LUTON  , a

market town and municipal borough in the southern or Luton parliamentary division of Bedfordshire, England, 30 M . N.W. by N. of London by the Midland railway, served also by a branch of the Great Northern . Pop . (1901) 36,404 . It lies in a narrow valley on the south flank of the Chiltern Hills, on the upper part of the river Lea . The church of St Mary is mainly Decorated, but has portions of Early English and Perpendicular work . It has brasses and monuments of interest and a late Decorated baptistery of stone, an ornate roofed structure, octagonal in form . The font within it is Early English . Luton is the principal seat in England of the straw-plait manufacture, and large quantities of hats and other straw goods have been exported, though in recent years the industry has suffered from increased foreign competition . The industry originated with the colony of straw-plaiters transplanted by James I. from Scotland, whither they had been brought from Lorraine by Queen Mary . The town has also foundries, motor car works and other manufactures . The borough is under a mayor, 6 aldermen and 18 councillors .

Area, 3133 acres .