History - milestones

Arbor Day in 1913

Arbor Day in 1913

Letchworth Garden City celebrated its first Arbor Day on 29th February 1908. The first tree of the ceremony, an oak, was planted by guest of honour and founder of Australian Arbor Day, Sir John Cockburn, followed by Ebenezer Howard planting a Hazel tree.

Despite the poor weather, boys and girls rejoiced in costume, singing ‘The Planting Song’ written by Letchworth resident, Harold Hare and given a certificate for planting a tree.  

Read more...

Letchworth Garden City and the Belgians

A family of Belgian refugees, arrivals to Letchworth in 1915

Letchworth Garden City has a strong tradition of opening its arms to welcome everyone, from the cranks and pioneers who first settled in the town, to evacuees and Jewish refugees during the Second World War, and Hungarians following the uprising in 1956. In 1914 the town hosted some cousins from Belgium.

Read more...

A Dry Town? Letchworth and Alcohol - the truth!

"Good Friar Boniface of the Vittles Inn" (Bill Furmston)

‘To Beer or not to Beer…’
Letchworth Garden City – The town that dared to say NO!

Vicky Rawlings, Curator - Collections explores the history of Letchworth and its supposed aversion to ‘the demon drink’.

Read more...

Sollershott Circus - the UK's first roundabout!

Sollershott Circus, Letchworth Garden City - the UK's first roundabout, c1936

Visitors to the world’s first Garden City may find much to amaze them – from its beautiful tree-lined streets to its unique and fascinating buildings, but many are most amazed by a small unassuming circular traffic island, with a little wooden sign which proudly proclaims it as ‘UK’s First Roundabout Built circa 1909’.

No pun intended on the word circa – it was built around 1909!

Read more...

1905 Cheap Cottages Exhibition

The 1905 Cheap Cottages Exhibition was a major early event in Letchworth Garden City - one that provided it with 120 or so innovative and attractive new houses but more importantly, attracted the publicity and attention that put the town on the map!

Find out much more in our online exhibition

Read more...

A Letchworth Garden City Timeline

Ebenezer Howard's 'Three Magnets' diagram

An early Letchworth Garden City History Timeline


1898
Ebenezer Howard’s book, ‘Tomorrow: A Peaceful Path to Real Reform’ is published

1899
Howard’s ideas are well-received and a Garden City Association is founded to promote the Garden City concept.

1901
The Garden City Association holds its first Conference in Bournville

Read more...

The Garden City Story - Port Sunlight

Aerial View of Port Sunlight

Port Sunlight was founded in 1888 on the banks of the river Mersey by soap magnate and philanthropist William Hesketh Lever for the factory workers of his firm Lever Brothers. The village was created as a model industrial village, and is now considered to be one of the finest surviving examples of early urban planning in the UK.

Read more...