Hockwell Ring
Encyclopedia
Hockwell Ring is a 1950s and 1960s built council estate in the Leagrave
area of Luton
, Bedfordshire
. The estate was built as part of the post-war
expansion of Luton, at a similar time to Marsh Farm
. Hockwell Ring is not a particularly large estate. The area ties into much of the neighbouring 1930’s developments and is reasonably well connected to the rest of the town.
The estate is dominated by 4 large towers, which are of similar design, 15 stories high, and top out at 44.20 m each, these can be seen clearly from the M1 motorway
southbound carriageway just before Junction 11, which passes close to the estate.
The tower blocks were constructed in 1965 – 1966, at roughly the same time as the rest of the estate and are typical examples of the British
brutalist approach to 1960s high-rise living. They dominate the skyline
of that part of the town, and along with the towers in Marsh Farm and the town centre are the tallest buildings in the town and county. At the centre of the estate is a small shopping centre, park, and other facilities, doctors dentist etc.
The tower blocks are currently undergoing some refurbishment to the exterior.
Like many other estates of the 1960s Hockwell Ring was seen as a vision for the future, however by the 1990s the reality was very different. House prices in the area had fallen dramatically and the estate had developed a very real image problem. However in more recent times house prices have risen and the estate is seeing some improvements.
), Cllr Sheila Roden (Labour
) and Cllr Desline Stewart (Labour
).
The ward forms part of the parliamentary constituency of Luton North
, and the MP is Kelvin Hopkins
(Labour
). Leagrave is within the East of England (European Parliament constituency)
.
Leagrave
For other uses see Leagrave Leagrave is a former village and now a suburb of Luton in Bedfordshire in the northwest of the town. Connected by train from Leagrave station into London and Bedford by First Capital Connect...
area 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....
, Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
. The estate was built as part of the post-war
Post-war
A post-war period or postwar period is the interval immediately following the ending of a war and enduring as long as war does not resume. A post-war period can become an interwar period or interbellum when a war between the same parties resumes at a later date...
expansion of Luton, at a similar time to Marsh Farm
Marsh farm
Marsh Farm is a large housing estate in Luton, Bedfordshire near to Leagrave and Limbury, mainly of council and social housing.The estate was built in the late 1960s, with a mixture of flats and houses as part of the post-war expansion of Luton. The estates at Farley Hill, Hockwell Ring and...
. Hockwell Ring is not a particularly large estate. The area ties into much of the neighbouring 1930’s developments and is reasonably well connected to the rest of the town.
M1 motorway
The M1 is a north–south motorway in England primarily connecting London to Leeds, where it joins the A1 near Aberford. While the M1 is considered to be the first inter-urban motorway to be completed in the United Kingdom, the first road to be built to motorway standard in the country was the...
southbound carriageway just before Junction 11, which passes close to the estate.
The tower blocks were constructed in 1965 – 1966, at roughly the same time as the rest of the estate and are typical examples of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
brutalist approach to 1960s high-rise living. They dominate the skyline
Skyline
A skyline is the overall or partial view of a city's tall buildings and structures consisting of many skyscrapers in front of the sky in the background. It can also be described as the artificial horizon that a city's overall structure creates. Skylines serve as a kind of fingerprint of a city, as...
of that part of the town, and along with the towers in Marsh Farm and the town centre are the tallest buildings in the town and county. At the centre of the estate is a small shopping centre, park, and other facilities, doctors dentist etc.
The tower blocks are currently undergoing some refurbishment to the exterior.
Like many other estates of the 1960s Hockwell Ring was seen as a vision for the future, however by the 1990s the reality was very different. House prices in the area had fallen dramatically and the estate had developed a very real image problem. However in more recent times house prices have risen and the estate is seeing some improvements.
Local Schools and Education
- Leagrave Primary School, Strangers Way
- Beechwood Primary School, Linden Road
- Moorlands School, Leagrave Hall
- Lealands High School, Sundon Park Road
- Leagrave Library, Marsh Road
- Gill Blowers Nursery School. Mossdale Court
Politics
Hockwell Ring falls into the Leagrave ward is represented by Cllr Derrick Patten (LabourLabour 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...
), Cllr Sheila Roden (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...
) and Cllr Desline Stewart (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...
).
The ward forms part of the parliamentary constituency of Luton North
Luton North (UK Parliament constituency)
Luton North 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.-Boundaries:...
, and the MP is Kelvin Hopkins
Kelvin Hopkins
Kelvin Peter Hopkins is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Luton North since 1997.-Background:...
(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...
). Leagrave is 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
Local Newspapers
Two weekly newspapers are delivered free to all the houses in the area. However they are not specific to Hockwell Ring. They are:- Herald and Post - Delivered every Thursday
- Luton on Sunday- Delivered every Sunday