Blog

Dressing Up Stops The Mayhem

Some of our young visitors dress up in the Police Box to show us how to deal with the Mayhem of the current exhibition Murder, Mayhem and Mystery.  Complete with helmets and squeaky truncheons! Come and visit us and wear a mustache as well if you fancy.

Murder, Mayhem & Mystery Opens

Yes, our new Exhibition is finally open. Come and explore those weird stories your granny told you, those strange mysteries you heard once and forgot, and those naughty happenings just out of knowledge!

All here now for you to read and tell your family and friends. And you will find out Dick Turpin wasn't that much of a hero.

New Exhibition - Work In Progress 3

One day to go before our new Exhibition opens, and Dave Armitage, in charge of us all, is putting the final touches to the police box.  Just a few tweeks, and we'll be ready to greet our first visitors to discover the dark side of Borehamwood and Elstree.  See you soon.

New Exhibition - Work In Progress 2

Nearly there : as you can see the panels had just arrived in the first photo, and on the wall in the second.  Won't be long until you can read all about the Murder, Mayhem & Mystery, and visit our Police Box. Two of our finest operatives are putting the finishing touches to the displays.  Naughty visitors might be locked up over night!

New Exhibition - Work In Progress 1

Work is well under way on our new Exhibition. Here's some photos showing that we are out with the magnificent model railway, and in with our police box. What's all that about?  More will be revealed next week. Murder, Mayhem & Mystery indeed.

New Foyer Exhibition Launch

Michael Finlay Painting Exhibition

Last week we opened our new Exhibition in the Foyer at 96 Shenley Road. An exhibition of the dynamic paintings of Michael Finlay. Michael was a set painter at Elstree Studios and the films he worked on have inspired his art.

As Michael says, "My paintings are inspired by the many productions I have worked on in the scenic department, the locations I have visited and lived in (often for months at a time), and the characters I have met along the way. My paintings are at times sensual, evocative, dramatic and inspired by fantasy."

Take a look next time you are in 96 having a coffee, before going upstairs to the Museum of course, and try to guess which films have inspired the paintings. 

Which films? Michael again, "the Peruvian temple from Raiders of the Lost Ark, the temple in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Victorian streets in Young Sherlock Holmes, the cave set from Never Say Never Again, the ruined tower in Highlander, the emperor’s throne room in Return of the Jedi, Gotham City in Batman Begins, Tangiers in The Bourne Ultimatum and so many more."

The launch was attended by Mrs Barbara Graham, the Mayoress of Hertsmere, Sandra Parnell, Mayoress of Borehamwood and John Graham, Mayor of Hertsmere.

Jay And Paul Visit The Exhibition

Jay, Dave Armitage - Museum Manager, Tony DeSwarte - Model Maker, Paul

If you've visited our current exhibition Off The Rails, you will have seen the video we are showing which gives the background to The Line That Never Was. Created by Jay Foreman and Paul Kendler in 2009 the video tells the story in an excellent, succinct and idiosyncratic way to help us understand what happened before and after the Second World War.

They spent much time with us examining our exhibition and explaining how they made the video and the pitfalls they encountered along the way. This was the first of their "Unfinished London" series and please visit Jay's YouTube page here to see more videos, and not just on London's weird history either.

If you haven't visited us yet, we've now extended the exhibition until September 4th, and the model trains are still running.

New Drawings Illuminate The Line That Never Was

Before going up to the Museum on the second floor, make sure you check out the entrance wall in 96 Shenley Road. We have installed a display of 6 panels featuring the original engineers' drawings of the Elstree Extension or The Line That Never Was. 

The Elstree Tunnel entrance and the work completed            Typical Engineers' notes

These were created by the engineers to show the condition of the line that had been completed by August 31st 1939 when the work was stopped. So they knew exactly what they had achieved when work was to restart after WW2. At the top of the drawings` of the Extension are lists of the work outstanding on that section, and below,  the work completed.  The details are exceptional, listing materials on site, fences completed, percentages of brickwork built, etc.

In addition we have placed the drawings of Brockley Hill station and its many arches just outside the Museum entrance. A fascinating look at the design of the station.

These drawings are unique, and add so much to our knowledge of the construction of the Extension. Make sure you see them.

New Video For Off The Rails

Museum Manager Dave Armitage gives you a guided tour and explanation of our new exciting Exhibition Off The Rails.
Just so you know what to expect and wet your appetite. Check it out HERE

Off The Rails - Fridge Magnets

Just arrived! Some super Fridge Magnets featuring the roundels for Tube Stations that were never built on the Elstree Extension - Brockley Hill, Elstree South and Bushey Heath.

Not forgetting the two Stations that might have existed had the alternative line been built - Moat Mount and Borehamwood East.

Full details in our current Exhibition - 'Off The Rails - The Line That Never Was'. Come and find out more. The Magnets are £2 each in the Museum and £3.50 from this website including postage.