Warden Hill, Luton Explained

Country:England
Coordinates:51.916°N -0.422°W
Official Name:Warden Hill
Os Grid Reference:TL085253
Region:East of England
Unitary England:Luton
Lieutenancy England:Bedfordshire
Constituency Westminster:Luton North
Post Town:LUTON
Postcode District:LU2
Postcode Area:LU
Dial Code:01582

Warden Hill is a suburb of Luton, about 3miles north of the town centre, in Bedfordshire, England. It is roughly bounded by Central Bedfordshire to the north; Enderby Road, the A6 and Weybourne Drive to the south; Birdsfoot Lane, Grasmere Road, Icknield Way, and the A6 to the west; and Warden Hill and Galley Hill to the east.

History

Warden Hill is named after the hill overlooking it. Formerly part of the parish of Streatley, Warden Hill was a small hamlet centred on the junction of Icknield Way and the A6 until the 1960s.[1] Nearby Galley Hill was formerly a place of public execution.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Warden Hill grew to be a small village,[2] until Luton grew around it in the late 1980s and 1990s.

Local area

Warden Hill Infant and Junior schools are in the area, as well as Luton's only Catholic secondary school, Cardinal Newman. There is also a church and community centre, a golf course and a pub, The Warden Tavern.

Geography

Neighbouring areas of Warden Hill are Bramingham to the west, and Bushmead and Runfold to the south.

Galley Hill and Warden Hill overlook the area, the latter being the higher and wider of the two. The hills are designated a local nature reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest. There are a number of rare species, including butterflies, moths and flowers. The Icknield Way Path passes through the hills on its 110miles route from Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire to Knettishall Heath in Suffolk.

Politics

Warden Hill is split between Bramingham and Icknield wards in Luton, and is represented by Cllr Gilbert Campbell (Conservative) and Cllr John Young (Conservative).

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

Local newspapers

Two weekly newspapers cover Warden Hill, although they are not specific to the area.

References

  1. Web site: Map of the area 1946.
  2. Web site: BBC - Domesday Reloaded . Map in 1986.
  3. https://www.lutontoday.co.uk Herald and Post
  4. https://www.lutontoday.co.uk Luton News