Articles
Bedford Connections
Bedford HistoryBedford is an historic market town, settled before Saxon times, in the English county of Bedfordshire situated about 50 miles from London. Built on the banks of the River Great Ouse the town takes its name from a local chieftain who used a particular part of the river as a crossing; hence Beda’s Ford.
The son of Alfred the Great, King Edward the Elder came to Beda’s Ford settlement around 919AD and organised the building of the King’s Ditch defences some of which are still visible.
The town became a Borough in 1166 when King Harry II granted a charter to the burgesses of Bedford. However, the first mention of a Mayor of Bedford occurs in the Close Roll of 1264 whilst the Borough’s two coats-of-arms have been in use since 1566.
Following the Norman Conquest Bedford castle, built for the Beauchamp family, was destroyed after a six-week siege in 1224 by Henry III. Now, only the mound on which the castle first stood remains today. The Castle Mound is a scheduled ancient monument located on the north bank of the River Great Ouse and one of oldest visible elements of Bedford’s historic past.
 Bedford owes both its origins and continued progress to the river; once fundamental for defence, trade and transportation, it is still one of the most important and eye-catching parts of the town. Indeed, it is known as one of the finest riverside frontages in England.
Since Victorian times the Embankment of the Great River Ouse, with its tree lined avenues and open recreational spaces, has been a place to stroll and enjoy the open-air and it is certainly a most attractive place to while away the lazy summer days.
In former times the overflowing of the Great River Ouse in was referred to as The Bailiff of Bedford possibly because during the floods it turned many people out of their homes.
The town has changed dramatically over recent years and now Bedford has a population of around 140,000 with 57 ethnic groups speaking over 60 languages.
Throughout its history Bedford has been connected with numerous prominent people; many leaving an indelible impression on the town and the three museums in Bedford tell their story.
John Bunyan was born just one mile south of Bedford in Elstow, and started to write “The Pilgrim’s  Progress” in Bedford County Jail where he spent 12 years for his non-conformist beliefs.
The Duke of Bedford presented a bronze statue of John Bunyan to the town of Bedford in 1874. The statue was unveiled by Lady Augusta Stanley before a crowd of around 10,000 people and the sound of the bells of St Paul's and St Peter's.
John Howard a nonconformist landowner in the 18th century and some times known as the Prisoner’s Friend  denounced the appalling conditions he found in Bedford Jail and other prisons throughout the United Kingdom.
Howard became the High Sheriff of Bedfordshire and his name’s perpetuated in the Howard League of Penal Reform. His statue now stands in St Paul's church in Bedford.
Sir William Harpur, born at the turn of the 16th century, became Lord Mayor of London in 1566 and in that  year, together with his wife Dame Alice, created an endowment to sustain a school in the town, now known as Bedford School.
There are now four Harpur Trust schools in Bedford.
Sir William died in 1574 and is buried in St Paul’s Church in Bedford.
In July 1944 The Glenn Miller Orchestra came to Bedford which, by this time, was positively heaving with the  thousands of allied troops stationed in the surrounding bases.
The arrival of Glenn Miller followed the relocation of the BBC to Bedford in 1942 and the town quickly become the centre of the UK entertainment universe with many stars of stage, screen and radio seen around Bedford.
Major Glen Miller took off from Twinwood RAF Base, Clapham, near Bedford on 15th December 1944 and perished when the plane came down in the sea en route to Paris.
Click on any heading to learn more
Hymn Tune - Bedford >>>
March - Bedford Congress Hall >>>
John Bunyan (1628 - 1688) >>>
Glenn Miller (1904 - 1944) >>>
Bedford in Pictures - 2005 >>>
Bedford History >>>
The Salvation Army in Bedford >>>
| 