History - famous people

Ebenezer Howard, founder of Letchworth Garden City

Ebenezer Howard, founder of Letchworth Garden City

Ebenezer Howard, the founder of Letchworth Garden City and the Garden City movement.

In 1898, Ebenezer Howard, appalled at the very unpleasant living and working conditions in the late 19th Century towns and cities, wrote a book outlining his ideas for a completely new way of living. The book, 'Tomorrow, A Peaceful Path to Real Reform', was later republished as 'Garden Cities of Tomorrow' in 1902.

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Architects Barry Parker & Raymond Unwin

Architects Barry Parker and Raymond Unwin were appointed to design a master plan for the first Garden City using Ebenezer Howard's design for new communities. Their 1903 layout plan was based on the principles of land use with defined areas for commercial and industrial development, varied residential districts and an agricultural belt. The plan set out the environmental standards for the 20th Century.

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Miss Annie Lawrence

Miss Annie Lawrence

Annie Lawrence was born into a wealthy and influential family in London, in 1863. Through her social work in London she witnessed the unhealthiness and poverty of the slums, and felt compelled to try and find a solution.

Miss Lawrence arrived in Letchworth as one of its early ‘pioneers’, bringing with her the idea of an “open-air” school, for poor children to grow up in country surroundings with plenty of fresh air.  This open-air life would, she believed, help to strengthen their bodies while their minds would be improved by the beauties of nature.

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Juliet Reckitt

Juliet Reckitt, photographed in 1911

Miss Juliet Reckitt was the daughter of the Hull industrialist Reckitt of the English mustard company, “Reckitt and Coleman’s.”  She moved to Letchworth in its early years and was instrumental in the founding of the Society of Friends.  In 1907 - 1908 she sponsored the building of “Howgills”, South View, with the intention that lectures and meetings would be held there.  The hall was offered as a meeting place to the Quakers, free of charge. Juliet Reckitt offered Howgills as a gift to the Society of Friends in 1913 and by 1916 the deed of transfer was official.

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Revd John Alington - The Mad Vicar of Old Letchworth!

Revd Alington in a leopard skin, in a sketch by Samuel Lucas.

The Rev. John Alington was one of Old Letchworth’s most eccentric characters. Ordained in 1823, he moved to Letchworth Hall after his wife’s death in 1838. Following an invitation by the Rev. Samuel Knapp to take a few services at St. Mary’s Church, Alington took everything leaving only funerals. The services were incoherent and covered inappropriate subjects. Knapp complained to the Bishop, who suspended the services, starting Alington on a campaign of revenge.

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