Stopsley
Encyclopedia
Stopsley is a ward in the north-east of Luton
. Originally a hill-top village settlement, most of the urbanised part of the civil parish
of Stopsley became part of Luton
when the boundaries were extended in 1933, with the rural areas going to Hyde
and Streatley
.
After the Second World War, there was a severe shortage of accommodation and to save both time and money new building materials were employed. Many of the houses built at this time used sheetmetal for the upper parts of the construction, hence the local name for part of Stopsley being 'Tintown'. Many of these houses still stand today, although over the last few years the local council has reclad some of them in brick and pebbledash.
The centre of Stopsley is made up of a series of local shops around a village church. From a distance the skyline is dominated by Jansel House, an office block built in 1961 which houses the Luton VAT
office over a parade of shops at street level. One of Luton's two cemeteries, The Vale, is located nearby on the Hitchin Road.
The centre of Stopsley Village contains many shops on either side of the road with two banks, Barclays and HSBC, Somerfield, Hendersons newsagents, Sandwich stores and Off licences/Wine stores. There are also several takeaways and restaurant including, Ashuka, Stopsley Surma, May Sek Oriental, Jay Raj Indian Cuisine, Pankaj Sor.
Also many estate and lettings agents are situated in the Stopsley Village and Jansel House area, Connors, Haart, Taylors and Acorn Residential Lettings.
There are two high schools in Stopsley, Stopsley High School and Putteridge High School.
) and Cllr Michael Dolling (Liberal Democrats
).
The ward forms part of the parliamentary constituency of Luton South
, and the MP is Gavin Shuker
(Labour
). Stopsley is situated within the East of England (European Parliament constituency)
.
, Stopsley High School
. Notable alumni include Monty Panesar
, "the Python", cricketer.
In the 1960s Stopsley Infant and Junior School pupils included Alec Jeffreys
, who went on to discover the DNA genetic fingerprint. He is now Professor of Genetics at Leicester University and was Knighted in 1994. Another pupil, David Renwick
, created the television series 'One Foot in the Grave', and 'Jonathan Creek'. Both went on to study at Luton Grammar School and Luton Sixth Form College
. The singer Paul Young
was educated at Ashcroft High School.
At Stopsley High School there is a 5-a-side football facility, Luton's finest, PlayFootball.net Luton for more information PlayFootball.net
Luton
Luton is a large town and unitary authority of Bedfordshire, England, 30 miles north of London. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 250,000....
. Originally a hill-top village settlement, most of the urbanised part of the civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of Stopsley became part of Luton
Luton
Luton is a large town and unitary authority of Bedfordshire, England, 30 miles north of London. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 250,000....
when the boundaries were extended in 1933, with the rural areas going to Hyde
Hyde, Bedfordshire
Hyde is a civil parish in the county of Bedfordshire. It lies just south-east of Luton.Most of the land to the west of the River Lea is occupied by the Luton Hoo estate, which includes West Hyde...
and Streatley
Streatley, Bedfordshire
Streatley is a village and civil parish in the Central Bedfordshire district of Bedfordshire, England.-Geography:Streatley is situated just to the west of the A6, and is the first village on the A6 north of Luton, being about north of central Luton...
.
After the Second World War, there was a severe shortage of accommodation and to save both time and money new building materials were employed. Many of the houses built at this time used sheetmetal for the upper parts of the construction, hence the local name for part of Stopsley being 'Tintown'. Many of these houses still stand today, although over the last few years the local council has reclad some of them in brick and pebbledash.
The centre of Stopsley is made up of a series of local shops around a village church. From a distance the skyline is dominated by Jansel House, an office block built in 1961 which houses the Luton VAT
Value added tax
A value added tax or value-added tax is a form of consumption tax. From the perspective of the buyer, it is a tax on the purchase price. From that of the seller, it is a tax only on the "value added" to a product, material or service, from an accounting point of view, by this stage of its...
office over a parade of shops at street level. One of Luton's two cemeteries, The Vale, is located nearby on the Hitchin Road.
The centre of Stopsley Village contains many shops on either side of the road with two banks, Barclays and HSBC, Somerfield, Hendersons newsagents, Sandwich stores and Off licences/Wine stores. There are also several takeaways and restaurant including, Ashuka, Stopsley Surma, May Sek Oriental, Jay Raj Indian Cuisine, Pankaj Sor.
