Limbury
Encyclopedia
Limbury, or using the full name Limbury-cum-Biscot, was a civil parish
in Bedfordshire before becoming part of Luton and has a long history dating back before the Norman conquest of England
.
At the end of the nineteenth century Limbury was a small hamlet approximately two miles from Luton, near Leagrave
, at that time it consisted of just a few cottages and just two farms, today Limbury boasts a population of 7,540.
which is a Neolithic D-shaped enclosure located in Leagrave Park at the source of the River Lea and is now a protected monument. Waulud's bank consists of a bank and external ditch of around 7 hectares with a turf riveted chalk & gravel bank (built from the excavated ditch material). The ditch itself is approximately 9 m wide and 2 m deep. Finds at the site have included neolithic Grooved Ware and flint arrow heads. It is a similar site to Durringtom Walls and Marden and the location was later re-used in the Iron Age and again during the Roman occupation.
The Icknield Way
, a Roman road passes though Limbury. Local road names give away its location, 'Roman Road' in Leagrave
runs from Oakley Road to Marsh Road. On the other side of Marsh Road, the road continues as 'Icknield Road' as it enters Limbury then eventually the road continues on as Icknield Way.
Moated houses still existed in Limbury at the beginning of the 20th century, the Moat House at Biscot is the only one remaining (now a pub/restaurant), the building is reputed to be the oldest secular building in South Bedfordshire.
During 2007 the Moat House had the roof rethatched.
The villages of Limbury and Leagrave were formed into the ecclesiastical parish of Holy Trinity, Biscot,in 1866. Then in 1896, under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1894
, they became separate civil parishes.
In the early part of the 20th Century Luton was rapidly changing from a hat manufacturing town to one relying mainly on engineering. New factories were being built in the town as well as the existing ones expanding, mainly in the motor industry (Vauxhalls opened in 1906). This meant more workers were needed, many of whom were housed in Limbury. Hedges and the rural landscape fast disappeared in Limbury as new housing developments replaced them.
With the increased number of workers a new Baptist
Church was built in 1906. The church was built by Mr Arthur Cole who had signed a contract the previous August 1905 with the church that included the line, ‘I…… agree to build a chapel (at Limbury)……and (it) shall be finished in every particular so that the opening services may be held on Good Friday, 1906.’
In 1928, the civil parish was abolished, with the urbanised area being annexed to Luton
, and the remaining part being split three-ways between Stopsley
, Streatley
and Sundon
parishes.
and Lord Mayor of Luton) and Cllr Robin Harris (Labour).
The ward forms part of the parliamentary constituency of Luton North
, and the MP is Kelvin Hopkins
(Labour). Leagrave is within the East of England (European Parliament constituency)
.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in Bedfordshire before becoming part of Luton and has a long history dating back before the Norman conquest of England
Norman conquest of England
The Norman conquest of England began on 28 September 1066 with the invasion of England by William, Duke of Normandy. William became known as William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, defeating King Harold II of England...
.
At the end of the nineteenth century Limbury was a small hamlet approximately two miles from Luton, near Leagrave
Leagrave
For other uses see Leagrave Leagrave is a former village and now a suburb of Luton in Bedfordshire in the northwest of the town. Connected by train from Leagrave station into London and Bedford by First Capital Connect...
, at that time it consisted of just a few cottages and just two farms, today Limbury boasts a population of 7,540.
History
The first settlement in the area was Waulud's BankWaulud's Bank
Waulud's Bank is a possible Neolithic henge in Leagrave, Bedfordshire dating from 3,000BC.The Waulud's Bank earthworks lies on the western edge of the Marsh Farm Estate in Leagrave, Luton. The River Lea forms the western side, its source located within the vicinity of the surrounding marsh...
which is a Neolithic D-shaped enclosure located in Leagrave Park at the source of the River Lea and is now a protected monument. Waulud's bank consists of a bank and external ditch of around 7 hectares with a turf riveted chalk & gravel bank (built from the excavated ditch material). The ditch itself is approximately 9 m wide and 2 m deep. Finds at the site have included neolithic Grooved Ware and flint arrow heads. It is a similar site to Durringtom Walls and Marden and the location was later re-used in the Iron Age and again during the Roman occupation.
