South Mimms
Encyclopedia
South Mimms, sometimes spelt South Mymms, is a village and civil parish forming part of the Hertsmere
district of Hertfordshire County Council
in the East of England
although geographically and historically is in the County of Middlesex.
with the A1(M) motorway and is perhaps more widely known because of the naming of the service station
at that junction, and for mountain biking
routes in the area which start from the service station.
Potters Bar
was originally a small settlement in the parish of South Mimms. Potters Bar became the location of the nearest railway station and eventually became much larger. Both Potters Bar and South Mimms were part of Middlesex
until the creation of Greater London
which abolished the county of Middlesex in 1965. South Mimms was the northernmost village in Middlesex.
South Mimms parish was split in 1894 under the Local Government Act 1894
with the extreme southern tip forming South Mimms Urban parish in the Barnet Urban District
and was transferred to Hertfordshire. This area now forms part of the London Borough of Barnet
. The rest of the parish became the South Mimms Rural District
, later renamed the Potters Bar Urban District.
South Mimms served as a home for Queen Wilhelmina
during her exile in World War II
. A German air attack on South Mimms at this time narrowly missed her, killing two of her guards, as she wrote in her autobiography.
For many years Clare Hall Hospital was used as a tuberculosis
sanatorium
.
Hertsmere
Hertsmere is a local government district and borough in Hertfordshire, England. Its council is based in Borehamwood. Other towns in the borough include Bushey, Elstree, Radlett and Potters Bar.-History:...
district of Hertfordshire County Council
Hertfordshire County Council
Hertfordshire County Council is the upper-tier local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Hertfordshire, in England, the United Kingdom. It currently consists of 77 councillors, and is controlled by the Conservative Party, which has 55 councillors, 17 Liberal Democrats, versus 3 Labour...
in the East of England
East of England
The East of England is one of the nine official regions of England. It was created in 1994 and was adopted for statistics from 1999. It includes the ceremonial counties of Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Essex has the highest population in the region.Its...
although geographically and historically is in the County of Middlesex.
History
It is a small settlement located near to the junction of the M25 motorwayM25 motorway
The M25 motorway, or London Orbital, is a orbital motorway that almost encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. The motorway was first mooted early in the 20th century. A few sections, based on the now abandoned London Ringways plan, were constructed in the early 1970s and it ...
with the A1(M) motorway and is perhaps more widely known because of the naming of the service station
South Mimms services
South Mimms services is a motorway service station operated by Welcome Break at the junction of the M25 motorway and the A1 at Bignell's Corner north of London. The siting of the motorway service area has often been criticised, as it is at a heavily congested motorway-motorway intersection. When...
at that junction, and for mountain biking
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
routes in the area which start from the service station.
Potters Bar
Potters Bar
Potters Bar is a town in the Hertsmere borough of Hertfordshire, England, located north of Central London. In 2001 it had a population of 21,618....
was originally a small settlement in the parish of South Mimms. Potters Bar became the location of the nearest railway station and eventually became much larger. Both Potters Bar and South Mimms were part of Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
until the creation of Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
which abolished the county of Middlesex in 1965. South Mimms was the northernmost village in Middlesex.
South Mimms parish was split in 1894 under the Local Government Act 1894
Local Government Act 1894
The Local Government Act 1894 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales outside the County of London. The Act followed the reforms carried out at county level under the Local Government Act 1888...
with the extreme southern tip forming South Mimms Urban parish in the Barnet Urban District
Barnet Urban District
Barnet was a local government district in south Hertfordshire from 1863 to 1965 around the town of Barnet.-Creation:Barnet Local Government District was created on September 25, 1863 under the Local Government Act 1858, and was governed by a local board...
and was transferred to Hertfordshire. This area now forms part of the London Borough of Barnet
London Borough of Barnet
The London Borough of Barnet is a London borough in North London and forms part of Outer London. It has a population of 331,500 and covers . It borders Hertfordshire to the north and five other London boroughs: Harrow and Brent to the west, Camden and Haringey to the south-east and Enfield to the...
. The rest of the parish became the South Mimms Rural District
Potters Bar Urban District
South Mimms Rural District and Potters Bar Urban District were local government districts occupying the area around the town of Potters Bar, England....
, later renamed the Potters Bar Urban District.
South Mimms served as a home for Queen Wilhelmina
Wilhelmina of the Netherlands
Wilhelmina was Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands from 1890 to 1948. She ruled the Netherlands for fifty-eight years, longer than any other Dutch monarch. Her reign saw World War I and World War II, the economic crisis of 1933, and the decline of the Netherlands as a major colonial...
during her exile in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. A German air attack on South Mimms at this time narrowly missed her, killing two of her guards, as she wrote in her autobiography.
For many years Clare Hall Hospital was used as a tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
sanatorium
Sanatorium
A sanatorium is a medical facility for long-term illness, most typically associated with treatment of tuberculosis before antibiotics...
.