryder Cup team. James (Larry Carter (born January 3 1969) is an American Jazz Musician. Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States An actor, actress, player or thespian (see terminology) is a person who Acts in a Dramatic production and who works Acker Bilk MBE (born 28 January 1929) born Bernard Stanley Bilk (known more familiarly as Mr A clarinetist (also spelled clarinettist) is a Musician who plays the Clarinet. Terry Lightfoot (born May 21 1935, Potters Bar, Middlesex - now Hertfordshire - England) is a famous British Clarinetist Professional wins European Tour wins (8 1972 Viyella PGA Championship 1973 Italian Open, Dunlop Masters ^[26]

Twinnings

• Viernheim, Germany
• Franconville, Val-d'Oise, France (Since 1973)

References

External links

• pottersbar.org - local information
• 5pbscouts.co.uk - 5th Potters Bar Scouts Website