imported>Cloptonson: /* Notable residents */ added citation for Thomas Law

2025-11-15T23:14:03Z

Notable residents: added citation for Thomas Law

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{{Short description|Town in Hertfordshire, England}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = England
| official_name = Potters Bar
| static_image_name = Wylliott's Manor, Potters Bar - geograph.org.uk - 130858.jpg
| static_image_caption = The Old Manor, Potters Bar
| static_image_2_name = Baker Street - geograph.org.uk - 1263543.jpg
| static_image_2_caption = Baker Street
| coordinates = {{coord|51.698|-0.183|region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| founder =
| population = 22,536
| population_ref = [[United Kingdom Census 2021|2021 Census]]
| shire_district = [[Hertsmere]]
| shire_county = [[Hertfordshire]]
| region = East of England
| constituency_westminster = [[Hertsmere (UK Parliament constituency)|Hertsmere]]
| post_town = POTTERS BAR
| postcode_district = EN6
| postcode_area = EN
| dial_code = 01707
| os_grid_reference = TL255015
}}

'''Potters Bar''' is a town in [[Hertfordshire]], England,<ref name=hertsmere>in the historic County of [[Middlesex]] - [http://www.hertsmere.gov.uk/hertsmere_web/res/filestore/dnld_100003/Community_Strategy_First_Review.pdf;internal&action=save.action Hertsmere Borough Council] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060829045542/http://www.hertsmere.gov.uk/hertsmere_web/res/filestore/dnld_100003/Community_Strategy_First_Review.pdf%3Binternal%26action%3Dsave.action |date=29 August 2006 }} – Community Strategy First Review (PDF)</ref> {{convert|13|mi|km}} north of central London. In 2011, it had a population of 21,882.<ref name=pop>[http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/ Neighbourhood Statistics] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106173813/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/ |date=6 January 2009 }} Office for National Statistics 2011 Census. Retrieved 1 June 2013</ref>{{#tag:ref|This excludes a county ward which takes its name from the historic [[ecclesiastical parish]] but which contains [[Ridge, Hertfordshire|Ridge]] and [[South Mimms]]; population 4,573 (2011).|group= n}} In the [[United Kingdom 2011 census|2021 census]], the four wards that make up Potters Bar - Bentley Heath & The Royds, Furzefield, Oakmere and Parkfield - had a combined population of 22,536; this includes several smaller outlying hamlets contained in the Bentley Heath & The Royds ward, such as [[Bentley Heath, Hertfordshire|Bentley Heath]] and Ganwick Corner. In 2022, the population was around 23,325.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Potters Bar (Hertfordshire, East of England, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map, Location, Weather and Web Information |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/eastofengland/hertfordshire/E34003904__potters_bar/ |access-date=2022-09-01 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref>

Within the [[Historic counties of England|historic county]] of [[Middlesex]] until 1965, the town dates to the early 13th century but remained a small, mainly agricultural, settlement until the arrival of the [[Great Northern Railway (Great Britain)|Great Northern Railway]] in 1850.<ref name=pbhistory>[http://www.pbhistory.co.uk/history.html PBHistory] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060815230517/http://www.pbhistory.co.uk/history.html |date=15 August 2006 }} – The history</ref> It is now part of the [[London commuter belt]].<ref>[http://www.north-herts.gov.uk/lcb-strategy-final111004_1_.pdf North Hertfordshire] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630152130/http://www.north-herts.gov.uk/lcb-strategy-final111004_1_.pdf |date=30 June 2007 }} – A Housing Strategy for the London Commuter Belt Sub-region 2005 – 2008 (PDF)</ref>

==Etymology==
The origin of the ''Potters'' element of the town's name is uncertain; it is generally thought to be either a reference to a [[Roman Britain|Roman]] pottery, believed to have been sited locally, or alternatively to the ''Pottere'' family who lived in neighbouring [[South Mimms]] parish.<ref name=pb_name>[http://www.pbhistory.co.uk/name.html PBHistory] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206000204/http://www.pbhistory.co.uk/name.html |date=6 December 2006 }} – Whats in a name?</ref>

The ''Bar'' is thought to refer to the gates leading from the South Mimms parish and into the [[Enfield Chase]] parish; it could possibly hail from a [[Toll road|toll]] on the [[Great North Road (United Kingdom)|Great North Road]],<ref name=pb_name/> said to have been by what is now the disused ''[[The Green Man, Potters Bar|Green Man]]'' pub or at the current entrance to Morven House.

