We arise from our slumbers in the perfectly acceptable Travel Lodge and breakfast with our friends at the Costa Coffee in the rather pretentiously named Galleria which is a US style Mall. The whole surrounding area is 20th century and arguably a bit ugly, but we really like it, because transport, housing and retail are all integrated. It reminds us of Denmark. Below is the Beales Hotel. We love the design but it is, I am told, out of our price range!
Hatfield's police station in Comet Way, dating back to 1934, re-opened in 2009. It was formerly the Canteen Block on the de Havilland and, more recently, British Aerospace aerodrome site. This had been derelict for a number of years.
Geoffery de Havilland was a British boy born in the late 19th century into a relatively humble family who became a pioneering aircraft designer and founder of the de Havilland Aircraft Company. Flying commenced in 1930, but the clubhouse buildings and adjacent recreational facilities, fuel pumps and sheds were not completed until 1933. In 1934 Art Deco administration buildings were constructed. The site played an important part in WW2, suffering German bombing and loss of life. It also prospered post war.
The de Havilland company was acquired by Hawker Siddeley in 1960 and the de Havilland name ceased to be used in 1963. In 1992, due to severe financial problems, British Aerospace announced the cessation of aircraft production at Hatfield from 1993. The airfield closed but was later used as a film set for Saving Private Ryan and the television series Band of Brothers. I haven't seen either of these. The redevelopment of the main airfield site commenced in the late 1990s. Only the listed flight test hangar and administration buildings were retained, all other buildings, taxiways and runway were removed to make way for new offices, businesses and homes. Today the flight test hangar survives as a leisure centre, whilst the rest of the site is divided between the University of Hertfordshire, housing and a business park.
The Personnel Block is now used as a fastfood outlet.
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