The People of Luton – Part One
Three brothers lived in North Street in 1891 and played for Luton Town. Francis (Frank), Harry and Alfred Whitby lived at number 83 North Street with their father who ran the family hat business. Frank is seated front row left and Harry front row right in the photo below of the 1891/92 Luton Town team photo.
The 1891 census return shows;
Francis Whitby head of household, Straw Hat manufacturer
Emma Whitby wife
Francis Whitby, son, 24 years old, Blocker
Harry Whitby, son, 22 years old, Straw hat machinist
Alfred Whitby, son, 19 years old, Straw hat machinist
Emma Whitby, daughter, 17 years old, Straw hat finisher
Alice Whitby, daughter, 14 years old, Straw hat finisher
Jesse, son, 12 years old, Errand Boy
Ezra Whitby, son 10 years old, Scholar
Harper Whitby, son, 5 years old, scholar
Holly Whitby, son,1 year old
I thought I would find out who their neighbours were.
1901 street map above shows the length and position of the street. Note the Dye Works.
I have used the 1891 census for numbers 1 to 211 North Street, High Town, Luton which was taken on the 5th April 1891. The Straw Hat manufacturing season peaked in Spring to early Summer when work was abundant and paid well. Workers from surrounding villages came to the town for the work. Of the people in the lists below 24 are described as Lodgers, 5 Boarders and 3 visitors
24 heads of the household, including Mr Whitby, describe themselves as Straw Hat manufacturers indicating that they (the family) performed the whole hat making process. This was usually performed in the house and the yard where the blocking machine would have been housed.
I will begin with a summary of my findings;
45% of men worked in the Hat Industry
54% of women worked in the Hat Industry
32% of women looked after the home/family
48% of men were born in Luton
40% of women were born in Luton
86% of children were born in Luton
Meaning
Almost 50% of the adult population worked in the hat industry.
52% of men and 60% of women were migrants to the town.
Amongst all adults, 56% were migrants to the town.
A further breakdown of place of birth;
Men
65% were born in Bedfordshire
18% were born in Hertfordshire
17% were born elsewhere
Women
67% were born in Bedfordshire
14% were born in Hertfordshire
19% were born elsewhere
Children
91% were born in Bedfordshire
3% were born in Hertfordshire
6% were born elsewhere
This photo is from 2010 and shows the terrace houses that were prevalent in most of North Street. These had a passage from the pavement to the back yard. However some houses had no passage but Mussons Path (photo below left) at the rear. This path enabled a horse and cart to deliver straw and other materials to the back yards of the houses and enable the finished hats to be taken away.
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OCCUPATIONS
Note – School leaving age was 12 for most. I have therefore included all people where an occupation is given – this includes many aged 12 or over and not “scholars” on the census.
MEN
Not Stated – 14
Pauper – 1
Invalid – 1
No work – 1
Hat Industry
Straw Hat Manufacturers – 20
Straw Hat maker – 3
Straw Hat Blocker – 50
Straw Hat Stiffener – 6
Straw Hat Polisher – 2
Straw Hat Machinist – 5
Felt Hat Finisher – 1
Straw Hat Warehouseman – 3
Straw Packer – 1
Straw Plait Collector – 4
Plait Buncher – 2
Straw Plait Dyer – 4
Straw Dyers Assistant – 1
Dyer’s Labourer – 1
Straw Hat Bleacher – 3
Straw Salesman – 1
Plait Miller – 1
Hatter – 1
Errand Boy – 8
Total Hat Industry – 117
Railways
Railway Clerk – 6
Signal Man – 1
Engine driver – 1
Signal fitter – 1
Railway Guard – 1
Railway Labourer – 2
Shops
Baker – 5
Grocer – 3
Grocers Assistant – 3
Butcher – 3
Fishmonger – 1
Green Grocer’s Assistant – 1
Shop Boy – 2
Pawnbroker’s Assistant – 2
Barber – 2
Bookbinder – 1
Cobbler – 4
Industrial
Brass Finisher – 1
Brass Founder – 2
Manufacture Assistant – 1
Lime Burner – 1
Boiler Maker – 1
Boiler maker’s Apprentice – 1
Iron Foundryman – 1
Iron Moulder – 5
Brick Maker’s Apprentice – 1
Brick Maker’s Labourer – 1
Saw Yard labourer – 1
Mechanical Engineer – 1
Trades
Plasterer – 2
Plumber – 1
Blacksmith – 1
Joiner – 1
Carpenter – 7
Stone Mason – 1
Bricklayer – 3
Bricklayer’s Apprentice – 4
Painter – 4
Coach Painter – 1
Services
Postman – 1
Teacher – 1
Tailor – 3
Range Fitter – 1
Publican – 1
Barman – 1
Coachman – 1
Others
Gun Maker – 1
Miller – 1
Mill Wright – 1
Miller’s Labourer – 1
Printer – 1
Gardener – 4
Labourer – 11
Farm Labourer – 7
House Servant – 1
Furniture Porter – 1
Cotton Merchant – 1
Assurance Agent – 1
Purveyor of Milk – 1
General Dealer – 1
Packer – 1
Librarian – 1
Canvasser – 1
Dry Salter Assistant -1 
Groom – 2
Rent Collector – 1
Coke Dealer – 1
Drapers Traveller – 1
Clerk -1
Police Constable – 2
Collector to Luton Water – 1
Gas Stoker – 1
Bit maker – 1
Clerk in Holy Orders – 1
Wagon Greaser – 1
Milkman Assistant – 1
Brewers Traveller – 1
Case maker and Packer – 1
Total 277 men.
