Marsh Farm

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Marsh Farm

Coordinates: 51.9169° N 0.453° W
Population	10,000 (est.)
OS grid reference	TL0523
Unitary authority	Luton
Ceremonial county	Bedfordshire
Region	East
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LUTON
Postcode district	LU4
Dial code	01582
Police	Bedfordshire
Fire	Bedfordshire and Luton
Ambulance	East of England
UK Parliament	Luton North
European Parliament	East of England
List of places: UK • England

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 Stopsley were all built at about the same time. The council owned tower blocks that dominate the estate are called Lea Bank, Penhill and Five Springs, each are of a similar design and are 15 floors each reaching a total height of 44.20m.

The estate takes its name from the farm that owned much of the land that eventually became the estate. Marsh Farm was located by Leagrave Marsh and part of the old farmland is now Leagrave Park.

There are several schools and there is a leisure centre as well as a few popular play areas.

The estate was infamous in July 1995 when the social problems on the estate boiled over into three days of rioting. Local police received the help of the Metropolitan Police riot squad to bring the situation under control.There are no news reports about the riots available on the internet.The 1995 riots followed simliar riots in the area in 1992.

Whilst many parts of the estate still look like a typical depressing 1960s development money is pouring in. The estate has £50m of European money available for re-development and plans are being drawn up by the local council and other interested parties.

1 Purley Centre
2 Transport
3 Local schools and education
4 Politics
5 Local attractions
6 Local newspapers
7 Marsh Farm in the media
8 External links

[edit] Purley Centre

The Purley Centre(LU3) is the main focal point in Marsh Farm. The centre is a council owned shopping centre with another multi-story block of flats above. There are several newsagents, a bakers, a library and many other things in the shopping centre, with a few other shops located outside. There is a pub outside the centre, and a market is held every Thursday which brings people from across Luton to Marsh Farm.

[edit] Transport

Marsh Farm is well connected by bus with regular services to Luton Town Centre. The estate benefits from the M1 as well connections to the A6. Luton Airport is within 3 miles.

Leagrave railway station is a 20 minute walk from Marsh Farm and there are frequent trains to Luton, St Albans, Bedford, London and Brighton.