==History==
Potters Bar is located on the [[Great North Road (Great Britain)|Great North Road]], one of two road routes from the [[City of London]] to the [[north of England]].<ref>[http://www.pbhistory.co.uk/transport/gnr.html PB History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061220233600/http://www.pbhistory.co.uk/transport/gnr.html |date=20 December 2006 }} – The Great North Road</ref> The road was originally numbered as the [[A1 road (Great Britain)|A1]] and later the [[A1000 road|A1000]].

Potters Bar was historically part of [[Middlesex]]<ref>[http://www.pbhistory.co.uk/middlesex.html PBHistory] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206000029/http://www.pbhistory.co.uk/middlesex.html |date=6 December 2006 }} – Potters Bar, Middlesex</ref> and formed the [[Potters Bar Urban District]] of that county from 1934.<ref name=urban>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10135590 Vision of Britain] – Potters Bar UD ([http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10135590&c_id=10001043 historic map] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001001655/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10135590&c_id=10001043 |date=1 October 2007 }})</ref> From 1894 to 1934 its area had formed the [[South Mimms Rural District]].<ref>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10220920 Vision of Britain] – South Mimms RD ([http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10220920&c_id=10001043 historic map] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930230538/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10220920&c_id=10001043 |date=30 September 2007 }})</ref> In 1965, the district was transferred to [[Hertfordshire County Council]], while most of the rest of [[Middlesex County Council]] became part of [[Greater London]].<ref>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10061441 Vision of Britain] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080315025055/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10061441 |date=15 March 2008 }} – Middlesex unit history</ref><ref>[[London Government Act 1963]], 1963 c. 33, s. 3 (1)</ref>

The urban district covered an area of {{convert|6129|acre|km2}}.<ref name=urban/> In 1939, it had a population of 13,681, increasing to 24,613 in 1971.<ref>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10135590&c_id=10001043&add=N Vision of Britain] – Potters Bar UD historic population</ref> In 1974, the urban district was abolished and the area became part of the borough of [[Hertsmere]]. Having been part of Middlesex, the area continued to form part of the [[Metropolitan Police District]]; with the creation of the [[Greater London Authority]], it was transferred to the [[Hertfordshire Constabulary]] in 2000.<ref>HMSO, Greater London Authority Act 1999. 1999 c. 29</ref>

===Byng family===
[[Wrotham Park]] estate, home of the Byng family, sits within Potters Bar and [[London Borough of Barnet|Barnet]] on 2,500 acres of land. The Byng family still own a lot of land in the Potters Bar area; The Admiral Byng pub in Darkes Lane is named after [[John Byng|Admiral John Byng]], who was executed for failing to obey orders in the [[Minorca]] campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/hertfordshire/the-admiral-byng-potters-bar |title=JDweatherspoon.com The Admiral Byng History |access-date=3 September 2016}}</ref>

===Zeppelin L31===
In the early hours of 1 October 1916, Lieutenant [[Wulstan Tempest]] shot down Germany's most famous zeppelin, the [[Zeppelin LZ 72|L31]]. It was captained by Heinrich Mathy with his crew of 18. All were killed when the flaming zeppelin fell into an ancient oak tree on the Oakmere Estate, Oakmere House at the time being rented by Mrs Forbes.<ref>{{cite web|last=Morgan|first=Tom|url=http://www.hellfirecorner.co.uk/pottersbar/pottersbar.htm|title=Decisions at Potters Bar|website=Tom Morgan's HELLFIRE CORNER GREAT WAR WEB-PAGES|date=April 2004|access-date=5 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.historychannel.com.au/articles/death-zeppelin-l-31-shot/|title=Death of A Zeppelin – The L-31 is shot down - History Channel on Foxtel|date=30 September 2016|website=historychannel.com.au|access-date=26 April 2018|archive-date=26 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426075829/https://www.historychannel.com.au/articles/death-zeppelin-l-31-shot/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The deadly raids over England declined after this.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gwpda.org/bio/m/mathy.html|title=Mathy, Kapitanleutnant Heinrich (1883-1916|website=www.gwpda.org|access-date=26 April 2018}}</ref> The 19 German sailors (zeppelins were naval) were buried in the local cemetery and, decades later, reinterred at [[Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery]]. The Potters Bar Museum has a Zeppelin display, with relics of the L31.{{cn|date=November 2022}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://alanmalcher.com/2021/12/20/heinrich-mathy-commander-of-german-zeppelin-l31-during-air-raids-on-london-and-the-home-counties-during-ww1/ |title=Heinrich Mathy: Commander of German Zeppelin L31 during air raids on London and the Home Counties during WW1 |date=20 December 2021 }}</ref>

