Things you didn't know about... Hertfordshire

Deer to Herts' heart

Why do so many emblems in the Home Counties' Hertfordshire feature a deer? Because its Anglo-Saxon name was heort ford, which means deer crossing.

The home of the first garden city

Letchworth in Hertfordshire was the world's first garden city—founded in 1903 by Ebenezer Howard—and it inspired another Hertfordshire garden city, Welwyn Garden City.

All garden, no pubs

Typical of the spirit of healthy living in Letchworth was the ban on selling alcohol in public premises, although there were pubs that predated the garden city. The ban was lifted in a 1958 referendum.

Stevenage was the first "new town"

In August 1946, Hertfordshire's Stevenage was designated the first new town as part of the Abercrombie Plan to build a ring of new towns around London following World War II.

Hertfordshire—the British Hollywood

The area of Elstree and Borehamwood was home to several film studios from the 1920s, although now only two remain. Films such as Indiana Jones, Star Wars, The Dam Busters and Moby Dick were partially filmed there. More recent television productions include Who Wants to be a Millionnaire? and Big Brother.

Hertfordshire goes to the Olympics

Broxbourne in Hertfordshire is set to host the canoe and kayak slalom events in the 2012 Olympics.

Hertfordshire, the Spice of life

Ginger Spice Geri Halliwell was born on 18 August 1972, in Watford, Hertfordshire. Posh Spice Victoria Adams was born on 17 April 1975, at Goff's Oak, Hertfordshire.

Hertfordshire, the home of the brand

Tesco's HQ is in Cheshunt. DSG international plc is based in Hemel Hempstead. Shredded Wheat is made in Welwyn Garden City. T-Mobile and Ocado are at Hatfield, JD Wetherspoon, Watford. Comet and Skanska are in Rickmansworth, and European arms giant MBDA in Stevenage. DAB radio-maker Pure Digital is in Kings Langley.

Rock—and roles—at Knebworth House

Films such as Batman, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Agent Cody Banks 2 were partly shot at Hertfordshire's Knebworth House, better known as an open-air rock-concert venue since the mid-1970s.

Hertfordsire kickstarted goalkeeping legend Pat Jennings' career

In the 1963-64 season, a 17-year-old Pat Jennings joined then third-division Watford, making 52 appearances in one season before signing up for Tottenham Hotspur for £27,000. In April 1964 while still with the Hornets, Jennings made his debut for Northern Ireland against Wales in the same game that George Best made his debut.