17 High Street
This property was researched by John Thurston
No.17 High Street, undated, c.1900 extracted from advertisement [Z50/9/164]
The story of No 17 High Street revolves around the business of Kilpin, Ironmongers, who were present on the site from as early as 1742. By 1827 the Beds Times acknowledged that Kilpins was the oldest family business in Bedford.
In 1860, Edwin Billson joined the firm as General Manager and by 1872 had formed a partnership with William Kilpin with the new company being called Kilpin and Billson.
The firm survived as the town’s main ironmongers up until 1926.A year later No’s 15 – 17 High Street were demolished and in 1928 were replaced by Phoenix Chambers, the property of the Phoenix Assurance Company.
From 1931 the building was sub let (See also No 15 High Street) with a number of different occupants listed at 15 - 17, the main address of No 17 being let to Fleming Reid and Co Ltd, Hosiers up to 1940 then Mulhollands, Boot Makers up to 1959.
No 17 was then occupied by the Readicut Wool Co Ltd until 1971/72.
O A and B A Smart took over the Wool Stores until at least 1976.
Latterly Ruby Murray, Café/Restaurant were on site from at least 2009 – 2012 followed by The Nazar Turkish Restaurant in 2014.
The Phoenix Assurance Chambers later built on the site of nos 15-17, 1974 [PL/PH/7/51]
Summary of Occupiers
1747: William Kilpins, Ironmonger, sets up business at No 17.
1811: J and B Kilpin, Ironmongers
1816 – 1817: Thomas Kilpin, Ironmonger (son of John Kilpin)
1830: Thomas and Benjamin Kilpin, Ironmongers
1839: Thomas Kilpin and Son, Ironmongers
1847 - 1869: William Wells Kilpin, Ironmonger and Brass Founder (also a Mayor of Bedford)
1871: Edwin Billson, Ironmonger and Manager, living on site with family
1872 - 1926: Kilpin and Billson, Ironmongers (formed by William Kilpin and Edwin Billson)
1931: Fleming Reid and Co Ltd; Phoenix Assurance Co Ltd, The London Guarantee and Accident Co Ltd, Herbert Davis Mgr; Simon Sanders, LDS, RCS Engineer; Herbert Thomas Button;Bedfordshire Agricultural Committee, Ernest William Russell
1932: Fleming Reid and Co Ltd (17); Phoenix Assurance Co Ltd, The London Guarantee and Accident Co Ltd, Herbert Davis Mgr; Simon Sanders, LDS, RCS Engineer; Beds County Co Agricultural Department, Ernest William Russsell FSI, FIAS Mgr; Assessor and Collector of Taxes, Herbert Thomas Button; Pack Clothing and Supply Co Ltd
1934: Fleming Reid and Co Ltd (17); Phoenix Assurance Co Ltd, The London Guarantee and Accident Co Ltd, Herbert Davis Mgr; Simon Sanders, LDS, RCS Engineer; Beds County Co Agricultural Department, Ernest William Russsell FSI, FIAS Mgr; River Great Ouse Catchment Board, Allen Raymond Smith District Engineer; Pack Clothing and Supply Co Ltd; J R Eve and Son, Rating Surveyors
1936: Fleming Reid and Co Ltd (17);Phoenix Assurance Co Ltd, The London Guarantee and Accident Co Ltd, Herbert Davis Mgr; Simon Sanders, LDS, RCS Engineer; Beds County Co Agricultural Department, Ernest William Russsell FSI, FIAS Mgr; River Great Ouse Catchment Board, Allen Raymond Smith District Engineer; H M Ministry of Transport, Ralph William Butler Lt Col Divisional Road Engineer
1938: Fleming Reid and Co Ltd (17); Phoenix Assurance Co Ltd, The London Guarantee and Accident Co Ltd, Herbert Davis Mgr; Simon Sanders, LDS, RCS Engineer; Beds County Co Agricultural Department, Ernest William Russsell FSI, FIAS Mgr; H M Ministry of Transport, Ralph William Butler Lt Col Divisional Road Engineer
1939: Fleming Reid and Co Ltd (17); Phoenix Assurance Co Ltd, The London Guarantee and Accident Co Ltd, Herbert Davis Mgr; Simon Sanders, LDS, RCS Engineer; Beds County Co Agricultural Department, Ernest William Russsell FSI, FIAS Mgr; H M Post Office Engineering Department
1940: Fleming Reid and Co Ltd (17); Phoenix Assurance Co Ltd, The London Guarantee and Accident Co Ltd, Herbert Davis Mgr; Simon Sanders, LDS, RCS Engineer; Bedfordshire Agricultural Committee, Ernest William Russell; P.O. Engineering Office
1947: Mulhollands (Mulholland and Tedd Ltd) (17); Phoenix Assurance Co Ltd, The London Guarantee and Accident Co Ltd, Herbert Davis Mgr; Simon Sanders, LDS, RCS Engineer; Beds County Co Agricultural Department, Ernest William Russell FSI, FIAS Mgr; Poole and Co, John Rea Poole
1949/50: Mulhollands (Mulholland and Tedd Ltd) (17); Phoenix Assurance Co Ltd, The London Guarantee and Accident Co Ltd, Herbert Davis Mgr; Simon Sanders, LDS, RCS Engineer; Beds County Co Agricultural Department, J W Dallas Executive; Poole and Co, John Paul Culpin, Thomas Barrett Wooliscroft Solicitors