The Icknield Way
Icknield Way
The Icknield Way is an ancient trackway in southern England. It follows the chalk escarpment that includes the Berkshire Downs and Chiltern Hills.-Background:...
, a Roman road passes though Limbury. Local road names give away its location, 'Roman Road' in Leagrave
Leagrave
For other uses see Leagrave Leagrave is a former village and now a suburb of Luton in Bedfordshire in the northwest of the town. Connected by train from Leagrave station into London and Bedford by First Capital Connect...
runs from Oakley Road to Marsh Road. On the other side of Marsh Road, the road continues as 'Icknield Road' as it enters Limbury then eventually the road continues on as Icknield Way.
Moated houses still existed in Limbury at the beginning of the 20th century, the Moat House at Biscot is the only one remaining (now a pub/restaurant), the building is reputed to be the oldest secular building in South Bedfordshire.
During 2007 the Moat House had the roof rethatched.
The villages of Limbury and Leagrave were formed into the ecclesiastical parish of Holy Trinity, Biscot,in 1866. Then in 1896, under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1894
Local Government Act 1894
The Local Government Act 1894 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales outside the County of London. The Act followed the reforms carried out at county level under the Local Government Act 1888...
, they became separate civil parishes.
In the early part of the 20th Century Luton was rapidly changing from a hat manufacturing town to one relying mainly on engineering. New factories were being built in the town as well as the existing ones expanding, mainly in the motor industry (Vauxhalls opened in 1906). This meant more workers were needed, many of whom were housed in Limbury. Hedges and the rural landscape fast disappeared in Limbury as new housing developments replaced them.
With the increased number of workers a new Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
Church was built in 1906. The church was built by Mr Arthur Cole who had signed a contract the previous August 1905 with the church that included the line, ‘I…… agree to build a chapel (at Limbury)……and (it) shall be finished in every particular so that the opening services may be held on Good Friday, 1906.’
In 1928, the civil parish was abolished, with the urbanised area being annexed to Luton
Luton
Luton is a large town and unitary authority of Bedfordshire, England, 30 miles north of London. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 250,000....
, and the remaining part being split three-ways between Stopsley
Stopsley
Stopsley is a ward in the north-east of Luton. Originally a hill-top village settlement, most of the urbanised part of the civil parish of Stopsley became part of Luton when the boundaries were extended in 1933, with the rural areas going to Hyde and Streatley.After the Second World War, there was...
, Streatley
Streatley, Bedfordshire
Streatley is a village and civil parish in the Central Bedfordshire district of Bedfordshire, England.-Geography:Streatley is situated just to the west of the A6, and is the first village on the A6 north of Luton, being about north of central Luton...
and Sundon
Sundon
Sundon is a civil parish in the English county of Bedfordshire.There are two settlements: the one called Upper Sundon at the top of the hill is now the main village, and the presumably older one by the church is now a hamlet called Lower Sundon....
parishes.
Politics
Limbury ward is represented by Cllr Norris Bullock (LabourLabour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
and Lord Mayor of Luton) and Cllr Robin Harris (Labour).
The ward forms part of the parliamentary constituency of Luton North
Luton North (UK Parliament constituency)
Luton North is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
, and the MP is Kelvin Hopkins
Kelvin Hopkins
Kelvin Peter Hopkins is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Luton North since 1997.-Background:...
(Labour). Leagrave is within the East of England (European Parliament constituency)
East of England (European Parliament constituency)
East of England is a constituency of the European Parliament. It currently elects 7 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.- Boundaries :...
.
Local Attractions
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Whipsnade Wildlife Park
Local Newspapers
Two weekly newspapers are delivered free to all the houses in Limbury. However they are not specific to Limbury. They are:- Herald and Post - Delivered every Thursday
- Luton on Sunday- Delivered every Sunday