Luton, Bedfordshire

Luton 1918

My father, Edmund Harris Biggs, visited Luton in 1918 when he was in England during World War I. He visited what was supposed to be the Biggs family home. It was a large house with a circular driveway and possibly a covered portico. He met an elderly lady, possibly unmarried, knoiwn as Aunt Dyer. I would love... [more]

New Tech

I was late for the cutting of the first turf when Luton Technical College was being moved from Park Square to what became Barnfield College.  It was a cold morning and I had overslept!

The University was to expand onto the Park Square site of the 'Tech' and while the initial works were going on we had no playground and... [more]

Grandad's shop

My Grandad Thomas Poole owned a wallpaper & paint shop in Wellington Street, my Mum who is now 82 can remember the day the war was announced, my Grandad threw open the windows and turned up the radio so everyone in the street could hear it. Does anybody remember the shop or have any photos of it?

Bute Hospital, Dunstable Road, Luton

Later to become part of the old St Mary's hospital, Dunstable Road. Luton. I was born there in 1948.

School classes

The basement, or I suppose crypt, of this building was used by the Technical College as an engineering workshop. We would traipse from the main building on Park Square along Waller Street to enter the workshop which was kitted out with all types of machinery. The teacher was Mr Dual, nicknamed 'Jimmy Jewel' after the popular radio comedian.

Youth club days

When I was about 13 or 14 I would visit this building which was next to the Grand Theatre on Waller Street. By this date the building was used as a Youth Club. I think there was a nominal charge to enter and soft drinks and snacks were available. On one occasion the main hall was blacked out for a film... [more]

No Police Box

There was a Police Box (Tardis type) at the bottom of the Corn Exchange, later replaced by a Police telephone post. On the left was the entrance to the Old Indoor Market and The Plough public house.

Conservative Club on Market Hill

My father was a member of the Conservative Club pictured here, and I fondly remember going down to the club to have a bag of crisps and an orange juice while waiting for him to finish meetings inside. I used to sit in the hallway (you can see the entrance to it as the arch) and remember there was a... [more]

Bedfordshire Photographic Memories

Viewed from the Corn Exchange on Market Hill, Luton's main street on a summer's day just before the turn of the 19th century gives little indication of the importance of this thoroughfare. The ornate stone monument in the foreground - known locally as The Pepperpot - is the Ames Memorial, dedicated to magistrate and landowner, Lt Col Lionel Ames. Note the... [more]

Bedfordshire Photographic Memories

Hat manufacturers and accessory wholesalers occupy most of the buildings shown in this reverse view to 39699 (page 22). The crates all contain hats, possibly being delivered to the relatively new railway depot for trans-shipment. The Corn Exchange, sitting on Market Hill in the far distance, was opened in 1869 and also served as the Court Leet, public meeting place and... [more]

Bedfordshire Photographic Memories

This open space at the junction of the roads leading to Hitchin, Wheathampstead and London was large enough to support the open-air market, which stretched the 100 yards through the middle of the picture from the Corn Exchange through to Park Street. The shops on the left were originally dwelling houses dating from 1760. Note the wide pavements - an indication... [more]