Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Stanley Kubrick directed some of their most iconic movies from its sound stages; the likes of Harrison Ford, Nicole Kidman and Brad Pitt have walked its sets in between takes; and the stars of TV series such as EastEnders, Holby City and Big Brother made their names there – Elstree Studios has been producing films and TV series for 100 years, and a new exhibition opens this week at Borehamwood’s museum to mark this special anniversary.

The Centenary Exhibition is part of an exciting programme of activities organised by local group Elstree Screen Heritage, and is part-funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). It guides visitors from 1914 and the start of the Neptune Studios through the ‘glory days’ of the 1930s when the six studios in Elstree and Borehamwood were affectionately dubbed ‘Britain’s Hollywood’, through the desperate days when all but one studio had closed, all the way up to today.

The exhibition also includes a selection of highlights from interviews recorded with people from the local area who have worked at the studios over the years – sound engineers, props builders, continuity girls – as well as some of Britain’s biggest stars, as part of the Elstree Project.

  • Centenary Exhibition is open now at the Community Museum, 96 Shenley Road, Borehamwood until mid-September, Tuesday to Thursday, 12pm to 6pm, and Saturdays, 10am to 3pm. Details: elstreescreenheritage.org