Marsh Farm

Last updated

Marsh Farm
Public House and market at Marsh Farm - geograph.org.uk - 391531.jpg
The back of the former Purley Centre, showing the front of the Purley Tavern pub and the marketplace
Bedfordshire UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Marsh Farm
Location within Bedfordshire
Population10,000 (est.)
OS grid reference TL0523
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town LUTON
Postcode district LU3
Dialling code 01582
Police Bedfordshire
Fire Bedfordshire and Luton
Ambulance East of England
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Bedfordshire
51°55′01″N00°27′11″W / 51.91694°N 0.45306°W / 51.91694; -0.45306

Marsh Farm is a suburb of Luton, Bedfordshire, England, near to Leagrave and Limbury, mainly of council and social housing. The area is bounded by the edge of Luton to the north, Bramingham Road to the south, Spinney Wood and the path from the wood to the edge of Luton to the west, and Great Bramingham wood to the east.

Contents

Etymology

The estate takes its name from the farm that owned much of the land that eventually became the estate. Marsh Farm was located by Leagrave Marsh and part of the old farmland is now Leagrave Park.

History

The estate was built in the late 1960s, with a mixture of flats and houses as part of the post-war expansion of Luton, mostly for overspill population rehoused from London. The estates at Farley Hill, Hockwell Ring and Stopsley were all built at about the same time. The council-owned tower blocks that dominate the estate are called Lea Bank, Penhill and Five Springs, each is of a similar design and are 15 floors each reaching a total height of 44.2 m (145 ft). [1]

Local area

The Purley Centre

The Purley Centre was a council-owned shopping centre that contained the Marsh Farm Library and local business, such as supermarkets, a pub named The Purley Tavern and restaurants, and a multi-storey block of flats adjacent. It was the host of a marketplace [2] that took place on Thursdays and Saturdays; it was opposite Marsh Farm Futures House, a former factory-turned local community centre. [3]

Transport

Marsh Farm is well connected by bus with regular services to Luton Town Centre. The estate benefits from the M1 as well as connections to the A6. Luton Airport is within 7 miles.

Leagrave railway station is a 20-minute walk from Marsh Farm and there are frequent trains to Luton, St Albans, Bedford, London, Brighton and Sevenoaks. Arriva run their 24, 25 and 27 services through the estate, whilst Centrebus provide connections with their faster 'top10' service to the Town Centre.

Local schools and education

Primary Schools

Secondary schools

Library

Religion

The estate lies within the ecclesiastical benefice of The Holy Cross, Marsh Farm and is served by the Parish Church of the Holy Cross (Church of England) built in 1976 and located in the centre of the estate adjacent to the medical centre on Purway Close. The Parish is registered with Forward in Faith and is Anglo-Catholic in its theology and worship. The Roman Catholic Church of The Holy Family is located off Northwell Drive and is one of the largest parishes in the Diocese of Northampton. During the season of Lent both Churches join in the Stations of the Cross.[ citation needed ]

Marsh Farm Riots

Marsh Farm made national news in July 1995 when the social problems boiled over into three days of rioting. Although local police received the help of the Metropolitan Police riot squad to bring the situation under control, [6] it was the rave organisers Exodus Collective who brought the riots to an end by staging an impromptu party out of town which drew 2,000 young people from the area and calmed them down. [7] The riots also resulted in a policeman being stabbed, all of the estate's public buildings being vandalised or set alight, cars were stolen and then set alight by joyriders as young as 12. [8] [9] A less notorious riot also occurred on the estate in July 1992. [10]

Local refurbishment

Whilst many parts of the estate still look like a typical 1960s development, the estate has £32m of European money available for re-development and plans were created by the local council and other interested parties. [10] [11] [12] Councillor Tom Shaw later said that he hoped it would remove the media's memories of Marsh Farm's anti-social past: "The bad reputation – people keep on talking about that [...] That was 25 years ago. People who live on Marsh Farm, love Marsh Farm;" [10] and Mark Peasey the divisional director added: "[the riots were] a long, long time ago [...] We are developing skills for local people and we can leave a legacy behind [with people] continuing to work in the construction industry[.]" [10]

In the summer of 1999, some regeneration money was used to fund murals on the underpasses around the estate. The lead artist, Viv McIntyre, visited schools on the estate and carried out workshops with the pupils, where they provided the images (based on given themes) to create the mural designs. A team of artists then worked with the children to transfer the designs from paper to the walls.[ citation needed ]

