The History with the City of Luton

Since the Paleothic era, individuals have settled on the Luton area, particularly across the henge monument called Waulud's Bank, which was erected around 3000 BC. Roman's settled on other locations of Durocobrivis and Verulamium. In the sixth century, the roll-out of a Saxon outpost on the River Lea marked a milestone for the reasons for Luton.

One of the earliest records of Luton can be found in the Domesday Book, which describes it as being Loitone or Lintone. The book pegged the location's population for just 700 to 800 people. Agriculture was obviously a staple in the local economy.

In 1121, Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester, began construction of St. Mary's Church in the town centre. The church was completed on 1137. It was soon followed by a motte and bailey type castle in 1139 (today honoured in memory through Castle Street). Today, the castle's site is occupied by Matalan. At this time, records indicate that Luton was renowned for having six watermills during the Middle Ages. These mills are commemorated through Mill Street, which can be found inside the centre of town.

During the12th century, Falkes de Breaut??, a mercenary soldier hired by King John, was granted the manor of Luton by the king in gratitude for his services. After his marriage, he gained power over his wife's house in London, a property which was called "Fawkes Hall" and later corrupted to "Foxhall" and, eventually, "Vauxhall." Falkes also gained the legal right to bear his very own coat of arms, choosing the griffin, a mythical creature that became his heraldic emblem and which later was related to Luton and Vauxhall in the 13th century.

By 1240, records known as the location as Leueton. It was renowned on an annual market and fair held every August and attended by people from neighbouring villages. By 1338, people and growth with the town spurred another annual fair, held every October. This second fair was constructed in a period of rebuilding in Luton, following a great fire in 1336 which destroyed most with the town.

In the 16th century, brick making replaced agriculture because the key industry of Luton. During that point, many of the old wooded houses were replaced by brick houses.

The English Civil War also touched Luton throughout the 17th century. In 1645, royalists invaded the city, demanded money and stole goods. Parliamentary forces soon engaged the royalists, killing four of these and capturing 22 others. Gun battle again emerged in 1648 between royalist forces and parliamentary soldiers at the corner of Bridge Street. Nine royalist soldiers were killed but many had escaped.

During the 17th industry, another industry where Luton made its mark was growing very popular with all the citizens, hat making. A century later, hat making would become the lone dominant industry of Luton, specially the output of straw hats. Today, hats are still a well known industry in Luton but to your much lesser degree.

Luton experienced an increase in population from 1801 to 1850, when the city's population rose from 3,095 to in excess of 10,000. It would grow to almost 39,000 by 1901. And because from the number of people in town, the railway soon arrived in 1858 to produce Luton a lot more accessible to people off their places. At that period, the railway would not even pass Dunstable, a niche town which had been largely overshadowed by Luton around that time.

The first gas supply appeared in Luton in 1834, and gas street lights soon followed, followed from the completion in the first town hall in 1847.

By 1854, newspaper printing was now around and also the first public cemetery also opened that year. A cholera epidemic terrorized the location in 1848, forcing the formation of the complete water and sewage system that was completed inside late1860s. Plait Hills, the city's first covered market was built-in 1869.

In 1876, Luton appeared a borough. By 1886, Luton would likewise have its first soccer team, the Luton Town Club.

The dawn with the twentieth century would mean a change of focus from the hat industry to modern industries, like Vauxhall Motors, the greatest car plant within the United Kingdom, which opened in Luton in 1905. Production facilities for household appliances (Electrolux) along with other light engineering businesses would soon follow.

A tram system began operations in 1908 (and closed in 1932) and Luton's first cinema opened its doors in 1909. The town's population would hit the 50,000 mark by 1914.

In 1919, Luton's town hall was destroyed by protesters who decried the fierce local unemployment. Luton's second town hall would be inaugurated in 1936. Two years later, the London Luton Airport, owned and operated from the local council, would begin business.

Luton would play an integral role in World War II, particularly with the creation of Churchill tanks. This made Luton a target of frequent air raids through the Luftwaffe which claimed the lives of 107 people and severely damaged a lot more than 1,500 homes.

Hi! I’m Carmina, also known as Nana. I love Diy projects, parties, crocheting, and traveling. In this blog I share patterns, recipes, Diy projects, pet tips, party ideas, and travel tips.