Of the 260 working men, 117 men worked in the hat industry making 45% of the total number of men with 55% doing other varied jobs.
Note – the only person living on their own in the whole street….was the rent collector.
The Dye Works in North Street was Barford Brothers, photos below in 2017. We see from the occupations that up to 9 men from North Street may have worked there – the 4 Straw Plait dyers, the Straw Dyers Assistant and Labourer and the Straw Hat Bleachers.
WOMEN
The largest category for women on the census was blank – no occupation. In many cases this means that the woman looked after the running of the house which was quite a task with large families.
No Occupation stated – 103
Retired – 3
House work – 1
Hat Industry
Straw Hat Maker – 1
Straw Hat Manufacturer – 4
Straw Hat Sewer – 15
Straw Hat Polisher – 1
Straw Hat Lining Runner – 1
Straw Hat Finisher – 67
Straw Hat Machinist – 71
Straw Bonnet Sewer – 7
Straw Plaiter – 4
Straw Plait Bleacher – 1
Errand Girl – 1
Hat Industry Total – 173
Other Occupations
House helper – 1
General Servant – 1
Domestic Servant – 5
Domestic Aid – 1
Washerwoman – 2
Laundress – 8
Shop Attendant – 2
Grocer – 2
Green Grocer – 1
Hair Dressers Apprentice – 1
Parish Nurse – 1
Nurse – 2
Nurse Girl – 1
Dress Maker – 7
Apprentice Dress maker – 1
Total number of women – 321.
Of the 214 working women, 81% worked in the Hat Industry and 19% worked in other jobs.
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WHERE BORN
MEN
Luton – 121
Outer Luton – 22 consisting of Round Green 4, Limbury 2, Stopsley 10, Leagrave 6
Dunstable – 7
Bedfordshire – 42
Hertfordshire – 52
Other – 49 Bucks 7, London 8, Essex 4, Derbyshire 3, Oxon 2, Hants 2, Leics 2, Northants 2, Gloucs 2, Yorkshire 1, Wilts 1, Worcs 1, Birmingham 1, Berks 1, Sussex 1, Norfolk 1, Middx 1, Staffs 1, Scotland 6, Australia 1, India 1.
WOMEN
Luton – 128
Outer Luton – 10 consisting of Round Green 2, Stopsley 4, Leagrave 2, Biscot 1, Ramridge End 1.
Dunstable – 12
Hertfordshire – 46
Other – 57 Bucks 15, Northants 7, London 6, Derbyshire 3, Lincs 2, Cambs 2, Gloucs 2, Suffolk 2, Leics 2, Middx 2, Birmingham 1, Essex 1, Dorset 1, Notts 1, Lancs 1, Staffs 1, Oxon 1, Yorkshire 1, Kent 1, Hunts 1, Norfolk 1, Hants 1, Scotland 1, India 1.
Not known – 3
CHILDREN
Luton – 279
Outer Luton – 12 consisting of Round Green 2, Stopsley 8, Leagrave 2
Dunstable – 3
Bedfordshire – 13
Hertfordshire – 10
Others – 19 London 5, Derbyshire 4, Northants 2, Sussex 1, Hants 1, Berks 1, Gloucs 1, Bucks 1, Notts 1, Yorkshire 1, Scotland 1.
Men – 293 of whom 48% were born in Luton
Women – 322 of whom 40% were born in Luton
Children – 336 of whom 86% were born in Luton
Thanks to Bedfordshire Archives for the North Street photo.
Thanks to Historic England for the Mussons path photo.
Thanks to Roger Wash for the Luton Town team photo.
Other photos and the Cartes de Visite (all of which are by Luton photographers) are from my own collection.
Please feel free to use any of this for your own non profit making use – however, I would like you to mention this website so that word spreads and we can gather more information on our football club, the town and people of Luton. Many thanks.