Broxbourne is a commuter town in Hertfordshire in the East of England with a population of around 13,300 as recorded in 2001. The town's sister city is Sutera, in Sicily. The name Broxbourne is believed to find its origins in the Old English words brocc and burna meaning Badger stream. The Manor of Broxbourne is mentioned inside the Domesday Book, which names Broxbourne Mill. The area was exploited for its gravel and sand extraction in the 20th century, that finally came to an end when the raw materials were exhausted in the late 1960s leaving an array of water filled lakes. Many of the lakes are now part of the Lee Valley Regional Park. While it has been urbanised with industrial and commercial manufacturing, the entire area still has its rural character and is preferred by individuals commuting to London. The New River which passes through the centre of the town, was dug in the early 17th century. Broxbourne railway station was built in 1840. A terracotta works was opened soon after by James Pulham and Son, who specialised in producing artificial rock garden features; some of their work is still within the gardens at Sandringham House and Buckingham Palace. There are 600 organisations within the borough, with warehousing and distribution sectors being especially popular. The employers with more than 250 employees include: Fitzpatrick PLC in Hoddesdon (civil engineers); J Sainsbury, also in Hoddesdon; Marks & Spencer; Turnford Retailers and Merck Sharp & Dohme in Hoddesdon related to pharmaceutical research. Tesco has its national headquarters at Delamere Road, Cheshunt. The Borough of Broxbourne at Park Plaza Waltham Cross is also the location of the largest printing plant in the world, which produces publications for News International including The Sun, The Times and The Sun on Sunday. For all of your home improvements, be certain that you pick reliable specialists in Broxbourne to ensure you get the very best quality service.