The De Havilland factory at Leavesden Aerodrome was created in 1940 by the de Havilland Aircraft Company and the Air Ministry in Hertfordshire. (thank you Stephen!)

The de Havilland company, who were based in nearby Hatfield, entered into a contract with the Air Ministry to produce what would become known as the Mosquito fast bomber aircraft.

The construction was enormously expensive so parts of the site were leased to the London Aircraft Production Group and The Second Aircraft Group to produce the Handley Page Halifax heavy bomber. As a result, by the end of the war, Leavesden Airfield was, by volume, said to be the largest aircraft factory in the world.

After the war, the aerodrome was purchased outright by de Havilland, who themselves had a succession of owners in the following decades, including Hawker Siddeley from 1959, but ultimately they and the site were acquired by Rolls-Royce who continued production and design of helicopter engines.

by 1994 Leavesden Aerodrome was left disused and all but abandoned.

Then the factory was converted into a film production facility where Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace, and Sleepy Hollow were made.

 By 2000, the Harry Potter movie series was being made there, as were Inception, Edge of Tomorrow, 2  Mission: Impossible films, Jason Bourne, Wonder Woman, Fantastic Beasts, Spider-Man, and Game of Thrones

Warner Bros’ investment in a permanent UK base of operations was the 1st such move by a major Hollywood studio since MGM did so in the 1940s.

https://mailchi.mp/peoplesmosquito/the-peoples-mosquito-update-5246905?e=30cb750761

https://vlc-uk.tumblr.com/post/172881651478/leavesden-studios

https://www.facebook.com/groups/394476907269580/

and the history books won't mention the Leavesden Motor Club, so I will