Luton

Luton, a market-town of Bedfordshire, on the little Lea, among the Chiltern Hills, 31 miles by rail NNW. of London. St Mary's Church, mixed Decorated and Perpendicular in style, is a noble structure, with a flint-work tower 90 feet high, a baptistery chapel, and many interesting monuments. It has been restored since 1865. Luton is the chief seat in England of the straw-plait (for hats, bonnets, &c.), an industry which dates from the reign of James I., and employs 20,000 persons here and in the neighbourhood. The Plait-hall (1869) is a fine building; and there are also a town-hall, corn exchange, people's park, &c. Luton was re-incorporated as a municipal borough in 1876. Pop. (1851) 10,648; (1891) 30,006. See F. Davis, History of Luton (1855).