- 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 Englandunitary_england=
Luton
lieutenancy_england=Bedfordshire
constituency_westminster= Luton South
post_town= LUTON
postcode_district = LU2
postcode_area= LU
dial_code= 01582Stopsley is a
ward (politics) in the north-east ofLuton . Originally a hill-top village settlement, most of the urbanised part of thecivil parish of Stopsley became part ofLuton when the boundaries were extended in1933 , 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 theparliamentary constituency of Luton South, and the MP isMargaret Moran (Labour). Stopsley is situated within theEast of England (European Parliament constituency) .Local Attractions
Education
Stopsley includes the specialist
Sports College Stopsley High School . Notable alumni includeMonty 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 SundayReferences
Further readingJames Dyer, "The Stopsley Book", Book Castle, 1998, ISBN 1-871199-04-2,
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