Example 1
Debenhams, Market Hill, Luton |
Example 2
A view of the current day site of RBS, with The Red Lion pub to the left, behind the tree. |
An older view of what the above scene used to look like. You can clearly make out the bottom floor windows of the pub to the left on both pictures. |
Example 3
The Mall / Arndale Extension |
Example 4
Park Square, Luton |
Some of the buildings to the left thankfully survived the wrecking ball during the 1960's / 1970's and can be seen in the above photograph from the present day. |
Example 5
Charter House, St Georges' Square, Luton |
Example 6
Example 7
Cresta House, Luton. Situated just across the road from the above mentioned Charter House. |
Backside of Cresta House, showing the aforementioned Charter House as well. |
The old Cresta Ballroom and before that, The Alma Theatre used to be located on the same site. |
Nothing like destroying a bit of theatre and a bit of culture and replacing it with a 1960's tower block, eh? |
Example 8
View of Market Hill, Luton |
Market Hill, Luton with the old Corn Exchange towering down over proceedings. Many other towns have kept their old Corn Exchanges with them being utilised for various other uses. Some are now bars and restaurants, others are art galleries whilst others house indoor markets or shopping arcades. Why did Luton feel the need to be different? Example 9 Mill Street, Luton. The present day photograph listed below (and taken from Google Street View) is roughly of the location of the former Theatre which used to reside on this street. Sadly, the Theatre closed to be replaced by a bingo hall which itself was destroyed by a fire in the 1980's. Example 10 At the top of King Street, where the third building from the right is in the photograph below, King Street Congregational Church used to reside. Unfortunately, its spire was in need of repair and it wasn't deemed cost effective to rectify its problems. With the benefit of hindsight, it now seems a short sighted idea. Additional Links For further reading, please visit the excellent The Luton I Remember facebook group, which has an additional 600+ photographs. Alternatively, you can also visit the equally excellent Luton Then and Now facebook group, which offers direct comparisons between present day Luton and the past. |