1952: Mulhollands (Mulholland and Tedd Ltd) (17); Phoenix Assurance Co Ltd, The London Guarantee and Accident Co Ltd, Herbert Davis Mgr; Simon Sanders, LDS, RCS Engineer; Beds County Co Agricultural Department, J W Dallas Executive; Poole and Co, John Paul Culpin, Thomas Barrett Wooliscroft Solicitors; British Wagon Co Ltd
1955:Mulhollands (Mulholland and Tedd Ltd) (17); Phoenix Assurance Co Ltd, The London Guarantee and Accident Co Ltd, Herbert Davis Mgr; Simon Sanders, LDS, RCS Engineer; Beds County Co Agricultural Department, J W Dallas Executive; Poole and Co, John Paul Culpin, Thomas Barrett Wooliscroft Solicitors; British Wagon Co Ltd
1957: Mulhollands (Mulholland and Tedd Ltd) (17); Phoenix Assurance Co Ltd, The London Guarantee and Accident Co Ltd, Herbert Davis Mgr; Simon Sanders, LDS, RCS Engineer; Beds County Co Agricultural Department, J W Dallas Executive; Poole and Co, John Paul Culpin, Thomas Barrett Wooliscroft Solicitors; British Wagon Co Ltd
1959: Mulhollands (Mulholland and Tedd Ltd) (17); Phoenix Assurance Co Ltd, The London Guarantee and Accident Co Ltd, Herbert Davis Mgr; Simon Sanders, LDS, RCS Engineer; Beds County Co Agricultural Department, J W Dallas Executive; Poole and Co, John Paul Culpin, Thomas Barrett Wooliscroft Solicitors; British Wagon Co Ltd
1961: Phoenix Assurance Co Ltd, The London Guarantee and Accident Co Ltd, Herbert Davis Mgr; Wilfred Burton Sanders and Raymond A Moore; Beds County Council Health Department; Poole and Co, John Paul Culpin, Thomas Barrett Wooliscroft Solicitors
1963 Readicut Wool Co Ltd (17); Phoenix Assurance Co Ltd, The London Guarantee and Accident Co Ltd, Herbert Davis Mgr; Wilfred Burton Sanders and Raymond A Moore; Beds County Council Health Department; Poole and Co, John Paul Culpin, Thomas Barrett Wooliscroft Solicitors
1965: Readicut Wool Co Ltd (17);Phoenix Assurance Co Ltd, The London Guarantee and Accident Co Ltd, Herbert Davis Mgr; Wilfred Burton Sanders and Raymond A Moore; Beds County Council Health Department; Poole and Co, John Paul Culpin, Thomas Barrett Wooliscroft Solicitors
1966: Readicut Wool Co Ltd (17); Phoenix Assurance Co Ltd, The London Guarantee and Accident Co Ltd, Herbert Davis Mgr; Wilfred Burton Sanders and Raymond A Moore; Beds County Council Health Department;Poole and Co, John Paul Culpin, David George Small Solicitors
1967:Readicut Wool Co Ltd (17); Phoenix Assurance Co Ltd, The London Guarantee and Accident Co Ltd, Herbert Davis Mgr; Wilfred Burton Sanders and D S Crawford;Beds County Council Health Department; Poole Bairstow and Co, John Paul Culpin, David George Small Solicitors
1968: Readicut Wool Co Ltd (17); Phoenix Assurance Co Ltd, The London Guarantee and Accident Co Ltd, Herbert Davis Mgr; Wilfred Burton Sanders and D S Crawford; Poole Bairstow and Co, John Paul Culpin, David George Small Solicitors
1969/70: Readicut Wool Co Ltd Mrs L Herbert Manageress (17); Phoenix Assurance Co Ltd, The London Guarantee and Accident Co Ltd, Herbert Davis Mgr; Wilfred Burton Sanders and D S Crawford; Poole Bairstow and Co, John Paul Culpin, David George Small Solicitors
1970/71: Readicut Wool Co Ltd Mrs S D Wallace Manageress; Phoenix Assurance Co Ltd, The London Guarantee and Accident Co Ltd, Herbert Davis Mgr; Wilfred Burton Sanders and D S Crawford; Poole Bairstow and Co, John Paul Culpin, David George Small Solicitors
1971/72: Readicut Wool Co Ltd Mrs S D Wallace Manageress (17); Phoenix Assurance Co Ltd, The London Guarantee and Accident Co Ltd, Herbert Davis Mgr; Wilfred Burton Sanders and D S Crawford; Poole Bairstow and Co, John Paul Culpin, David George Small Solicitors
1972/73:Phoenix Assurance Co Ltd, The London Guarantee and Accident Co Ltd, Herbert Davis Mgr; Wilfred Burton Sanders and D S Crawford; Poole Bairstow and Co, John Paul Culpin, David George Small Solicitors
1973/74:O A Smart (17); Phoenix Assurance Co Ltd, The London Guarantee and Accident Co Ltd, Herbert Davis Mgr; Wilfred Burton Sanders and D S Crawford; Poole Bairstow and Co, John Paul Culpin, David George Small Solicitors
1975: B A Smart (17); Phoenix Assurance Co Ltd, The London Guarantee and Accident Co Ltd, Herbert Davis Mgr; Wilfred Burton Sanders and D S Crawford Poole Bairstow and Co, John Paul Culpin, David George Small Solicitors
1976: B A Smart (17); Phoenix, Henderson and Co; Wilfred Burton Sanders, D S Crawford, G R Lang; Poole Bairstow and Co, John Paul Culpin, David George Small Solicitors; Harpur Trust Office; IMV Automotive International Ltd
2008: VACANT
2009 – 2012: Ruby Murray, Café / Restaurant
2014 – 2023: The Nazar, Turkish Retaurant
See here for a more detailed list of owners and occupiers of 17 High Street