Broxbourne is a commuter town in Hertfordshire in the East of England which has a population of 13,298 as recorded in the 2001 Census. The town's sister city is the Sicilian city of Sutera. The name Broxbourne is thought to find its origins in the Old English words brocc and burna meaning Badger stream. The Manor of Broxbourne is described in the Domesday Book, which mentions Broxbourne Mill. The area was mined for its gravel and sand in the twentieth century, that finally came to an end when the raw materials ran out in the late 1960s leaving an array of water filled lakes. A number of the lakes became part of the Lee Valley Regional Park. Though it has been urbanised by industrial and commercial activity, the whole area preserves its rural character and is enjoyed by those commuting to London. The New River which passes by way of the town centre, was constructed in the early 17th century. Broxbourne railway station was built in 1840. A terracotta works was opened soon afterwards by James Pulham and Son, who specialised in developing artificial rock garden features; some of their work is still in the gardens at Sandringham House and Buckingham Palace. There are 600 organisations inside the borough, with warehousing and distribution sectors being very popular. The employers with more than 250 personnel 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's national headquarters are 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 manufactures publications for News International including The Sun, The Times and The Sun on Sunday. For all of your home improvement jobs, be sure that you utilise trusted pros in Broxbourne to make sure you get a good quality service.