Work was halted until the 2010s, in which tenants were relocated, [11] and old homes were demolished and rebuilt, [13] notably The Purley Centre between 2017 and 2018, [14] [15] [16] which was replaced by houses, a new row of stores, low rise apartments and recreation space. [14] Marsh Farm Library was relocated to Lea Manor High School, which received its own refurbishment between 2009 and 2011. [5] The three tower blocks received sprinkler systems after concerns were raised during the Grenfell Tower fire [17] and blue cladding is being added around the sides. [12] [18]

Politics

Marsh Farm is part of the Northwell ward, which is represented by Cllr Amy Nicholls (Labour), Cllr Rob Roche (Labour) and Cllr Babatunde Ajisola (Labour). [19]

The ward forms part of the parliamentary constituency of Luton North and the MP is Sarah Owen (Labour).

Map of Luton showing Northwell ward Lutonwardmap.jpg
Map of Luton showing Northwell ward

Local attractions

Key
AP Icon.svg Abbey/Priory/Cathedral
UKAL icon.svg Accessible open space
Themepark uk icon.png Amusement/Theme Park
CL icon.svg Castle
Country parks.svg Country Park
EH icon.svg English Heritage
Forestry Commission
HR icon.svg Heritage railway
HH icon.svg Historic House
AP Icon.svg Places of Worship
Museum icon.svg
Museum icon (red).svg 		Museum (free/not free)
NTE icon.svg National Trust
Drama-icon.svg Theatre
Zoo icon.jpg Zoo

Notes

  1. ↑ Formerly "Whitefield Primary School". [4]
  2. ↑ Originally located at The Purley Centre, it was moved and opened in Lea Manor High School in 2011. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luton</span> Town in Bedfordshire, England

Luton is a town and unitary authority with borough status in Bedfordshire, England, with a population at the 2021 census of 225,262.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waddon</span> Human settlement in England

Waddon is a neighbourhood in the London Borough of Croydon, at the western end of the town of Croydon. The area borders the London Borough of Sutton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luton North (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1983 onwards

Luton North is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2019 by Sarah Owen, of the Labour Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exodus Collective</span> Community collective formed in 1992, in Luton, England

Exodus Collective was a community collective and sound system formed in 1992, in the Marsh Farm area of Luton, England. It organised free parties and became involved in housing, social exclusion, and community projects, founded upon the principle of DIY culture. The group squatted buildings and repeatedly came into conflict with Bedfordshire Police, which by 1995 had resulted in Bedfordshire County Council voting for a public inquiry into alleged police harassment. The license of a pub owned by the mother of people in the collective was revoked, a decision which was later overturned by a judicial review.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Limbury</span> Human settlement in England

Limbury is a suburb of Luton, in the Luton district, in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, England, and was formerly a village before Luton expanded around it. The area is roughly bounded by Bramingham Road to the north, Marsh Road to the south, Bramingham Road to the west, and Catsbrook Road, Runfold Avenue, Grosvenor Road, Bancroft Road and Blundell Road to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leagrave</span> Human settlement in England

Leagrave is a former village and now a suburb of Luton, in the Luton district, in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, England, in the northwest of the town. The current council ward is roughly bounded by Vincent Road, Torquay Drive and High Street to the north, Roman Road and Stoneygate Road to the south, the M1 to the west, and Marsh Road and Leagrave Park to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waulud's Bank</span> Possible Neolithic henge in Leagrave, Luton, England

Waulud's Bank is a possible Neolithic henge in Leagrave, Luton, England dating from 3,000BC.

Lewsey is a suburb of Luton, about 3 miles (4.8 km) west north-west of the town centre, and a ward of the Borough of Luton, in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, England. The suburb is roughly bounded by Leagrave High Street to the north, Dunstable Road to the south, Poynters Road, Dunstable to the west, and the M1 to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hockwell Ring</span> Human settlement in England

Hockwell Ring is a suburb of Luton in the north-west of the town, in Bedfordshire, England. The area is roughly bounded by Brickly Road to the north, High Street and Torquay Drive to the south, the M1 motorway to the west, and Vincent Road to the east.

