MARY HESTER, GLASS, CHINA, AND EARTHENWARE 13, SILVER STREET, BEDFORD. GENERAL PRINTING OFFICE, HENRY BURT Desires respectfully to announce to the Tradesmen and Public Labels, Memoranda, Mourning Cards, Pamphlets, Posters, Reports, and Every other Description of Printing. BOOKBINDING IN ALL THE NEWEST STYLES. TO AUTHORS AND OTHERS. Manuscripts prepared for the Press; and works, either small The Britannia Iron Works The Bridge, Infirmary, House of Industry, Gaol, &c. The Members of Parliament, Corporation, Trustees, Fairs, ... ... ... ... ... 20 ... 24 ... 27 Carriers, &c.... Directory of Householders Religious Societies, &c. Terms, Eclipses, &c. Almanack, Business and Useful Information, Stamps, Taxes, Law 7 7 13 19 COMPILED BY THOMAS ALLEN BLYTH, Fellow of the Royal Geological Society of Edinburgh; Member of the Royal College of Preceptors; and Assistant-Master, Bedford Preparatory Commercial School, Price 18., paper covers; 1s. 6d., cloth boards. BEDFORD: PRINTED & PUBLISHED BY HENRY BURT, 10, MILL STREET. Gough Adet 1866. Bedford 817 Introduction. PROMPTED by the want of an inexpensive ANNUAL DIRECTORY OF BEDFORD, the Compiler and Publisher have ventured to lay the following pages before the Public. They beg to tender their sincere thanks to the various gentlemen who have kindly revised the proof sheets. Notwithstanding the efforts used to render the work as complete as possible, they cannot indulge the hope that some errors or omissions have not occurred. The following addition to the account of Howard Chapel arrived too late to be placed in its proper position. "The church at Howard Chapel was formed in the year 1772. It was composed of persons who originally were members of the Christian society assembling at the Old Meeting. Among the most distinguished of these was John Howard the Philanthropist, who contributed very largely toward the erection of the new meeting, now called, after his name, 'HOWARD CHAPEL.' It was not until the year 1775, or 1776, that the chapel was ready for divine worship. The trust deeds were not prepared until the year 1777, which corresponds with the date on the front of the chapel."-From a concise History of the Church, published 1840. A BRIEF Sketch of the History of Bedford. BEDFORD, the county town of Bedfordshire, is situated in The This the Archdeaconry of Bedford, Diocese of Ely, and Norfolk Circuit. It is divided into five parishes-St. Paul's, St. Peter's, St. Mary's, St. John's, and St. Cuthbert's. The parish of St. Paul has recently been divided into two Ecclesiastical Divisions-St. Paul's and that of Holy Trinity. The Trinity Church is a Chapel of Ease to St. Paul's. principal street in Bedford is almost a mile long, and, on account of its passing through four parishes, is called High Street St. John's, High Street St. Mary's, High Street (which is in St. Paul's parish), and High Street St. Peter's. street is well paved and lighted with gas, and very much has been done during the last few years to enlarge and improve the appearance of its shops. There are a great many private families residing here, who have been attracted by the advantages arising from the great public endowments which Bedford possesses, especially the great benefits and economy in education which the noble and celebrated Harpur Schools afford. The principal manufactures carried on here are agricultural implements, straw plait, and pillow lace. The manufacture of pillow lace is still carried on, though not near to such an extent as it was 10 or 20 years since. The straw hat and bonnet manufactory has been opened about six years, and it is expected that another will soon be established. The Britannia Iron Works of Messrs. J. and F. Howard, which were commenced in 1857 and completed in 1859, have seldom been surpassed in extent and beauty of design. Messrs. E. Page & Co., Victoria Iron Works, are also very extensive manufacturers of various agricultural implements and machinery. The ancient history of this neat, pleasant, and healthy borough and market town, like that of most other ancient towns, seems to be involved in much uncertainty. Its ancient BRITISH name was-it is maintained by some-Lettidur or Lettuy-dur, which signifies beds, lodgings, or inns on a ford; though others have stated that they believe this to be only a modern forgery. Some suppose it to be a ROMAN town-the Lacto-durum of Antoninus; whilst others (and amongst them Camden) declare that this is not the case. Nevertheless, no one has ventured to dispute the identity of Bedford and the SAXON Bedicanford, known afterwards as Bedanford, both of which names mean "the Fortress on the Ford," and were doubtless given to it because of its situation at the ancient ford on the river Ouse. In the Saxon Chronicle, of the year 571, we find the following passage:-" This year Cuthwulph fought against the Britons at Bedicanford, and took four townsLygeanburg (probably Leighton Buzzard, though some say Lenburg), and Egelesburg (Aylesbury) and Bennington (Bensington, Oxfordshire), and Egonesham (Ensham, Oxfordshire). And in the same year he died." This passage has therefore proved that Bedford is a very ancient town. In this battle the Britons were defeated by the West Saxons, under the command of Cuthwulf, brother of Ceawlin, third king of Wessex, with considerable loss. Offa, the celebrated king of Mercia, seems, from some cause or other, to have maintained a very high opinion of Bedford; and when he died in 784, at Offley, in Hertfordshire, he was buried here, because he had expressed a wish to be interred at Bedford in preference to his newly-erected Abbey of St. Albans. From the writings of Stowe it appears that "he was buried in a Chappele which then stoode on the bank of the river Ouse, without the towne of Bedford, which chappelle, with the sepulchre of the king, the river hath swallowed up." Mathew Paris gives a similar description, and adds-" Although it be diligently sought after, like a thing of fate, or enchantment (res fatalis), is not found." Of course the story of the appearance of Offa's tomb in the water is entirely fabulous; but the same tale bas often been related of ancient towns, cities, and buildings, and, amongst others, those in the Asphaltic Lake, or Dead Sea. Leland asserts that St. Ethelbert was buried in the monastery of Bedford, but Tanner thinks that, as there is no confirmation of this statement, it is a mistake for Offa. King Edward, son of Alfred, visited our town in the year 919, as it appears from the following extract from the Saxon |