Luton.-- mun. bor., market town, and par., Bedfordshire, 9 miles SW. of Hitchin and 31 NW. of London by rail - par., 15,435 ac., pop. 26,140; bor., 2613 ac., pop. 23,960; P.O., T.O., 2 Banks, 2 newspapers. Market-day, Monday. Luton being situated near the source of the river Lea, it is supposed that the name is a corruption of "Leatown." The town has a picturesque position, and has largely increased during recent years. It was incorporated in 1876. It is celebrated for the mfr. of straw hats and bonnets, the origin of the industry in this country being due to Mary Queen of Scots, whose son James removed the handicraft from Scotland and established its position at Luton. The Plait Hall here is a fine building.

(John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887))