Luton

Luton

Luton is a large town located in Bedfordshire, England. Luton is 14 miles west of Stevenage, 30 miles north-west of London, 20 miles east of Aylesbury and 22 miles south-east of Milton Keynes. In 1938 London Luton Airport was opened which is one of the Britain’s major airports. Luton has two League team namely Luton Town Football Club, its history includes various spells in the top flight of Football League Cup triumph as well as English league in 1988. 

Luton was known for Hat Making, and it also had large Vauxhall Motors Factory. In 1905 Car Production started at the plant, and it continued until 2002.  Largest one-day carnival in Europe namely Luton Carnival is held on the Whitsun May Bank Holiday.

History

During the 20th century, hat making industry which flourished for so long ultimately declined because new industries came into Luton. One of them was engineering. In 1905 Vauxhall came to town. Very soon Luton was known for car manufacturing. At the beginning of 20th-century gas cookers, meters, as well as ball bearings, were made in Luton. During the beginning of the twentieth-century chemical industries also started in Luton. During the end of 1930s Luton was a developing town and had less unemployment than other city and this is due to new industries. In the 20th century, Luton grew rapidly. In 1914 this town had a population of 50000, and by 1960s this population grew to over 130,000.

In the 20th century, conditions in Luton improved. Trams started running in streets of Luton in 1908. In 1920s trams were replaced by buses. In 1909 first cinema in Luton was opened. In 1938 Luton airport was opened. Council bought a Wardown estate in 1904 and made its park. In 1931 Wardown house became museum and art gallery. Town hall was burned down during a riot in 1919. New Town Hall was constructed in 1936. During the 1920s and 1930s Council started demolishing worst slums in Luton and they constructed first council houses.In 1937 New Court House was built.

In 1928 and 1933 boundaries of Luton was expanded to include Stopsley, Limbury and Leagrave. In 1939 Luton and Dunstable hospital was opened. During Second World War Luton was bombed. Around 107 people were killed due to German bombing, and over 1500 were damaged. After the end of the war, Luton Council replaced damaged houses by constructing new homes. At Farley Hill, Limbury, Stopsley and Leagrave, Estates were built. In 1962 New Central Library was built in Luton and in 1972 Arndale Centre has been constructed. Luton was made unitary authority in 1997, and Galaxy Leisure Complex was opened in 1998. The new railway station and Luton Airport Parkway was built in 1999. In 2002 Car Production ended in Luton. St Georges Square was reconstructed in 2007. Now the population of Luton is 255,000.