Broxbourne is a commuter town in Hertfordshire in the East of England with a population of about 13,300 in 2001. Broxbourne is twinned with the Sicilian city of Sutera. The word Broxbourne is thought to derive from the Old English words brocc and burna meaning Badger stream. The Manor of Broxbourne is described in the Domesday Book, which names Broxbourne Mill. The area was mined for its gravel and sand in the twentieth century. This finally came to an end when the raw materials ran out at the end of the 1960s leaving behind lots of water filled lakes. A number of the lakes became part of the Lee Valley Regional Park. Although it has been urbanised by industrial and commercial activity, the whole area still has a great deal of its rural character and is preferred by residents commuting to London. The New River which passes through the town centre, was constructed in the early seventeenth century. Broxbourne railway station was built in 1840. A terracotta works was opened soon after by James Pulham and Son, who specialised in creating artificial rock garden features; some of their work is still within the gardens at Sandringham House and Buckingham Palace. There are 600 businesses inside the borough, with warehousing and distribution sectors being very well represented. The employers with over 250 personnel include: Fitzpatrick PLC in Hoddesdon (civil engineers); J Sainsbury, also in Hoddesdon; Marks & Spencer; Turnford Retailers and Merck Sharp & Dohme in Hoddesdon involved with pharmaceutical research. Tesco's national headquarters are at Delamere Road, Cheshunt. The Borough of Broxbourne at Park Plaza Waltham Cross is also home to the world's largest printing plant, which manufactures publications for News International including The Sun, The Times and The Sun on Sunday. For all your home upgrades, make certain that you utilise vetted experts in Broxbourne to ensure you get the top quality service.