Editing Leiston (section)

==History==
The 14th-century remains of [[Leiston Abbey]] lie north-west of the town.<ref name="abbey">[http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/leiston-abbey/history-and-research/ Leiston Abbey], English Heritage. Retrieved 30 March 2011.</ref>

Leiston thrived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a manufacturing town, dominated by [[Richard Garrett & Sons]], owners of Leiston Works, which boasted the world's first flow assembly line, for the manufacture of [[portable steam engine]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.industriouseast.org.uk/index.php?pageId=147&anchor=164&filter=gb |title= Long Shop Museum |access-date= 30 March 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150601151902/http://www.industriouseast.org.uk/index.php?pageId=147&anchor=164&filter=gb |archive-date= 1 June 2015 |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref name=LSM>{{Cite web |title=Richard Garrett and Sons |url=http://www.longshopmuseum.co.uk/richard-garrett-and-sons/ |website=www.longshopmuseum.co.uk |publisher=Long Shop Museum |access-date=31 March 2016}}</ref> The firm also made steam [[tractor]]s and a huge variety of cast and machined metal products, including [[munitions]] during both [[world war]]s. The works closed in 1981 and the site was reused as a mixture of housing, flats and industrial sites. The [[Long Shop Museum]], showing the history, vehicles and products of the works, remains as a heritage tourist attraction.<ref name=LSM/>

In 1927, [[A. S. Neill]] relocated [[Summerhill School]] from [[Lyme Regis]] to Leiston. This was the first major "free school" – referring to freedom in education.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Summerhill School: Brief History |url=http://www.summerhillschool.co.uk |website=www.summerhillschool.co.uk |access-date=31 March 2016}}</ref> Children are not required to attend classes and discipline is meted by pupil self-government meetings. Summerhill has inspired a large "free school" movement and more recently, [[democratic schools]] in several countries. The school occupies the former mansion of Richard Garrett, owner of Leiston Works.

In the [[Second World War]], [[RAF Leiston]], {{convert|1|mi}} north-west of the town in the neighbouring village of [[Theberton]], sent fighter squadrons of the American 357th Fighter Group to fight the [[Luftwaffe]]. Famous American test pilot and fighter ace General [[Chuck Yeager]] (later, first to break the sound barrier) flew out of RAF Leiston. The Friends of Leiston Airfield hold a [[Funeral#Memorial services|memorial service]] and flying display at the end of May each year, with veterans and their families attending.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Friends of Leiston Airfield |url=http://www.friendsofleistonairfield.co.uk |website=www.friendsofleistonairfield.co.uk |access-date=31 March 2016}}</ref>

===Notable people===
In birth order:
*[[Ranulf de Glanvill]] (died 1190), [[Chief Justiciar]] of England, founded [[Leiston Abbey]] for [[Premonstratensians|White Canons]] in 1183.
*[[Richard Garrett (1755–1839)]] founded the engineering company Richard Garrett and Sons in Leiston.
*[[Edward Buckton Lamb]] (1806–1869), architect, designed St Margaret's Church in Leiston.
*[[Newson Garrett]] (1812–1893), born in Leiston, built up the malting business whose premises were converted into the [[Snape Maltings]] concert hall.
*[[A. S. Neill]] (1883–1973), Scottish educationalist, founded the progressive [[Summerhill School]] in 1924 and moved it to Leiston in 1927. 
*[[M. E. Aldrich Rope]] (1891–1988), born and died in Leiston, was a stained-glass artist in the [[Arts and Crafts movement|Arts and Crafts]] tradition.
*[[Paxton Chadwick]] (1903–1961), artist and illustrator, taught at Summerhill and was Communist chair of Leiston Town Council.
*[[Ryan Meikle]] (born 1996), darts player