Also many estate and lettings agents are situated in the Stopsley Village and Jansel House area, Connors, Haart, Taylors and Acorn Residential Lettings.
There are two high schools in Stopsley, Stopsley High School and Putteridge High School.
Etymology
Frederick Davis, writing in 1855, believed the name of Stospley to come from Scrobbale, (in Saxon;) Scrapes or Scroppeslie, (in Norman;) Shrubsley, (in English.;) meaning a hill covered with scrobbes, (shrubs or underwood.) Most modern etymologists consider the name to be made up of two elements 'Stopp' and 'ley'. dating between AD 750 and AD 950. The ending comes from the Old English 'leah' meaning a wood or clearing in a wood. 'Stopp' was a personal name and indicated ownership of the wood or clearing.Politics
Stopsley is represented by Cllr Jenny Davies (Liberal DemocratsLiberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
) and Cllr Michael Dolling (Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
).
The ward forms part of the parliamentary constituency of Luton South
Luton South (UK Parliament constituency)
Luton South is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
, and the MP is Gavin Shuker
Gavin Shuker
Gavin Shuker is an English Labour Co-operative politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Luton South since 2010. Shuker successfully defended the seat after his predecessor Margaret Moran stood down following controversy over her expenses.-Education:A Lutonian, Shuker was educated at...
(Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
). Stopsley is situated within the East of England (European Parliament constituency)
East of England (European Parliament constituency)
East of England is a constituency of the European Parliament. It currently elects 7 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.- Boundaries :...
.
Local attractions
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Whipsnade Wildlife Park
Education
Stopsley includes the specialist Sports CollegeSports College
Sports Colleges were introduced in 1997 as part of the Specialist Schools Programme in the United Kingdom. The system enables secondary schools to specialise in certain fields, in this case, PE, sports and dance. Schools that successfully apply to the Specialist Schools Trust and become Sports...
, Stopsley High School
Stopsley High School
Stopsley High School is located in the centre of Stopsley near the regional sports centre .It is well established 11-16 mixed Comprehensive and Community College. Since September 2002...
. Notable alumni include Monty Panesar
Monty Panesar
Mudhsuden Singh Panesar, known as Monty Panesar , is an English cricketer who currently plays for Sussex. A left-arm spinner, Panesar played Test and one-day cricket for England until 2009. In English county cricket he played for Northamptonshire until 2009...
, "the Python", cricketer.
In the 1960s Stopsley Infant and Junior School pupils included Alec Jeffreys
Alec Jeffreys
Sir Alec John Jeffreys, FRS is a British geneticist, who developed techniques for DNA fingerprinting and DNA profiling which are now used all over the world in forensic science to assist police detective work, and also to resolve paternity and immigration disputes...
, who went on to discover the DNA genetic fingerprint. He is now Professor of Genetics at Leicester University and was Knighted in 1994. Another pupil, David Renwick
David Renwick
David Peter Renwick is an English television writer, best known for creation of the sitcom One Foot in the Grave and the mystery series Jonathan Creek....
, created the television series 'One Foot in the Grave', and 'Jonathan Creek'. Both went on to study at Luton Grammar School and Luton Sixth Form College
Luton Sixth Form College
Luton Sixth Form College is a sixth form college situated in Luton, Bedfordshire, England.-Admissions:It is noted for its multiethnic population; 62% of the College's students are from minority ethnic groups.-History:...
. The singer Paul Young
Paul Young (singer and guitarist)
Paul Antony Young is an English pop musician. Formerly the frontman of the short-lived bands Kat Kool & The Kool Cats, Streetband and Q-Tips, his following solo success as a solo recording artist turned him into a 1980s teenage pop idol...
was educated at Ashcroft High School.
At Stopsley High School there is a 5-a-side football facility, Luton's finest, PlayFootball.net Luton for more information PlayFootball.net
Local newspapers
Two weekly newspapers are delivered free to all houses in Stospley, with news about Luton and the surrounding area.- Herald and Post (Luton based) - Delivered every Thursday
- Luton on Sunday - Delivered every Sunday
Further reading
- James Dyer, The Stopsley Book, Book Castle, 2nd Edn. 2005, ISBN 1 903747-65-1.
- James Dyer, The Stopsley Picture Book, Book Castle. 2002, ISBN 1-871199-94-8.
- Keith T. Norcott, Chalk on my Shoes, Book Castle, 2006, ISBN 1 903747 68 6