Memories of Luton
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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 to find out whatever I can about this house, the lady and any other Biggs family history. My Grandfather was Edmund Harris Biggs (Senior) and was born in Luton in 1858. His father was James Biggs who was born in Redbourn in 1835.
Shared on 10 August 2009
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 very few facilities. Indeed our last form photograph (1956) had to be squeezed into an odd corner near the bike shed! Our lessons were spreadover 3 sites - Chapel Street, Park Square and Waller Street Youth Club. At lunch times there were facilities in the Park Square hall for table tennis and in Waller Street hall dancing several times a week.
The headmaster at the time was Dr Charlesworth - a very innovative and lovely man. The teachers that I remember are Mr Hopkins, Mr Collins, Mr Jenkins, Mr Wainwright, Mrs Clarke, Mrs Whittaker, Mr Whalley, Mr Shaw, Mr Richardson and of course that great character, Mr Tolley who had been a missionary and we learned very little about RI (religeous instruction) because he was easily diverted into stories of his missionary work.
Shared on 23 May 2009
Luton, Secondary Technical School c1955
Ref: L117080
Having spent over two years at the old college on Park Square as a student, I started work in 1953 with Seaward Brothers Builders as an apprentice. After two years on the firm they won the contract to build the new Tech. Overall I was there about two years and helped lay the drains, build the walls, point the damp course on the main building and the cycle sheds and lay tiles on the window sills and staircases. Many years after the college was opened, it was renamed Barnfield College and in 1995 I ended up as a Building Lecturer at the college, albeit not on the main campus.
Shared on 13 February 2009
Luton, the Technical School c1950
Ref: L117024x
I attended this school from the 8th January 1951 until the end of March 1953. Every morning all classes would attend assembly in this building and would then disperse to their classrooms which were often at other points around the town. My classroom was in the Weslyan Chapel in Chapel Street where I remember I was when the death of George VI was announced on the 6th February 1952. Other places used was the Waller Street Chapel for engineering lessons, the Indoor Pool in Waller Street for swimming lessons, and a long hike up to Popes Meadow for football, cricket and other sporting activities.
Shared on 10 February 2009
Luton, the Higher Grade School 1897
Ref: 39724
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 show and I saw Paul Robeson in Sanders of the River, an event which stirred my musical interests as his massive bass voice filled the room.
Shared on 08 February 2009
Luton, Waller Street Chapel 1897
Ref: 39721
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.
Shared on 08 February 2009
Luton, Public Library c1900
Ref: L117509
I spent many hours in this library until its closure in the early 1960s. Immediately inside was the section where books were handed in on return and new loans were issued. No bar codes and scanning in those days, each book had a card inside which was retained by the librarian after stamping the book. When the new library was opened in1962 I visited this building regularly too. In particular during the very cold winter of 1963 I remember visiting several times a week for the warmth whilst browsing the shelves.
Shared on 08 February 2009
Luton, The Railway Tavern, High Town Road 2005
Ref: L117706k
This pub was orginally called "The Mitre", after the Bishop of St Albans.
Shared on 16 January 2009
Luton, the Library and War Memorial c1950
Ref: L117026
At the junction of Williamson St, opposite the Town Hall. Local corporation bus company had a terminus halfway down Williamson St. Also Fyffes bananas had large depot opposite parked buses.
Shared on 16 January 2009
Luton, the Technical School c1950
Ref: L117024x
Just past junction of Church St and Park St opposite Brewery Tap Pub.
Shared on 16 January 2009
Luton, Bute Hospital 1897
Ref: 39713
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.
Shared on 11 January 2009
Luton, George Street c1950
Ref: L117006
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.
Shared on 11 January 2009
Luton, the Corn Exchange c1950
Ref: L117013
Every Sunday the Salvation Army Citadel Band would play hymns etc, before marching back to the citadel in Park St.
Shared on 11 January 2009
Luton, Market Hill c1950
Ref: L117012
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 beautiful grandfather clock on the first floor landing which I used to go and admire. I have now inherited a grandfather clock, and it always reminds me of when I fell in love with the one in the club. In the late 1960s, I was photographed by the Luton News pulling a cracker with my best friend at a Christmas party held here. The parties used to be a regular event with us all sitting at long tables with conservative club ladies serving us food.
On the left of the picture is the Red Lion, where myself and two other schoolfriends celebrated our 21st birthdays with a meal in 1978, so the area holds fond memories for me.
Shared on 04 August 2008
Luton, Wellington Street 1897
Ref: 39704
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?
Shared on 22 December 2007
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