1 Silver Street

This property was researched by John Thurston

'Silver Street, Bedford'. Facing west, the Bull Inn is on the right of the street, 1917 [ref: Z1306/10/63/1]

The earliest records of No 1 Silver Street indicate that it was a hostelry called the Bull Inn which was owned by the Bamford Family possibly from as early as the 1660’s right up to the mid 1720’s.

The Inn then had a succession of owners and publicans (see summary) trading up to 1928 when the building was demolished and rebuilt as No 1 and No 3 Silver Street.

A number of different traders used the new premises from 1929 – Late 1990’s , the major businesses being Montague Burton Ltd (Tailors), W D Ham (Billiards and Snooker Hall Proprietor), S Hilton and Sons Ltd (Boot and Shoe Shop), L A Leon  (Costumiers and Milliners) and several camera/photographers (Vines Cameras Ltd, Westminster Photographers Ltd and Brody and Hicks).

The building was also used by the Ministry of Transport (1939 – 1966) and the County Court (1967 – 1976).

In later years Historic England Information and Google Images show Partyland (Party and Card Shop) and HMV Records as the occupiers with the current residents from c.2013 to the present day being JD Sports Shop.

Summary of Occupiers

1641: Bullring near Mill House, hence Bull or Pied Bull named after this

1660 – 1720: Bamford Family, Owners of Bull Inn (date unknown)

1681: The Bull named in Hagable Rent Roll

1705: John Bamford, Innholder (Probably Bull Inn)

1717: John Bamford, owner as per Will

1717 – 1723/4: Robert Bamford, owner

1723/4: Andrew King occupant (Innholder/Publican), Robert Bamford (Owner) devises Inn to Elizabeth Leaver and Dorothy Bedford

1724: Rev Robert Bamford,Owner, pays rent on Bull Inn

1751 – 1752: Richard Lane, Junior, Victualler/Innholder

1753 – 1755: Richard Lane Junior/Younger Innholder of the Bull/Pied Bull/Pyed Bull

1768 – 1773: Richard Colley, Publican/Innholder

1783 – 1786: William Allen, Cordwainer “Rents Black Bull”

1789: Richard Colley, Publican/Innholder                                 

1814: William Fowler junior &, George Fowler convey Back Bull Inn to John Day, Brewer

1823 – 1830: William Dawson, Publican/Innholder       

1839 – 1840: Joseph Dawson, Publican/Innholder

1841 – 1842: James Stock, Publican

1841 – 1843: Jane Dawson (Widow), Owner/Licensee

c.1842: Sara Day, owner, devises Black Bull to J H Day

1843 – 1847: Charles Wheeler, Publican

1850: George Smith, Publican

1851: James Stock, Licensed Victualler

1853 – 1861: John Stock, Publican

1861: James Stock,Publican

1862 – 1864: John Stock, Publican

1867: James Stock, Publican

1869: Miss Jane Stock, Publican

1871: James Stock, Whitesmith and John Stock, Publican

1876 – 1887: James Stock, Publican and Whitesmith

1890 – 1902: William Marshall, Publican

1903 – 1928: Frank Wright, Publican

1928: Bull Inn demolished, site rebuilt as No 1 and No 3 Silver Street

1930 – 1976: Montague Burton Ltd, Tailors

1931 – 1934: James Horace Carter (The Billiardrome), Billard Hall

1936 – 1976: Wilfred Davis Ham (The Billiardrome/Regal Temperance Billiards and Snooker), Billiard Hall

1936: Dance Hall, Wilfred Davis Ham Proprietor

1938: The Bata Shoe Company

1938 - 1939: H H Leons and Co, Costumiers and Milliners

1939 – 1966: HM Ministry of Transport Eastern Division

1939 – 1976: S Hilton and Sons Ltd, Boot and Shoe Shop

1940: H A Leon and Co, Costumiers and Milliners

1947 – 1963: L A Leon Ltd, Costumiers and Milliners

1965 – 1968: Vines Camera Ltd, Photographers

1967 – 1976: County Court Offices, Bankruptcy, District Registry and Divorce

1969 – 1971/2: Westminster Photographers Ltd

1972/3 – 1976: Brody and Hicks Photographic Ltd

Early 2000’s: Partyland, Party and Card Shop

?2009: HMV, Record Shop

?2011: Evans, Ladies Clothes Shop

 2013 – 2025: J D Sports, Sports Shop

List of sources at Bedfordshire Archives: 

• BorBP1442: Silver Street, Bedford.  Alterations and additions to Bull Inn for Mr Day, 1885
• BorBP1846: Silver Street, Bedford.  Additions to Bull Inn for Day & Walden, 1888
• Z1306/10/63/1: 'Silver Street, Bedford'. Facing west, the Bull Inn is on the right of the street, 1917
• Z1306/10/63/2: 'Silver Street, Bedford'. Facing west, the Bull Inn is on the right of the street, 1917
• X373/281: Silver Street: The Bull Inn, 1920s
• Z1306/10/63/6: 'The "Bull Inn", Silver Street, Bedford. June 1927