3 High Street
This property was researched by John Thurston
From at least the mid-17th Century No 3 High Street was an Inn. Originally called “The Maidenhead” by the early 1700’s it had become the “George Inn”. To save confusion with the Old George Inn (further down the High Street where the empty Debenhams store now stands) it was at first called the New George Inn, then later the George Inn and around 1890 the George Hotel.
Early records from 1676 through to the late 18th century show a number of occupiers/innkeepers which are detailed below.
By c.1763/1785 John Garner is the owner/innkeeper who stays until at least 1792. A Directory entry from 1810 shows a Mrs Priest as the innkeeper of the George Inn, though this possibly could be the Old George Inn. Richard Bass is the new innkeeper of The George Inn and Posting House from 1823 up until 1841. From 1847 William Tebbs and then his wife Eliza Tebbs are the licensees who stay until at least 1864.
From 1869 until 1894 Miss/Mrs Ann Taylor is the Inn/Hotel Keeper/Proprietress with Sarah Day her Assistant/Manageress. From 1897 until 1902 Sarah is shown as the sole Manageress. Miss Agnes Brown takes over in 1903 and stays until 1910 when the George Inn/Gorge Hotel closes.
From this date the building becomes Murkett Brothers Motor Agents/Garage which continues as a business until 1959 when the building is demolished. Note: Between 1914 and 1963, J A Beagley and Company Ltd, tailors, are shown sharing the premises.
The new Swan Court/Swan House erected on the site in 1959 is shared by a number of businesses (see below) the most prominent of which is Barclays Bank Limited.
In recent times Nando’s Restaurant has been established on site from at least 2008 up until the present day.
Summary of Occupiers
1676 – 1714: “Maidenhead” Messuage late occ. By Williamson, Widow Yarnton, John West, John Brampton and Richard Freelove
1702: “George” Messuage late occ. By Edward Kidd, now John Austin
1704: Elizabeth Rolt, widow, owner given mortgage on the Maidenhead/George
1708: Property conveyed to Francis Oakley
1752: Maidenhead/George late occ. By Jud. Holloway, widow, now John Edwards; “to use of Mary Cawne”
1763/?1791: John Garner and wife, Vendors, Richard Lovesey, Mortgagee, sell to Samuel Wells, Biggleswade, Brewers, messuage or Inn formerly called Maidenhead now New George Inn
1784 – 1791: Innholder John Garner and wife Mary. Messuage called the Maidenhead Inn occ.by William Bailey, then Edward Chapman and Thomas Brown.
1785 - 1792: John Garner, Innkeeper
1810: ? Mrs Priest, Innkeeper (but possibly “Old George Inn”)
1823 – 1841: Richard Bass, Innkeeper
1847: William Tebbs, Innkeeper
1850 – 1864: Eliza Tebbs, Innkeeper
1869 – 1894: Miss/Mrs Ann Taylor, Innkeeper/Hotel Manager
1897 – 1902: Miss Sara Day, Hotel Manageress
1899: Wells and Winch buy George Hotel, formerly Maidenhead Inn.
1903 – 1910: Miss Agnes Brown, Hotel Manageress
1910: George Inn/Hotel closes
1914 – 1959: Murkett Brothers, Motor Agents
1914 – 1963: 3A and 3 Swan Court: J A Beagley and Co Ltd, Tailors
1952: 3, Murkett Bros Motor Engineers, No 3A Murkett Bros Radio and Television Dealers
1959: Murkett Bros Car Showroom demolished (Swan Court/Swan House constructed)
1961 – 1976: 3 Swan Court: Barclays Bank Ltd
1963 – 1970: 3 Swan Court: Robinson Rentals Ltd
1963 – 1976: 3/5 Swan House: Lloyds and Scottish Finance Ltd
1963 – 1976: 3/5 Swan House: British Aluminium Co Ltd
1963 – 1967: 3/5 Swan House: H Charge (Assessors) Ltd
1963 – 1970: 3/5 Swan House: Beds C C County Planning
1965 – 1966: 3/5 Swan House: Mid Beds Water Board
1970 – 1973: 3 Swan Court: Centaurs, Leather Goods Dealers
1970 – 1976: 3/5 Swan House: Guardian Royal Exchange Assurance Group
1973 – 1976: 3 Swan Court: Hair by Anton, Ladies Hairdressers
2008 – 2024: Nando’s Restaurant
List of sources available at Bedfordshire Archives:
- AD249: Mortgage by Francis Brace, of Bedford of premises called the Maidenhead, 1704
- X67/193: Assignment: 2 sums of £100, 1713/14
- WL14: Horne Lane Brewery. The Brewery Site, 1751
- WL17: Horne Lane Brewery. The Brewery Site, 1752
- X235/1: Conveyance, with Covenant to levy a fine, 1791
- R6/5/14/6: Release, 1793
- Z216/34/100: Photograph of the Town Bridge with a view of the old George Hotel in the background, c.1850-1870
- GK307/13: Plan No. 69 of Swan Inn & George Hotel, Embankment and High Street, Bedford, coloured stable, coach houses of Swan and projecting bay window of George, c.1898
- HF40/1/2/1: Abstract of Title prepared c.1898 of properties that were freehold (having been purchased by Samuel Wells) in 1834 and were transferred back to William Hogg and Robert Lindsell in 1860, inc. George Hotel, c.1898
- Z1039/34/2a: Copy conveyance, 1899
- HF40/3/46/1: Application for 4% mortgage debentures by Sarah Day of George Hotel, Bedford, spinster for £200, 1900
- X373/419-420: Photographs of the Town Bridge with a view of the old George Hotel in the background, 1900s
- BP65/52/14-15: View of the George Hotel, c.1900
- Z1306/10/33/1-7: Postcards of ‘High Street, Bedford'. Looking north from the Town Bridge, the George Hotel is on the right of the picture’, 1900s
- HF40/5/1/7: Draft Sales Description; George Hotel, Bedford, undated, c.1900-1932
- Z574/8: High Street, Bedford looking north from town bridge, showing bank buildings and George Inn, 1905
- X291/186/16: Postcard of BEDFORD: High Street, showing George Hotel in background, 1907
- X291/218: Postcard of High Street from stone bridge, George Hotel on right, c.1907
- BMB4/1/14/53: Notebook. Inventory and valuation of cab stock at George Hotel Bedford. Messrs Brown, 1910
- X235/2: Sale Catalogue of the "George" Hotel, Bedford (with two photographs taken from the Bridge and the High Street). With memorandum of sale to Murkett Brothers, Motor Engineers by Harry Browning
- X373/1-5: Glass plate negatives of No. 3 High Street, c.1910-1914
- BorBP5397: Proposed alterations George Hotel, High Street, Bedford for Messrs. Murkett Brothers, 1911
- X758/1/14/10: Photograph of High Street with Murketts Garage, 1914
- Z1039/34/1: Schedule of deeds inc. The George Hotel, 1922