Thatched Barn facts for kids
The Thatched Barn was a cool two-story hotel built in the 1930s. It was located in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England. This hotel looked like an old English house, with a special "mock-Tudor" style.
The famous holiday camp creator, Billy Butlin, bought the hotel. But then, during World War II, the government took it over. It became a secret training base called Station XV for the Special Operations Executive (SOE). This group trained secret agents!
Later, in the 1960s, the Thatched Barn became a club. It was also linked to Elstree Film Studios. Because of this, it was used as a filming spot for popular TV shows like The Saint and The Prisoner. The original building was taken down in the late 1980s. A new, modern hotel, now the Holiday Inn Elstree, stands there today.
Some famous people, like film star Bette Davis, even visited the hotel.
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Early Days as a Roadhouse
The Thatched Barn first opened in 1934. It was built for a person named Mrs Merrick. Back then, it was known as a "roadhouse." This was a place where people traveling by car could stop, eat, and relax. It was also a popular spot for film stars to meet up.
In 1939, Billy Butlin bought the Thatched Barn. It was his very first hotel! However, just like his holiday camps, the government quickly took control of it. This happened before he could do much with it.
Secret Agent Training in World War II
In June 1942, the Thatched Barn became a secret base. It was part of the Special Operations Executive (SOE), a special group during World War II. They called it Station XV. This base was used to develop secret tools and tricks.
The SOE's Camouflage Section and main workshops moved there. They worked on creating camouflage, which helps things blend in. They also made explosive devices and special equipment for coding secret messages.
Captain J. Elder Wills, a film director, ran Station XV. He hired artists, people who made stage props, and even magicians! A famous British stage magician named Jasper Maskelyne worked with them. They used their creative skills to help the war effort.
A Research Center for Buildings
After the war, in the 1950s, the Thatched Barn had a new purpose. The Ministry of Works used it as a Building Research Station. This meant they used the building to test different construction materials. For example, they tested how strong concrete was.
Film and TV Connections
The Thatched Barn was a fancy hotel located very close to Elstree Film Studios. This made it a favorite spot for film stars and movie makers.
Director Michael Winner once shared a story about the hotel. Back then, it was hard to call America directly from outside London. So, he would drive to the Thatched Barn just to make transatlantic phone calls. He did this to find actors for his 1972 film, Chato's Land.
The End of the Original Building
The original Thatched Barn building was taken down in the late 1980s. A new, modern hotel was built in its place. This new hotel was first called the Elstree Moat House. Later, it became a Holiday Inn. In late 2020 or early 2021, Hilton bought it and changed its name again to a Doubletree by Hilton.