=== Train accidents ===
There have been three [[Potters Bar rail accidents|railway accidents at Potters Bar]] marked by fatalities. In 1899, the [[Henry Byng, 4th Earl of Strafford|Earl of Strafford]] was killed at the station when, according to witnesses, he appeared to step out in front of an express train.<ref name="times1">{{Cite newspaper The Times|title=The Death of Lord Strafford|date=19 May 1899|page=8|issue=35833}}</ref> In [[Potters Bar rail accidents#1946|1946]], signals were passed at danger causing derailment and the death of two passengers. In [[Potters Bar rail accidents#2002|2002]], while passing through the station, a northbound train [[Derailment|derailed]] at high speed, killing seven and injuring 76.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-10-18 |title=Rail crash officials will not face manslaughter charges |url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/oct/18/pottersbar.transport |access-date=25 March 2010 |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=}}</ref> In the aftermath of the tragedy, private maintenance firms were accused of neglecting training and safety, and in 2003, [[Network Rail]] announced it was taking all track maintenance in-house.<ref>{{cite news |date=24 October 2003 |title=Network Rail takes repairs in-house |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3209609.stm |publisher=[[BBC News]]}}</ref>

==Demographics==
As of the [[United Kingdom 2021 census|2021 census]], Potters Bar still had a Christian majority, making it more Christian than both England and Wales as a whole and the rest of Hertsmere. Potters Bar has a significant Jewish community and an Orthodox synagogue but, as a percentage of the overall population, the Jewish community, which numbers over 600, pales in comparison to every other settlement in Hertsmere, the most Jewish borough in the country.

{| class="wikitable"
!Area
!All people
!Christian (%)
!Buddhist (%)
!Hindu (%)
!Jewish (%)
!Muslim (%)
!Sikh (%)
!Other (%)
!No religion (%)
!Not stated (%)
|- style="background:#fee;"
|England and Wales
|56,490,048
|46.3
|0.5
|1.8
|0.5
|6.7
|0.9
|0.6
|36.7
|6.0
|- style="background:#fee;"
|'''Potters Bar'''
|22,536
|52.33
|0.56
|4.22
|2.76
|4.13
|0.16
|1.17
|28.34
|6.34
|}

==Geography==
===Climate===
Potters Bar experiences an [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Cfb'') similar to almost all of the United Kingdom.
{{Weather box
|location = Potters Bar
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan high C = 8
|Feb high C = 9
|Mar high C = 12
|Apr high C = 14
|May high C = 18
|Jun high C = 21
|Jul high C = 23
|Aug high C = 23
|Sep high C = 20
|Oct high C = 16
|Nov high C = 11
|Dec high C = 8
|year high C = 15
|Jan low C = 5
|Feb low C = 5
|Mar low C = 6
|Apr low C = 8
|May low C = 10
|Jun low C = 13
|Jul low C = 15
|Aug low C = 16
|Sep low C = 13
|Oct low C = 11
|Nov low C = 8
|Dec low C = 5
|year low C = 10
|Jan precipitation mm = 50.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 39.9
|Mar precipitation mm = 31.7
|Apr precipitation mm = 46.2
|May precipitation mm = 38.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 46.4
|Jul precipitation mm = 33.1
|Aug precipitation mm = 43.6
|Sep precipitation mm = 49.7
|Oct precipitation mm = 70.7
|Nov precipitation mm = 58.1
|Dec precipitation mm = 56.9
|year precipitation mm = 565.9
|source 1=<ref>{{cite web |url=http://weather.msn.com/monthly_averages.aspx?wealocations=wc:UKXX0959&q=Potters+Bar%2c+GBR+forecast:averagesm |title=Averages for Potters Bar |access-date=3 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090820213842/http://weather.msn.com/monthly_averages.aspx?wealocations=wc:UKXX0959&q=Potters+Bar%2C+GBR+forecast:averagesm |archive-date=20 August 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

