Stopsley

infobox UK place

country = England
latitude= 51.899
longitude= -0.396
os_grid_reference=TL103235
official_name= Stopsley
population= 7,000 (est.). [ [http://www.bedscc.gov.uk/BedsCC/SDimr2.nsf/Web/Thepage/Population+Estimates+and+Forecasts+2005 Bedfordshire County Council: Population Estimates and Forecasts 2005] .]
region= East of England

unitary_england= Luton
lieutenancy_england= Bedfordshire
constituency_westminster= Luton South
post_town= LUTON
postcode_district = LU2
postcode_area= LU
dial_code= 01582

Stopsley is a ward (politics) 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.

Etymology

The name of Stospley comes from Scrobbale, (in Saxon;) Scrapes or Scroppeslie, (in Norman;) Shrubsley, (in English.;) meaning a hill covered with scrobbes, (shrubs or underwood.)This proves Stopsley to be of Saxon origin, corrupted by the Norman, and still more by the English language. [ The History of Luton, Frederick Davis published 1855, page 33]

Politics

Stopsley is represented by Cllr Jenny Davies (Liberal Democrats) and Cllr Michael Dolling (Liberal Democrats).The ward forms part of the parliamentary constituency of Luton South, and the MP is Margaret Moran (Labour). Stopsley is situated within the East of England (European Parliament constituency).

Local Attractions

Education

Stopsley includes the specialist Sports College Stopsley High School. Notable alumni include Monty Panesar, "the Python", cricketer.

Local Newspapers

Two weekly newspapers are delivered free to all houses in Stospley, with news about Luton and the surrounding area.
* [http://www.lutontoday.co.uk Herald and Post] (Luton based) - Delivered every Thursday
* [http://www.lsnmedia.co.uk/Luton/ Luton on Sunday] - Delivered every Sunday

References

Further readingJames Dyer, "The Stopsley Book", Book Castle, 1998, ISBN 1-871199-04-2,