A walk along Station Road before 1914

Late Victorian and Edwardian houses on the northern side, from Carlton Road to Marquis Lane corner

By Rosemary Ross

Before the railway bridge was built, Stakers Lane must have climbed gently to the watershed at Granary Lane.  The 1879 map just shows entrances to the station goods yard and to Breadcroft Lane.  The embankment walls were built in the 1880s when the improved Station Road cut into the hillside, with spurs into Milton Road (where land was sold for building in 1884/5), Carlton Road (where land for building was auctioned in 1898), Breadcroft Lane, Devonshire Road and Cornwall Road (land auctioned in 1884/5).

The terrace of houses on Carlton Bank was built by E C Jarvis between 1910-13.  Near the corner of Breadcroft Lane were Croft Nurseries, with a substantial detached house, owned by James MacDonald, who later moved to 29 Station Road.  This has been replaced by Croft Court, accessed from Breadcroft Lane.  Two pairs of Edwardian houses (58-64).

On the corner with Devonshire Road was Excelsior Nursery, with glasshouses (replaced in 1936/7 by houses) - alongside No. 66. 

The plot on which Kinloch Court stands was, in 1901, 'an ink factory'.  From there onwards lay fields belonging to Little Crosthwaite Farm - known as Elliswick fields - sold in 1923 to E C Jarvis for housing development. 

Photo:Mr Buck's shop, Station Road

Mr Buck's shop, Station Road

Luton Museum

Below Manland Avenue, land forming part of the former Manland Common came on the market in 1884, and from then on houses were developed from 118 eastwards.  Nearly all still stand except for Bolton Lodge (120-124) and Mr Buck's shop - The Great Northern Grocery Stores - on land now occupied by 148-154 Station Road.

The sequence of modern photos below picks out most of the Victorian and Edwardian houses.  Many or these featured in the exhibition mounted by residents in 2000.  For some houses there is substantial documentation in our archives and more stories to tell.

Photo:Carlton Bank, Station Road, built by EC Jarvis c.1910

Carlton Bank, Station Road, built by EC Jarvis c.1910

John Marlow, 2011

Photo:58 and 60 Station Road, with site of 56, now Croft Court flats

58 and 60 Station Road, with site of 56, now Croft Court flats

LHS archive RB170

Photo:62 and 64 Station Road - their origins to be explored

62 and 64 Station Road - their origins to be explored

LHS archive RB170

Photo:No 66 Station Road was built in 1891. By 1914 Excelsior Nursery was established on the land adjoining Devonshire Road

No 66 Station Road was built in 1891. By 1914 Excelsior Nursery was established on the land adjoining Devonshire Road

Les Casey, 1990; LHS archive 0002749

Photo:No 118 Station Road (Ardendene), built in c. 1911 by Henry Salisbury for Susie Salisbury, who owned it until 1959. The house was originally lit by gas; wires beneath the floor-boards & marks on the walls indicated a bell system for summoning a serving wench.

No 118 Station Road (Ardendene), built in c. 1911 by Henry Salisbury for Susie Salisbury, who owned it until 1959. The house was originally lit by gas; wires beneath the floor-boards & marks on the walls indicated a bell system for summoning a serving wench.

Les Casey, 2000; RB 171

Photo:Manland Cottage, 126 Station Road, the earliest NE part built in c.1901 by Henry Salisbury. Plans of land sales show the original size of the gardens, with tennis court (on site of No.124)

Manland Cottage, 126 Station Road, the earliest NE part built in c.1901 by Henry Salisbury. Plans of land sales show the original size of the gardens, with tennis court (on site of No.124)

Les Casey, 2000; RB 171

Photo:130 Station Road, built in c 1911 by Henry Salisbury, with 128 adjoining

130 Station Road, built in c 1911 by Henry Salisbury, with 128 adjoining

Les Casey, 2000; RB 171

Photo:136 Station Road, built by Mr Theobald in 1897 on land he bought from Henry Salisbury in 1884. He also built 132 (Lea Cottage) and 134 (Myrtle Cottage) for his daughters

136 Station Road, built by Mr Theobald in 1897 on land he bought from Henry Salisbury in 1884. He also built 132 (Lea Cottage) and 134 (Myrtle Cottage) for his daughters

Les Casey, 2000; RB 171

Photo:138 Station Road (Oak Cottage), built between 1884 & 1896. Owned by Jesse Hall from 1896. His daughter, Florence Reece & son Ronald Hall (postman) described their memories of their neighbours at 140, when Esterhazy's identity was revealed in 1923 (see Major Estahazy in "People".