==Transport==
[[File:Potters Bar with railway bridge.jpg|thumb|Darkes Lane, looking north towards the railway bridge]]

===Roads===
The A1 was built as a major arterial road and a crossroads at [[Bignells Corner]] linked it to the [[Chipping Barnet|Barnet]]–[[St Albans]] road. Potters Bar is now also served by junctions 23 and 24 of the [[M25 motorway]].<ref name=hertsmere/>

===Railway===
[[Potters Bar railway station]] is sited on the [[East Coast Main Line]]. [[Govia Thameslink Railway]] operates services on the [[Great Northern Route]] under two sub-brands:
* Great Northern:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Timetables |work=Great Northern Rail|date=2 June 2024 |access-date=9 December 2024 |url= https://www.greatnorthernrail.com/service-updates/timetables}}</ref>
** {{rws|Cambridge}}, {{rws|Letchworth}} and {{rws|Stevenage}} to {{rws|London King's Cross}}
** {{rws|Welwyn Garden City}} to {{rws|Moorgate}}
* Thameslink, at peak hours only:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Timetables |work=Govia Thameslink Railway |date=2 June 2024 |access-date=9 December 2024 |url= https://www.thameslinkrailway.com/service-updates/timetables}}</ref>
** Welwyn Garden City to {{rws|Sevenoaks}}, via {{rws|St Pancras International}}, {{rws|London Blackfriars}} and {{rws|Catford}}.

Potters Bar was the location of two major [[Potters Bar rail accidents|rail accidents]] in 1946 and 2002.

The nearest [[London Underground]] station is at [[Cockfosters tube station|Cockfosters]], on the [[Piccadilly line]]; it is approximately {{convert|2.5|mi}} south on the [[A111 road (England)|A111]] from junction 24 of the M25.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cockfosters underground station |work=Transport for London |access-date=9 December 2024 |url= https://tfl.gov.uk/tube/stop/940GZZLUCKS/cockfosters-underground-station/?Input=Cockfosters+Underground+Station}}</ref>

===Buses===
Potters Bar has a [[Metroline#Potters Bar (PB)|bus depot]] that services local and London bus routes. Key routes include:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bustimes.org/localities/potters-bar |title=Potters Bar bus services |website=Bustimes.org |access-date=9 December 2024}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|'''Route Number'''
|'''Route'''
|'''Operation'''
|'''Operator'''
|-
|84 {{Access icon|15px}}
|St. Albans ''St Peters Street'' to Potters Bar station {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}}, via the High Street
|Daily
|[[Sullivan Buses]]
|-
|242<ref name="upcoming changes">{{cite web|url=https://www.hertsad.co.uk/news/25421350.major-bus-changes-coming-hertfordshire-sunday/ |title=Major bus changes coming to Herefordshire this Sunday |date=10 July 2025 |website= The Herts Advertiser |accessdate=5 September 2025}}</ref> {{Access icon|15px}}
|Waltham Cross bus station to Hatfield.
|Daily
|[[Uno (bus company)|Uno]]
|-
|243<ref name="upcoming changes"/>
|Barnet to Hatfield
|Mon-Sat
|[[Uno (bus company)|Uno]]
|-
|[[London Buses route 298|298]] {{Access icon|15px}}
|Potters Bar ''Cranbourne Road'' to [[Arnos Grove tube station]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}}, via [[Cockfosters]]
|Daily
|[[Uno (bus company)|Uno]]
|-
|[[London Buses route 313|313]] {{Access icon|15px}}
|Potters Bar station {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} to [[Chingford railway station|Chingford station]] {{rail-interchange|london|overground}}, via [[Enfield Town|Enfield]]
|Daily
|[[Arriva London]]
|-
|306B
|Potters Bar station {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} to [[Watford]], via [[Elstree]]
|Sat
|Sullivan Buses
|-
|398
|Potters Bar station {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} to Watford, via [[Radlett]]
|Mon-Fri
|Sullivan Buses
|-
|PB1 Circular {{Access icon|15px}}
|Circular via Shillitoe Avenue, Potters Bar station {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}}, High Street and Oakmere
|Mon-Sat
|Uno
|}