Bramingham is a suburb of Luton, in the Borough of Luton district, in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, England. The area is situated in the north of the town and is roughly bounded by the A6 to the east, Great Bramingham Wood to the west, the edge of Luton to the north, and Icknield Way to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sundon Park</span> Human settlement in England

Sundon Park is a suburb of north Luton, in the Luton district, in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, England. The area is roughly bounded by the edge of Luton to the north, Leagrave Park to the south, the Midland Main Line to the west, and Spinney Woods and the footpath from the woods to the edge of town to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Round Green</span> Human settlement in England

Round Green is a suburb of Luton just over 1 mile (1.6 km) north-east of the town centre, and a ward of the Borough of Luton, in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, England. The area is roughly bounded by Bradgers Hill to the north, People's Park, Richmond Hill and Turners Road South to the south, Wardown Crescent and Elmwood Crescent to the west, and Vauxhall Way to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biscot</span> Human settlement in England

Biscot is an area of Luton close to the town centre, in the Luton district, in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, England. The area is roughly bounded by Montrose Avenue to the north, the Midland Main Line to the west, and the A6 to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saints, Luton</span> Human settlement in England

Saints is a suburb of Luton, in the Luton district, in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, England. It is located off New Bedford Road and two miles north of the Luton town centre. The area is bounded by the River Lea to the north, Montrose Avenue to the south, Blundell Road and Leagrave Road to the west, and the A6 to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luton Borough Council</span> Local council of Luton, England

Luton Borough Council, also known as Luton Council, is the local authority of Luton, in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, England. Luton has had an elected local authority since 1850, which has been reformed several times. Since 1997 the council has been a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council.

Luton is a town located in the south of Bedfordshire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knapps Brook</span> Stream in Bedfordshire, England

Knapps Brook is a minor tributary of the River Lea in Bedfordshire, England. The source of the river Lea is on Leagrave Common in Luton. It forms from a combination of brooks from East End, Houghton Regis and from the Lewsey Estate near the old Lewsey Farm. It joins the River Lea from culverts under the railway embankment and Toddington Road in Leagrave.

Lewsey Farm is a suburb of Luton, Bedfordshire, England. Situated in the north-west of the town, the area is roughly bounded by the Woodside Link to the north, Leagrave High Street to the south, Poynters Road to the west, and Pastures Way to the east. The wider area including nearby districts Lewsey Park and Lewsey are sometimes referred to as Lewsey Farm.

Lewsey Park is a suburb of Luton, Bedfordshire, England. Situated in the north-west of the town, the area is roughly bounded by Woodside Link to the North, Leagrave High Street to the south, Pastures Way to the west, and the M1 to the east.

References

  1. ↑ "Marsh Farm Estate | Tower Block". towerblock.eca.ed.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 5 May 2020.
  2. ↑ "19/05/2017 – Marsh Farm market operator vacancy". 19 May 2017. Archived from the original on 5 May 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  3. ↑ "£20m redevelopment of Marsh Farm estate in Luton". East Anglia. ITV News. 10 June 2014. Archived from the original on 5 May 2020. The site of one derelict factory has already been turned into a 10 million pound community building.
  4. ↑ "Whitefield Primary School – GOV.UK". gov.uk. Archived from the original on 30 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  5. 1 2 "TL0625 : Marsh Farm Library, Luton". 18 September 2011. Archived from the original on 5 May 2020. New library attached to Lea Manor School, Marsh Farm, LU3, Luton Beds. Part of New re-generation scheme. Opened July 2011.
  6. ↑ "Extra police sent to riot-hit estate". The Independent. 8 July 1995.
  7. ↑ Wainwright, Hilary (2003). Reclaim the State: Experiments in Popular Democracy. Verso. pp. 112–3. ISBN   1-8598-4689-0. Archived from the original on 12 April 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  8. ↑ "Nothing to do. No jobs. For the buzz. Dunno. Perhaps Luton's three hot". The Independent. 19 July 1995.
  9. ↑ "Exodus: To rave or to riot? – One Eye on the Road". 11 January 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Marsh Farm riots: Regeneration to leave behind 'negative' past". Look East. BBC News. 30 December 2018.
  11. 1 2 Precey, Matt (13 May 2013). "Luton's Purley Centre flats due to be demolished". Look East. BBC News.
  12. 1 2 "Marsh Farm high-rises are transforming – Luton Council".
  13. ↑ "Final phase starts to transform Luton's Marsh Farm estate". 20 September 2018. Archived from the original on 5 May 2020.
  14. 1 2 "Marsh Farm redevelopment". 23 October 2018. Archived from the original on 5 May 2020.
  15. ↑ "Marsh Farm project overview". Archived from the original on 5 May 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  16. ↑ "Marsh Farm central area redevelopment". Luton Council (luton.gov.uk).
  17. ↑ "Marsh Farm: Grenfell leads to new sprinkler system in Luton tower blocks". BBC News. 18 November 2018. Archived from the original on 5 May 2020.
  18. ↑ The Newsroom (12 February 2018). "Marsh Farm makeover aims to impress".
  19. ↑ "CMIS > Councillors".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.