138 Station Road (Oak Cottage), built between 1884 & 1896. Owned by Jesse Hall from 1896. His daughter, Florence Reece & son Ronald Hall (postman) described their memories of their neighbours at 140, when Esterhazy's identity was revealed in 1923 (see Major Estahazy in "People".

Les Casey, 2000; RB 171

Photo:140 Station Road (The Elms), built in c.1894, probably by Henry Salisbury. From c.1911-13 the house was rented (from Walter Joseph Pigott, farmer of Thrales End) by Count de Voilement (Major Esterhazy) before he moved to 21 Milton Road

140 Station Road (The Elms), built in c.1894, probably by Henry Salisbury. From c.1911-13 the house was rented (from Walter Joseph Pigott, farmer of Thrales End) by Count de Voilement (Major Esterhazy) before he moved to 21 Milton Road

Les Casey, 2000; RB 171

Photo:146 Station Road, built by Henry Salisbury in 1903, on land owned by Sophie Radwell who owned 140. First known as "Riverside".

146 Station Road, built by Henry Salisbury in 1903, on land owned by Sophie Radwell who owned 140. First known as "Riverside".

Les Casey, 2000; RB 171

Photo:Nene Cottages, 156-162 Station Road, built in 1887, by G & R Hall (according to the drain cover at 162), for workers on the Great Northern Railway company.

Nene Cottages, 156-162 Station Road, built in 1887, by G & R Hall (according to the drain cover at 162), for workers on the Great Northern Railway company.

Les Casey, 2000; RB 171

Photo:164-170 Station Road, Nene Cottages - perhaps the earlier set of railway workers' cottages?

164-170 Station Road, Nene Cottages - perhaps the earlier set of railway workers' cottages?

Les Casey, 2000; RB 171

Photo:172 Station Road, built as a shop in 1907. First a butchers, then by 1911 a dairy; later Almonds general store (until 1958)

172 Station Road, built as a shop in 1907. First a butchers, then by 1911 a dairy; later Almonds general store (until 1958)

Les Casey, 2000; RB 171

Photo:The Railway Inn (formerly Great Northern Inn, licensee John Jacob Buck from 1884-1904)

The Railway Inn (formerly Great Northern Inn, licensee John Jacob Buck from 1884-1904)

LHS Archives

This page was added by Rosemary Ross on 12/09/2011.
Comments about this page

Manland Cottage was my family's home for over two generations. My mothers family - the Wrays - moved there in the early 1920s from a cottage further down the road. I can't remember the number of the original cottage but it bore a stained glass window depicting my mother and her brother as toddlers  - Marian and Martin Wray. They moved to Manland cottage and my mother only sold the house in about 1980. I remember the tennis court, the summer house in the little back courtyard with its shutters, and the garden which went all the way down to Manland Avenue. Also on the left hand side of the house was another expanse of wild garden. My mother, Marian Hughes, who recently died at the age of 93, sold off a lot of the garden, including tennis court, orchard and the wild bit to developers to my regret. I would love to know what the house looks like now inside. It was gorgeous! Although I live in London I still visit Harpenden to go to our original dental surgery!

By charmian hughes
On 15/03/2012

I lived at 146 Station Road for my first 25 years. It was known as "Riversdale". I don't believe that the house was ever "Riverside" as there is no river nearby

By George Wolfe
On 14/08/2012

We have lived at 154 Station Rd. since 1979, the site of AJ Buck's shop, and about 5 years ago I found a silvery metal disc in the garden......it was engraved " A.J. Buck. Station Rd . Harpenden.( Possibly a dog tag? ) It now belongs to the society.

By Susan Carr
On 25/06/2013
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