==Places of Worship==
There are eight churches in Potters Bar. The first Anglican parish in the town was carved out of the parish of South Mimms in the 1835. Its church was dedicated to St John and was in a [[neo-Norman]] style, located in the S corner of Oakmere Park where the War Memorial now stands; however its experimental concrete construction didn't last well and it had to be replaced by the current parish church of St Mary the Virgin and All Saints' Church at the top of the Walk. (The concrete church survived as an ivy-clad ruin into the 1970s).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hertfordshire-genealogy.co.uk/data/places/places-s/south-mimms/south-mimms.htm | title=Hertfordshire Genealogy: Places: South Mimms & Potters Bar }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stmaryspb.org.uk|title=St Mary the Virgin and All Saints Church, Potters Bar|website=www.StMarysPB.org.uk|access-date=21 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stmaryspb.org.uk |title=St Mary the Virgin and All Saints Church, Potters Bar Official website. |access-date=28 November 2012}}</ref> St. Marys contains stained glass including some "fine portraits" of several saints as well as tributes to [[John Keble]], and [[Randall Davidson]]. There is a Madonna Window in memory of John Goodacre, a long-time schoolmaster at Potters Bar.<ref>{{cite book|last=Mee |first=arthur |title=The Kings England, Middlesex |publisher=Little Home County |date=1948 |page=163}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Category: St Mary the Virgin and All Saints church, Potters Bar (stained glass) |url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:St_Mary_the_Virgin_and_All_Saints_church,_Potters_Bar_(stained_glass) |access-date=2023-09-18 |website=Wikimedia Commons |language=en}} </ref>

Other churches include Our Lady and St Vincent (Roman Catholic); King Charles the Martyr, another parish that was carved out of South Mimms, designed by [[Frederick Charles Eden]]; Christ Church, Little Heath on the [[Great North Road (Great Britain)|Great North Road]]; Potters Bar Baptist Church; St John's Methodist Church in Baker Street;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pottersbar.org/religion.htm |title=Potters Bar Religion |publisher=pottersbar.org |access-date=28 November 2012}}</ref> Causeway Free Church; and Potters Bar Spiritualist Church on Hill Rise.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.causewayfreechurch.org |title=Causeway Free Church, Potters Bar Official website. |access-date=13 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190118111356/http://www.causewayfreechurch.org/ |archive-date=18 January 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Former religious buildings include: a [[Christadelphian]] Hall behind shops at 130 Darkes Lane; a [[Salvation Army]] citadel in Station Road;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/middx/vol5/pp302-304 |title=British History Online, Middlesex. |access-date=9 July 2016}}</ref> the Roman Catholic church of [[St Vincent de Paul]] and Louise Demarillac in Barnet Road, designed by the distinguished church architect [[F. X. Velarde]], demolished circa 2010;<ref>D Wilkinson, A Crompton, F X Velarde, Liverpool UP, 2020ISBN 978-1-78962-814-2</ref> and a Quaker meeting in Quaker's Lane.

Non Christian religions are represented by the [[Jain Temple]] at the Oshwal Centre between Potters Bar and Northaw, which "recreates a general Māru-Gurjara aesthetic".{{Cn|date=September 2023}}

==Education==
There are six primary and infant state schools in Potters Bar and the surrounding area; they are Cranborne School, Ladbrooke JMI, Little Heath Primary, Oakmere Primary, Pope Paul RC Primary and Wroxham School.

