Post war Britain saw a massive development of new council estates to house Londoners displaced by WW2 bombing and 4080 homes were built in Borehamwood between 1950 and 1955, increasing the population by 8000. Another 8000 followed within 10 years and some Londoners even found that they had the same neighbours on arrival here.
Many of the houses in Hartforde Road were constructed by prisoners of war. In 1949 Nye Bevan (Minister for Health) opened the 500th council house built after the war by Elstree Rural District Council. It is No 40 Hartforde Road.
