From brickmaking to the future home of Universal Studios, Stewartby has more than one reason to celebrate its milestone 100-year anniversary.

Stewartby will mark its proud industrial heritage, dating back a century, with a community celebration on Saturday, July 4 – and a landmark announcement about its future as the proposed home of the Universal Destinations & Experiences UK Resort project.

The celebrations will take place from noon to 10pm at the Dave Law Sports Ground bringing together residents and visitors for a full day of entertainment, food, and festivities. Entry and parking will be free.

The event will feature a traditional village fun fair, artisan stalls, street food vendors, bars, live music performances from local bands, and a DJ set into the evening. The day will conclude with a large-scale fireworks display to mark both the centenary and the beginning of Stewartby’s next chapter.

Stewartby Brickworks closed in 2008 after over 100 years of brickmaking in the area.

placeholder image — Stewartby Brickworks closed in 2008 after over 100 years of brickmaking in the area.

Stewartby’s history is deeply rooted in its brickmaking legacy and planned village origins, making it one of the most distinctive communities in Bedfordshire.

The village was established in the 1920s fs a model village for the London Brick Company, which was the largest brickworks in the world at the time. The village was designed based on the 'Garden City' principles by architect FW Walker, aiming to provide a pleasant living environment for workers .

In 1937, Wootton Pillinge was officially renamed Stewartby in honour of Sir Malcolm Stewart, a director of the London Brick Company. The village was built to accommodate the influx of workers needed for the brick production, which was booming due to the high demand for bricks in the UK.

At its peak the brickworks produced around 500 million bricks annually and employed approximately 2,000 people with the iconic chimneys (since demolished) remaining as a notable feature of the landscape.

The brickworks closed in 2008 with the site redeveloped for housing.

A detailed timeline of the village’s development and heritage can be found through the Stewartby historical archive maintained by the parish council.

Looking ahead, the proposed Universal UK Resort development represents a significant potential transformation for the area, bringing global attention and long-term investment to the region while aiming to integrate with the local community and landscape.

For further information about Stewartby’s heritage, visit the Stewartby history timeline or contact Cllr Lee Melville [email protected]