[[Mount Grace School]] is a mixed grant maintained School in Potters Bar opened in 1954.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mountgrace.org.uk/ |title=Mount Grace School Official website |access-date=28 November 2012}}</ref>

[[Lochinver house school]] is an all-boys preparatory school in Potters Bar, which opened in 1947.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lochinverhouse.herts.sch.uk |title=Lochinver House School Official website |access-date=28 November 2012}}</ref>

[[Stormont School]] is an all-girls preparatory school in Potters Bar, which opened in 1944.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stormont.herts.sch.uk |title=Stormont School Official website |access-date=2 October 2014}}</ref>

[[Dame Alice Owen's School]] is a mixed [[grant-maintained school]] in Potters Bar.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://damealiceowens.herts.sch.uk |title=Dame Alice Owen's School |access-date=21 October 2019}}</ref> Founded in 1613 and based in [[Islington]] until 1973, it is unusual in its 'Visitation' and 'Beer Money' traditions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://damealiceowens.herts.sch.uk/about-us/our-history/school-history |title=Dame Alice Owen's School History |date=26 June 2019 | access-date=21 October 2019}}</ref>

The town also houses many veterinary medicine (mostly third, fourth and fifth-year) students from the [[Royal Veterinary College]].

==Sport, entertainment and recreation==
Potters Bar has a [[List of King George V Playing Fields (Hertfordshire)|King George's Field]] in memorial to [[George V of the United Kingdom|King George V]], which is situated behind the Furzefield Centre. There is a swimming pool and leisure centre run by [[Hertsmere]] council, which is home to St Albans and Hertsmere Canoe Club.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hertsmereleisure.co.uk/furzefield.asp|title=Furzefield Centre |website=HertsmereLeisure.co.uk |access-date=21 September 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070220162402/http://www.hertsmereleisure.co.uk/furzefield.asp |archive-date=20 February 2007}}</ref> Also in the town are [[Potters Bar Town F.C.]], Potters Bar Swimming Club (PBSC),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pottersbarsc.co.uk/ |title=Potters Bar Swimming Club |website=www.PottersBarSC.co.uk |access-date=21 September 2017}}</ref> a Scuba diving Club (the Potters Bar Sub Aqua Club), a tennis club, a cricket club. The Wyllyotts Centre is a theatre, cinema and events venue, and is also the location of the town's museum.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hertsmereleisure.co.uk/wyllyotts.asp |title=Wyllyotts Centre |website=HertsmereLeisure.co.uk |access-date=21 September 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070217060239/http://www.hertsmereleisure.co.uk/wyllyotts.asp |archive-date=17 February 2007}}</ref> Potters Bar is also home to the [[Hertfordshire Showband]] (formally known as the Marching Blues).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hertfordshire-showband.org |title=Hertfordshire Showband Website |website=www.Hertfordshire-Showband.org |access-date=21 September 2017}}</ref>

In December 2018, the golf course at Potters Bar closed after 95 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thegolfbusiness.co.uk/2018/12/95-year-old-hertfordshire-golf-club-ceases-trading |author=Tania Longmire |date=3 December 2018 |website=thegolfbusiness.co.uk |title=95-year-old Hertfordshire golf club ceases trading |access-date=14 September 2019}}</ref>

In 1983, the area around Potters Bar was used for the on-location filming of the comic-horror film ''[[Bloodbath at the House of Death]]''. In 2005, [[David Walliams]] and [[Matt Lucas]] shot two scenes for the third season of the comedy ''[[Little Britain (sketch show)|Little Britain]]'': one scene at Mount Grace School gym and the other at a wedding shop on the High Street.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britmovie.co.uk/genres/horror/filmography/053.html |title=Bloodbath at the House of Death (1984) |website=BritMovie.co.uk |access-date=21 September 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070216234607/http://www.britmovie.co.uk/genres/horror/filmography/053.html |archive-date=16 February 2007}}</ref> Potters Bar is also home to a performing arts school, Top Hat Stage School, which has been running classes at Elm Court Community Centre since 1994.

