DOWN YOUR WAY
and you can see various aspects of past architectural importance in many buildings that have been home to a variety of businesses that have, on the whole, long disappeared. One company with a history of
trade dating back to 1817 is John Bull. Originally trading from what had previously been a butcher’s shop in Ram Yard, John Bull established a gun maker’s, a silversmith’s and a jeweller’s. The firm, which had once been contractors to the government for many years, was turned over to the manufacture of fuses during World War I. It also supplied the presentation plate presented by the Borough of Bedford to the crew of the ill-fated airship R101. Bedford has three sons of notable
continued from page 10
Square during the thirteenth century that a marketplace was situated. However, we need to jump forward a few centuries to the first thirty years of the nineteenth century to witness the beginning of the rapid development of Bedford. Trade at this time included the manufacture of straw plait and thread lace, together with a river trade
traces of antiquity throughout the town
‘
in grains, timber and coal, and by the middle of the century the manufacture of agricultural implements and breweries figured strongly. Despite this development, Bedford maintained - as it still does to this day - an attractive, even rural, appearance. Bedford still retains traces of
antiquity throughout the town centre 1 County Life 2
Images Top: The statue of John Howard - in deep thought - looks down on the town folk keeping a watchful eye on a changing vista.
Above: River boats and cruisers that moor to take a welcome break also soak up the beauty this location.
Images: Copyright 2018 Alan Humphreys Bedford still retains
repute: John Bunyan, John Howard and Sir William Harper. There is no tangible connection between them but perhaps their philosophy of life was similar. John Bunyan was born at Harrowden just south of Bedford in 1628. A preacher and a writer, he is the best known of the three for his book, Pilgrim’s Progress; still in great demand today. He also wrote many other works, some of which are more on the lines of a longish sermon, but they are full of food for thought nonetheless. Bunyan was imprisoned in the county jail for twelve years for preaching without licence but was allowed to earn a few coppers for his family by making bootlaces. The philanthropist John Howard
was born in north London in 1726; a relative of the Southill Whitbread
Sheriff of Bedfordshire, later dedicated his life to penal reform
‘
family. His early attention to the ordinary people came when he improved housing in the Cardington district and, in due course, he became High Sheriff of Bedfordshire in 1733. Carrying out one of his duties, an inspection of the county jail led him to
continued on page 14
www.countylifemagazines.co.uk John Howard, High
‘
‘
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68