Berkhamsted (originally Berk Hempstead) is a historic town of some 19,000 people. It is situated in the west of Hertfordshire, between the towns of Tring and Hemel Hempstead. It is in the administrative district (and borough since 1984) of Dacorum. The name of the town has been spelt in a variety of ways over the years, and the present spelling was adopted in 1937. Earlier spellings included Berkhampstead, Muche Barkhamstede, Berkhamsted Magna, Great Berkhamsted and Berkhamstead. The earliest Beorhoanstadde dates back to pre conquest Saxon times. Historian Percy Birtchnell identified over 50 different spellings and epithets since the Domesday Book. It is believed the original refers to homestead amongst the hills (Saxon - bergs) It is also the home of the British Film Institute's BFI National Archive, one of the largest film and television archives in the world, which was generously endowed by the late John Paul Getty.