The Ritz Cinema in Darkes Lane at the corner of Byng Drive was designed and built by cinema entrepreneur Major W. J. King in a [[modernist]]-cum-[[Art Deco]] style. It opened in 1934 and had a Compton organ in front of the curtain, on a pneumatic lift. The cinema closed in 1967 and was immediately demolished for the construction of a [[Tesco]] supermarket, now relocated.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/31258 | title=Ritz Cinema in Potters Bar, GB - Cinema Treasures }}</ref>

==Notable residents==
* [[Amanda Abbington]], actress<ref name="telegraph.co.uk">{{cite web |title=Sherlock's Amanda Abbington: 'actors need to remember how lucky they are' |date=24 September 2015 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/11870398/Sherlocks-Amanda-Abbington-actors-need-to-remember-how-lucky-they-are.html}}</ref>
* [[Acker Bilk]], clarinetist, divided his time between Pensford, Somerset and Potters Bar<ref>[http://www.somersetmade.co.uk/scrumpyandwestern/ackerbilk.php#band Scrumpy & Western] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725194023/http://www.somersetmade.co.uk/scrumpyandwestern/ackerbilk.php#band |date=25 July 2008 }}, Acker Bilk biography</ref>
* [[Ambika Mod]], actress<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stage Award Semi-Finalists 2020 |url=https://funnywomen.com/awards/lists/20sl-copy/ |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=Funny Women |language=en-GB}}</ref>
* [[Bernard Butler]], musician, record producer and guitarist in Suede.<ref>
[https://www.angelfire.com/indie/bernardbutler/int_qmag1.html Have Guitar Will Travel] – by David Canvanagh, ''Q Magazine'' Q 113 February 1996</ref>
* [[Roger Fenton]], Crimean war photographer who lived at [[Mount Grace School|Mount Grace]] manor house
* [[Martin Freeman]], actor<ref name="telegraph.co.uk" />
* [[Tony Jacklin]], golfer, whose home golf club was Potters Bar Golf Club<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pottersbargolfclub.com/ |title=Welcome to Potters Bar Golf Club : Potters Bar Golf Club |website=www.PottersBarGolfClub.com |access-date=21 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190128135839/https://www.pottersbargolfclub.com/ |archive-date=28 January 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Terry Lightfoot]], jazz musician, born in Potters Bar<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/update/2013-03-16/jazz-musician-terry-lightfoot-dies/ |title=Jazz musician Terry Lightfoot dies |publisher=ITV |date=16 March 2013 |access-date=11 October 2016 }}</ref>
* [[Storm Thorgerson]], graphic designer, born in Potters Bar<ref name='GUARDIAN1'>{{cite news |first=Adam |last=Sweeting |title=Storm Thorgerson dies aged 69: 'the best album designer in the world' |date=18 April 2013 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/apr/18/storm-thorgerson-dies-69-designer-of-album-covers-for-pink-floyd |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=18 April 2013}}</ref>
* [[Dolly Shepherd]], parachutist and entertainer, born in Potters Bar.
* John Yianni, board game designer (notably of [[Hive (game)|Hive]]), born in Potters Bar<ref>{{Cite web|title=John Yianni {{!}} Board Game Designer {{!}} BoardGameGeek |url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/1078/john-yianni |access-date=2021-08-11 |website=boardgamegeek.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Thomas Law]], actor (notable for ''[[EastEnders]]'' and ''[[The World's End (film)|The World's End]]''), born in Potters Bar<ref>{{cite web |title=Thomas Law BBC Radio London interview |url=https://youtube.com/IwWLRUGPUqs |website=[[YouTube]] |accessdate=22 June 2023}}</ref>

==Twinnings==
Potters Bar is [[sister city|twinned]] with:
* [[Viernheim]], Germany
* [[Franconville, Val-d'Oise]], France (since 1973)

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=n}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Potters Bar}}
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* [http://www.pbsoc.org.uk The Potters Bar Society]
* [http://www.pottersbar.org pottersbar.org] – local information

{{Hertfordshire}}
{{Civil parishes of Hertfordshire}}

{{authority control}}


[[Category:Potters Bar| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Hertfordshire]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 13th century]]
[[Category:Unparished areas in Hertfordshire]]
[[Category:Hertsmere]]
[[Category:Middlesex]]

Potters Bar - Revision history

imported>Cloptonson: /* Notable residents */ added citation for Thomas Law