History of Luton in Bedfordshire
Luton is one of the main towns in Bedfordshire. It dates to the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods. Four different urns were found in 2008 that dates to around the late Bronze Age, while a copper coin from Charles II was also found. One of the major historical attractions in Luton is Hat Fair, which has been celebrated annually since 1785. One of the first confirmed sightings of Luton was in Bedfordshire, which was recorded by the Domesday Book. This book describes Luton as a small farming community with about ten people. The township was registered at 9.9km2 and included twenty-nine people.
Old Luton
A photo of Luton from 1809 is available on Wikimedia Commons; it shows St Mary’s Church still standing today. The town multiplied due to the Industrial Revolution. It began to develop due to the construction of railways that connected Luton with London. In 1867, the town was granted the status of a market town by Queen Victoria. It became a municipal borough in 1894 and then was given city status in 1928. The growth of Luton was mainly due to its proximity to London, which is why most housing and office space there is geared around commuting to work in London. The town centre is the largest in Bedfordshire.
Housing in Luton
The housing stock is predominantly Victorian but has seen an influx of modern architecture due to its proximity to the M1 motorway. Many high-rise buildings and apartment blocks have been constructed in recent years. In 2005, about 18,000 homes were built in Luton. The population had declined since 1990 when it was 138,000. This is mainly due to the fact that Luton has a large number of young people leaving home to work abroad or move for a job elsewhere. A study from 2011 showed that almost 30% of people aged 16 to 39 in Luton were leaving the area. However, the reasons for this are not clear as there was also a large number of people moving into Luton from other areas.
Industry in Luton
Luton has been an essential location for distribution and is home to many industries. The largest employer is IBM, which employs around 1,500 people. The town is also home to Tyco Electronics and Vodafone Group, which employ over 600 people each. The companies these companies employ have created a large service industry, which employs over 50% of the workforce.
The clothing industry is still important to Luton, as high street stores such as Primark and H&M have large distribution centres there. The area is home to several call centres, while the modern architecture in Luton makes it an attractive place for media companies to set up shop. A large number of successful businesses have been founded in Luton including Dixons Stores Group and Moonpig.
Quality of Life in Luton
The quality of life in Luton is high due to its large parks and green spaces and the 3,000 acres of parkland. It is difficult to generalise about Luton due to its size, culture, and history. However, the town has many green spaces and a large commuter population. It is also home to many major companies that have created many jobs in the area. One of the best ways to find out about a place is to ask people who grew up there. They will be able to give you a better idea about the area than any article on a wiki.