Did You Know?

The population of the people in Stevenage was increased from time to time. In 1801, the town was inhabited by 1,430 people. In 1901, there were 4,049 people who lived here. In 2001, it was occupied by 79,724 residents. In 2007, the census found out that there were 84,651 people who inhabited the town.

Stevenage sits thirty miles north of London - but even at that distance the capital’s long shadow is still keenly felt. Built in the aftermath of the Second World War, and bestowed with the odd distinction of being “The World's First New Town”, it is a place indelibly marked by the unique historical, geographical and social circumstance that created it. 

In 1801, the population of the town was recorded 1,400 by the first census of Stevenage. A disastrous fire struck Stevenage during 1807 and 1829, the population was rapidly increasing, National schools for boys and girls were opened in 1834 locals had gas light in 1855 and piped water-system in 1887.

There are various sport figures that come from Stevenage. Those are Lewis Hamilton, Ashley Young, Kevin Phillip, and Ian Poulter.

Initially, the town was named ‘Stith ac’ which translates to ‘Oak’, it’s not the first town/village to be named after oak or milk (referring to Market Harborough). According to online sources, Saxons used oak and other trees for meeting and gathering. Thus, the village received its name ‘Stevenage’.

Seventy years ago, Stevenage in Hertfordshire was designated the UK's first New Town. Devised as a radical solution to London's post-war housing crisis, the aim behind its creation was ambitious.

Stevenage lies near the line of the Roman road from Verulamium to Baldock. Some Romano-British remains were discovered during the building of the New Town, and a hoard of 2,000 silver Roman coins was discovered in 1986 during new house building in the Chells Manor area.

Stevenage's prosperity came in part from the North Road, which was turnpiked in the early 18th century. Many inns in the High Street served the stage coaches, 21 of which passed through Stevenage each day in 1800

Stevenage was the setting for two feature films, Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush (1967) and Boston Kickout (1995). Stevenage was the filming location, though not the on-screen setting, for two other films, Serious Charge (1959) and Spy Game (2001), standing in as the Washington, D.C.