Let’s ditch the Austin Maxi for a gentler way to travel: cycling round the 1950s bike lanes of Stevenage, discovering the joys of a well planned town, with Stevenage-born historian Gareth Edwards.

Stevenage in Hertfordshire was Britain’s first post-war new town, designated in 1946. Initially overseen by Clough Williams-Ellis (founder of Portmeirion) and his communist deputy Dr Monica Felton, they were soon replaced by other ambitious planners and builders, not least engineer Eric Claxton, who designed the town’s elegant road network and invented – yes invented – the cycle lane.

Discover why the development corporation had to translate the town guide into dutch, the splendour of its traffic-free shopping precinct, and how the town was robbed of its dignity once the local authority took over maintaining it.

After all of that excitement, we take a break with a corned beef sandwich – a food from simpler times – and discuss its military value, its US name of bully beef, and its baffling key.

So enjoy an episode of post-war optimism, Festival of Britain-era design, and absolute stodge, as we potter about pointing at things and attempt to stop Gareth’s cats stealing the show.

Gareth Edwards hosts The Untitled History Podcast. You can follow him on Bluesky at @garius.bsky.social or game with him on Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/gariusthebrit or YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@GariusTheBrit

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