Letchworth road named as one of Britain’s most historic streets

Broadway in Letchworth GC has been named as one of the most historic streets (Image: Archant)

The Broadway in Letchworth GC has been included in a new book which identifies 50 of Britain and Ireland’s most historic streets.

Broadway in Letchworth GC as it appears today (Image: Archant)

The book entitled Historic Streets and Squares chronicles the evolution of the British street from its humble origins in early settlements through to the arrival of the Romans, who transformed the road network.

Many streets on the list date from the eighteenth and early nineteenth century, but the Broadway is one of the later developments included.

The tree-lined boulevard was built between 1909-11 and was originally known as Main Avenue. At its widest, it is flanked with two double rows of trees and some of Letchworth GC’s finest buildings such as St Francis College and the nearby Broadway Cinema.

The road also leads to the UK’s first roundabout, Sollershott Circus.

Author Melanie Backe-Hansen, a historian specialising in housing, selected the streets for their character or historical significance.

She said: “Some of these places are now protected and preserved, but many of these streets are still changing and evolving, as they have done down the years. They tell the story of Britain.”

Josh Tidy, curator at the First Garden City Heritage Museum, said: “Broadway is one of Letchworth Garden City’s most significant and symbolic streets. Along the course of its tree-lined sweep into the heart of the town sit beautiful houses, community spaces, institutes of learning, religion and culture, as well as the shops and facilities that serve this, the world’s first Garden City – in essence, it is Letchworth in a nutshell.”

Of the 50 streets selected, 24 are in London, 46 are English streets, with only two from Scotland, and one each from Wales and Ireland.

The book is available to buy from www.amazon.co.uk