2 Silver Street

This property was researched by John Thurston

While very little information and history has been found on Numbers 2 – 6 Silver Street on the south side of Silver Street this can probably be attributed to the fact that the Old George Inn, a 15th/16th Century building nominally on the High Street had an archway and entrance onto Silver Street which encompassed this area.

The first reference we have occurs around 1839 when Samuel Woodward Hill, a printer, is believed to have been in business.

By 1851 Thomas Smith, an Auctioneer, is on site remaining until 1861. In that year George Myers, Coffee and Dining Rooms Keeper and Fruiterer, takes over, staying until at least 1867.

The 1871 Census appears to show that the premises have become an Army recruiting office as John Course, a Sergeant 94th Foot, Recruiting Service is living there with his wife and daughter. While the 1881 Census omits 2 Silver Street we can surmise that 2 Old George Yard was the same address with Frederick Eastwell, an ostler, living there.

Certainly by 1885 William Enoch Draper, an outfitter and boot dealer, was at No 2 and along with his brother, John Draper was running the business from 1890 at both No 2 and No 4. The business would continue at both addresses until 1936.

From 1938 until 1972/73 E P Rose, Drapers and latterly Department Store Owners, were on site before Debenhams became the named owners in 1973/74. The site has now become vacant from 2023.

Summary of Occupiers

1839: Hill and Son, Printers and Stationers present in Silver Street

1841: Samuel Woodward Hill, Printer

1851 – 1861: Thomas Smith, Auctioneer and Valuer

1861 – 1867: George Myers, Coffee and Dining Rooms Keeper and Fruiterer

1871: John Course, Sergeant 94th Foot, Recruiting Service

1881: ? Frederick Eastwell, an ostler (Nominally No 2 George Yard)

1885 – 1936: William Enoch Draper and John Draper, Outfitters and Boot and Shoe Dealers

1938 – 1972/3: E P Rose and Son, Drapers/Costumiers and then Department Store

1973/4 – 2021: Debenhams, Department Store

Historic England Notes: 

The remains of the Old George Inn, at the rear of the former Debenhams department store, Mayes Yard, Bedford was Grade II listed on 20th March 2025. It was summarised as a:

"Commercial storage building incorporating the remains of a medieval masonry building and gateway, built in the 15th or early 16th century; the first floor was re-built and a second floor added around 1929"

The reason for its designation was for its rare surviving remnants "of medieval masonry at ground floor level" which "displays high levels of quality in its design and craftsmanship"