13 High Street

The earliest known occupants were Frances Smith, an independent iady, who was living with her two servants, Ann Lee and Joseph Harvey in 1841.

The premises were then taken over around 1844 by Luke Cherry, a linen and woollen draper, silk mercer and hatter. He stayed an independent trader until 1862 when the business became Cherry and Gilpin, Drapers, Silk Mercers and Funeral Directors, which traded until around 1881/1884.

N.B. From around 1876 until 1925 No’s 11 and 13 were combined as one shop.

In 1885 the drapers had become Gilpin and Sloper with William Gilpin becoming the sole trader in 1890.

In 1892 William Kirkbride took over as draper until 1898/9 and was then replaced by Arthur F Pearmain in 1900. Pearmain’s drapery business would then operate for a further 25 years until 1925. Arthur Field Pearmain purchased No. 11 from Bessie Sophia Norman in 1902 [ref: X548/22]. 

The new owner in 1926 was Arthur Charles Day, listed as a costumier, furrier and milliner. He would stay until at least 1976. During this period No 13A was sublet by the Mayfair Tea Rooms (1934- 1936),  H M Ministry of Transport Eastern Div (1938), The Great Ouse Catchment Board (1938 – 1939) and The  H.M. Post Office Engineering Dept (1939)

In recent times the building has been the Bedford Creative Arts Centre (2008 – 2011), The Picture Gallery and Framing Centre (2012 – 2022), Polly Finders Gift Shop (2023) and The High Street Off Licence (2024).

Summary of Occupiers

1841: Frances Smith and two Servants, Ann Lee and Joseph Harvey

1844 – 1862: Luke Cherry, Linen & Woollen Draper, Silk Mercer and Hatter

1862 – 1881/4: Cherry and Gilpin, Drapers, Silk Mercers and Funeral Directors

c.1876: No’s 11 and 13 run as one shop

1885 – 1889: Gilpin and Sloper, Drapers

1890: William Gilpin, Draper

1892 – 1898/9: William Kirkbride, Draper

1900 – 1925: Arthur Field Pearmain, Draper

1926 – 1976: Arthur Charles Day, Costumier, Furrier and Milliner

1934 – 1936: 13A Mayfair Tea Rooms

1938: 13A H M Ministry of Transport Eastern Division

1938 – 1939: 13A The Great Ouse Catchment Board

1939: 13A The HM. Post Office Engineering Dept

2008 – 2011: Bedford Creative Arts Centre

2012 – 2022: The Picture Gallery and Framing Centre

2023: Polly Finders Gift Shop

2023 – 2024: The High Street Off Licence

List of sources at Bedfordshire Archives: 

• X71/278: Two receipted bills for mourning addressed to Mrs Trapp, Woburn Road, one bill from Cherry and Gilpin, High Street, Bedford, and the other from Gilpin and Sloper (late Cherry and Gilpin), 1882 and 1884
• X452/6/2/1: Bill for clock and clasp. Gilpin and Sloper, High Street, Bedford, 1883
• X659/14: Advert on business map of Bedford for William Kirkbridge (later Cherry & Gilpin) 11 & 13 High Street, Bedford, 1890s
• X548/22: Copy of conveyance, 1902
• Z938/11/3/29: Letter on headed paper: A F Pearmain, Ladies Tailor & Costumier, 11 & 13 High Street, Bedford, 1907
• Z938/11/3/30: Draft design of advertisement of A F Pearmain, Ladies Tailor & Costumier, 11 & 13 High Street, Bedford, 1907