Luton History: The Battle of Bond Street

At the George Hotel, Luton on Monday May 6th 1901...

By order of the Executors of the late Mr A. W. Linsell - Hat Manufacturer, 5 plots of Valuable Freehold building land fronting George Street, to be sold by Auction, with a reserve price of £1700.

Two major businessmen in the running to bid were Mr J. W. Greene the Brewer and Mr Asher Hucklesby - Hat Manufacturer.

Both eager to claim ownership, however their personalities clashed like "chalk & cheese", Mr Hucklesby a teetotal Temperance supporter and Mr Greene a profiteer from the frequented taverns.

Bond Street was a convenient alleyway led from George Street to Barbers Lane, Mr Hucklesby occupied the building on the corner of Bond Street, while Mr Greene's tavern "The Cross Keys" was situated on George Street, the rear of his tavern backed onto Bond Street.

On the day of the Auction, Mr Hucklesby attended, however Mr Greene arranged a fellow colleague Mr John Hill to bid for the purchase under the instructions he was to "Pay whatever the price to secure the land in Bond Street".

The bidding reached £2050, Mr Hucklesby walked away, Mr Greene had won the battle - or had he?

The following weeks after the auction, Mr Hucklesby continually cluttered Bond Street, numerous obstacles of huge hat boxes and carts awaiting loading blocked the lane so that nobody could get through.

Letters of complaint piled up on Mr Greene's desk regarding Mr Hucklesby's behaviour and requesting an urgent appeal to "sort things out " and resolve their problems.

Meanwhile Mr John Hill had approached Mr Greene with the idea of purchasing Bond Street for the auction price of £2050 with a possibility of a buyer prepared to pay £2500, and with Mr Greene's agreement, split the profit.

Greene pondered over the idea and after a few days accepted the proposal, a document was raised transferring Bond Street to Mr Hill , including an additional clause to reimburse the sum of £2050 plus 50% of any profit made from a sale.

A week later John Hill arranged to meet Mr Hucklesby telling him in confidence that he had himself purchased Bond Street and was now in the position to sell the land for a reasonable price of £2500 - Mr Hucklesby showed him the door saying "he had no interest in Bond Street, unless of course he was prepared to accept the reserve price - valued at £1700.

John Hill returned to Mr Greene saying "I'm afraid our arrangement between us has failed to prosper", Mr Greene showing no sympathy says "The original contract still stands, you are the legal proprietor of Bond Stree , do as you wish with it." The written agreement must be upheld, £2050 plus 50% of the profit made above the agreed price."

John Hill felt tricked into signing the contract therefore Counter Claimed for the cancellation of the agreement.

An extraordinary Court Case ensued between Mr Greene versus Mr Hill, various witnesses came forward providing evidence for both parties, however after a 3 day battle, the Judge's summing up said "he placed little reliant on certain evidence and spoke of the demeanour of witnesses in the box".

The Judge' s decision accepted Hill's statement that there was never a financial purchase of Bond Street, and gave judgement for the "Cancellation of the written agreement between Mr John Hill & Mr J. W. Greene".