Car Hire in Stevenage

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The New Town's Act became law on 1st August 1946 and Stevenage was designated as Britain's first new town on 11th November 1946. The new town was planned around Old Stevenage and was based on six residential neighbourhoods. The neighbourhoods were designed to be self contained, each with its own schools, health facilities, shops, community centres and church. Each was anticipated to house 10 - 12,000 people. Progress was managed by the Stevenage Development Corporation, until 1980, when it was wound up and responsibility for the town was handed over to Stevenage Borough Council.

Bedwell was the first neighbourhood to be developed in 1952 and in common with later neighbourhoods, much effort was made to retain the history of the area and local character. In 1953 the Twin Foxes public house opened, named after identical twin poachers Ebenezer and Albert Fox, who often escaped their frequent encounters with the constabulary by providing alibis for each other. Despite this, they did spend time in prison where the attracted the attention of Sir Edward Henry who used twins, including the Foxes, to prove that an individual could be identified by his fingerprints.

Housing development in Broadwater began in 1953 and centred on Shephalbury Park, the site of a Gothic style mansion and former home to the Node and Heathcoate families. Building in Shephall started in the same year and developed around the original village green.

Development of the Chells area began in the 1960s in the midst of natural woodland. Anglican congregations used four converted vehicle garages for their services until St Hugh's church was consecrated in 1965. The neighbouring pub was named The Swan at the suggestion of the priest in charge of St Hugh's, because the bird is the emblem of the church's patron saint.

The Oval complex at Pin Green was the first example in Britain of a public body and the church getting together to create a community centre and church in one building. The church was also the first in England to be shared by Anglicans, Roman Catholics and Methodists. A similar facility can be found in Symonds Green, a newer development which borders onto an ancient hamlet common. To the north of Pin Green is the neighbourhood of St Nicholas and to the east of the town, the new area of Poplars is developing rapidly with many new houses being built.

The pedestrianised town centre was the first traffic free shopping zone in Britain. The main shopping area, Queensway, was officially named by Her Majesty the Queen in 1959. To commemorate the visit, the Queen unveiled a panel on the illuminated clock tower which stands in an ornamental pool in the Town Square. The Town Square contains interesting examples of architecture of the time and is now designated a conservation area. With benches and groups of trees and tubs of flowers and shrubs, it provides a pleasant place for shoppers to rest.

The main feature is 'Joyride', a mother and child bronze statue by sculptor Franta Belsky, which stands on the Town Square platform. It was unveiled in 1958 by the late Sir David Bowes Lyon, uncle of the Queen.

In 1962 the A1(M) bypass opened and the Great North Road no longer runs through the town.
Today, major retailers, including Marks and Spencer, Woolworth, BHS, WH Smith and Boots can be found both in the town centre and the adjacent Westgate Centre, a modern covered shopping area which opened in 1988.

Close to the town centre is St George's Church, now renamed after St Andrew and St George. It is the largest Anglican church to be built in Britain since the war (apart from Coventry Cathedral) and is an interesting example of modern church design.

Preserving the character of the Old Town has been an important consideration as the new town has developed. The High Street has retained its original appearance as a village street and many fine buildings still exist, originating from the fifteenth century onwards.

The High Street is now a conservation area and Stevenage Borough Council was awarded a special commendation from the Civic Trust for efforts to preserve the High Street, when an improvement scheme was carried out in 1975.