In spite of being named the first 'Garden City, ' Letchworth was
conceived as a model industrial town built on enterprise and employment.
Never intended to be merely a pleasant place to live, it needed to be
large enough to encourage the mass movement of manufacturers and their
employees from overcrowded cities and to function as a self-supporting
new town. In this richly illustrated account, Letchworth Local History
Research Group looks in detail at the town's foundation in the early
1900s and the energetic organisation and administration that enabled it
to get off the ground quickly and successfully. Based on new research
into a wealth of source material, the book puts to rest some of the
enduring myths about the garden city, revealing a nuanced picture of the
founding of a working community. The collaborative efforts of First
Garden City Ltd (FGC), the development company for the new town, are a
key focus. Extremely well-connected, experienced, and highly
influential, the senior management of FGC (including Ebenezer Howard),
together with a team of engineers as well as architects Barry Parker and
Raymond Unwin, were able to provide key infrastructure and sites for
development in keeping with a clear strategy. Naturally there were
challenges and the need for capital to maintain momentum posed
considerable difficulties. But strong leadership saw the fledgling town
through some tough periods, including the first world war. The second
part of the book comprises a detailed gazetteer of the industries that
established themselves in Letchworth in its early years, with rare
archive photographs showing both premises and workers. From printing and
publishing, to motor manufacture, foundries, clothing, and pioneering
cinematic companies, the story of Letchworth's early industry is lively
and unique.
