c. 500| The Saxons conquered Bedfordshire and created a settlement by the River Lea. In it's early days it was known as Loitone. | |
1086| Loitone had a population of about 750 to 800 people, the largest royal manor in Bedfordshire. Most of these people were farmers but there was also a thriving market place. | |
1121 – 1137| The Earl of Gloucester builds St. Marys Church. | |
1139 and 1221| A wooden castle was built by Robert de Waudari for the war against Matilda, it was demolished just 15 years later. A second castle was subsequently built by Falkes de Breauté in 1221 . The site of these castles is believed to be on or near Matalan in Castle Street (previously a bus station). | |
1100 – 1226| Falkes de Breauté, a French mercenary, acquired his wife’s house, which became known as Fawkes Hall. Over time it became known as Foxhall and then later as Vauxhall. Falkes eventually became Lord of the Manor, allowing him to have his own coat of arms, the griffin. The griffin, a mythological creature, became associated with Luton and Vauxhall. | |
1336| A fire in Luton destroyed much of the town. | |
1500 – 1599| Brick making industry grows in Luton, leading many people to rebuild their houses which were previously made from wood. | |
1645 and 1648| Royalists came through Luton demanding money and goods. Parliamentary soldiers help to fight them off. | |
c. 1689 – 1900| Straw hat making transforms the town, hitting it's peak around 1870. | |
1757| Luton Hoo was built for the 3rd Earl of Bute, desinged by Robert Adam. | |
1797| A bridge is built giving it's name to Bridge Street. | |
1834| Luton gets gas light. | |
1843| Luton Hoo mostly rebuilt after a fire. | |
1847| A new Town Hall was built. | |
1850| Board of Health starts to built sewers because of a cholera outbreak in 1848. | |
1854| First Luton newspaper begins publication and the first cemeteries are also opened. | |
1858| Railway reaches Luton. | |
1865| Water company formed, by 1870 the whole town has piped water. | |
1869| Two plait halls opened but was soon to fail because of cheap imports from China and Japan. | |
1872| First cottage hospital and swimming baths were built. | |
1876| Luton becomes a borough and in 1877 Luton Chamber of Commerce was formed. | |
1885| Luton Town Football Club formed. | |
1904| Mayor, Cllr Hucklesby, buys the Wardown estate and makes it a park. | |
1905| Vauxhall transforms Luton into a massive car manufacturing plant. | |
1908| Trams began running in the streets but by the 1920s they were superseded by buses. | |
1909| Luton's first cinema opened. | |
1919| On Peace Day (19 July 1919), the Town Hall was burnt down by ex-servvicemen. | |
1928 and 1933| The boundaries of Luton were extended to include Leagrave, Limbury and Stopsley. | |
1931| Wardown house became a museum and art gallery. | |
1932| Luton's last trams. | |
1936| New Town Hall officially opened by the Duke of Kent. | |
1938| Luton airport opened. | |
1939| Luton and Dunstable hospital is opened. | |
1947| The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have their honeymoon at Luton Hoo. | |
1959| M1 was built. | |
1962| New central library opened by Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. | |
1964| Luton becomes a county borough. | |
1972| The Arndale Shopping Centre opens as the largest covered shopping centre in europe. | |
1975| Luton's first carnival. | |
1991| Wigmore Park Shopping Centre was built. | |
1997| Luton was made a unitary authority. | |
1998| In 1998 the Galaxy Leisure Complex opened. In the same year, the Town Hall was protected as a Grade II listed building. | |
1999| New passenger terminal at Luton airport plus the Queen officially opens the new railway station, Luton Airport Parkway. | |
2002| Vauxhall car plant ceases production in March 2002. | |
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