Hemel Hempstead

While working at St Albans Van Hire we sometimes get the opportunity to talk to customers from all over Hertfordshire, who come in for car hire or van hire. Many of the people we regularly hire cars and vans or even car transporters and Luton vans to, are customers who live in Hemel Hempstead and the surrounding area. Over the years I’ve had a lot of chats, so I thought I would blog a little of what I've learnt about Hemel Hempstead.

Hemel Hempstead is about 24 miles north-west of London. And is centrally placed for road links to the M25, M1 and the A1.This makes it a good location for couriers and haulage companies. While also making St Albans car and van hire a convenient stones throw away.

Neighbourhoods in Hemel Hempstead include Adeyfield, Apsley, Bennets End, Boxmoor, Chaulden, Corner hall, Cupid Green, Felden, Gadebridge, Grovehill, Highfield, Leverstock Green, Nash Mills,Warners End, and last but not least Woodhall Farm.

The historic Hemel Hempstead actually dates back to some time before AD 705 when it was mentioned in a document by no less then Offa King of Essex (I’m reliably informed that contrary to popular belief my boss wasn’t around then!), after World War 2 the town was developed as a new town and rapidly increased in size.

In fact in 2001 the town was recorded in that years census as being the most populated urban area in Hertfordshire, just ahead of its traditionally bigger rival, Watford. In 2005 the town briefly hit the headlines after an explosion at the Hertfordshire oil storage terminal, recorded as the biggest explosion in Europe since World War 2.