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Letchworth

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A beautiful historic church in Letchworth, showcasing its architecture and place in the community.

Letchworth: The First Garden City

Letchworth is a friendly town in Hertfordshire, England. It is special because it was the very first garden city in the whole world! About 34,000 people live there today.

A New Kind of Town

Long ago, Letchworth was a tiny village. But in 1903, a man named Ebenezer Howard had a wonderful idea. He wanted to build a town where homes, jobs, and parks were all close together. This way, people could live comfortably and enjoy nature. Two architects, Raymond Unwin and Barry Parker, helped design this new town. They made sure there were lots of green spaces for everyone to enjoy.

Fun Facts and Firsts

Letchworth has many interesting firsts! It had the United Kingdom’s first roundabout, called Sollershott Circus. The town also has big areas for businesses and jobs. Because it was the first garden city, Letchworth helped shape how towns are planned all over the world. It inspired other places like Welwyn Garden City and even Canberra in Australia!

Nature and Wildlife

Letchworth is a great place for nature lovers. The town has many parks and open spaces. It is home to one of the largest groups of black squirrels in the UK. These black squirrels were first seen in Letchworth in 1912. You might also spot muntjac deer wandering around!

Images

A historic building in Letchworth designed by architects Barry Parker and Raymond Unwin, originally built as a pub in 1906 and later used as an adult education centre.
Historical diagram showing urban planning concepts from 1898 by Ebenezer Howard.
The Mrs Howard Memorial Hall, one of the first public buildings in Letchworth Garden City, built in memory of Eliza Ann Howard.
A historic meeting house for the Society of Friends, built in 1907 in Letchworth Garden City.
The Spirella Building: A beautifully restored historic factory now used by small businesses.
A charming historic cottage in Letchworth, designed by architect Percy Houfton.
The United Kingdom's first roundabout, built in 1909 in Letchworth Garden City.
The First Garden City Museum in Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire.
The historic estate office building in Letchworth Garden City, built in 1913.
A black squirrel sitting in a garden in Letchworth.
The Broadway Cinema in Letchworth is a beautiful example of art-deco architecture.
A view of St Francis' College in Letchworth, a school in Hertfordshire.

Related articles

Hertfordshire

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Letchworth, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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