30 High Street

This property was researched by John Thurston 

Deeds deposited by Greene King at the Bedford Archives [ref: GK74] provide a history of both No 30 and No 32 High Street from 1729 up to the late 1950’s.

A précis of the information within these deeds appears under the title: “The Silver Tavern”, Bedford. The author states “ No 30 was a butchers shop for the best part of 150 years” and “No 32 was a licensed premises for most of the same period”. The writer also provides occupier data for both sites

Unfortunately, much of this information is not borne out by entries contained within Trade Directories from 1830 – 1967 or in other sources of information such as Census Returns.

I have therefore attempted to correct and revise the information contained within the above mentioned précis while adding my own findings.

Data from early deeds [refs: GK74, GK74/2 – GK74/31] unfortunately does not distinguish between No 30 and No 32, possibly because both premises were considered as a single unit at the time.

From 1729 up to approximately 1821 the premises were occupied by a succession of drapers ; George Hawkins (1729), Richard Swepson (1760), James Bailey (1786), Abraham Stapleton (1798), James Meacock (1804), John Philips & Thomas Atkinson (1804) and Edward Turner Palmer (1811). In 1821 Palmer was bankrupted and the premises were controlled by Assigneees.From 1822 Joseph Coleman, a leather cutter takes charge changing his occupation the following year to Grocer and tea dealer. By 1841 Frederick Thompson, a bookseller, occupies No 30. He is replaced in 1851 by Thomas Morton, an ironmonger. The 1861 Census shows the next occupant as being John Taborn, a publican/beer retailer, along with his family. After John’s death his widow, Susan Taborn, briefly takes charge in 1871 before George Barnes, a Licensed Refreshment House Keeper, takes over during the same year.

The premises are described in an 1876 Directory as the “Rifle Inn”. By 1881 George’s son, Henry Thomas Barnes, also a Licensed Refreshment House Keeper, is the occupier. He remains along with his family until 1901. The business then changes to a Dyer and Cleaner’s named as Achille Serre. The company originated from a Parisian ribbon dyer who came to the country in 1870. The establishment in Bedford was probably under the management of his son, Eugene Serre, and stayed at No 30 until 1913.

In 1914 the business changed again to become a butchers, The River Plate Fresh Meat Co Ltd. The following year, 1915, the name had changed to the British and Argentine Meat Co Ltd and would remain until 1929. In 1930 the business was taken over by J H Dewhurst, also butchers who would stay until at least 1966.

During 1967 No 30 was renovated to provide a cellar bar for the adjoining Silver Grill Tavern at No 32. During this excavation three Anglo Saxon Skeletons were revealed proving thus that the site of No 30/32 High Street had been in occupation for at least a 900 years or more.

After 1967 No 30 is no longer mentioned in directories, having been subsumed in the Silver Grill/Silver Tavern at No 32. In later years, from 1976-2023, the combined addresses have been used as clubs/nightclubs under a variety of names including Amigos, Chaplins Bar, Pig and Whistle, Time Out, Hi Fi and Astons.   

Summary of Occupiers

Pre 1066 AD: Anglo Saxon Burial Site

Nos. 30 and/or 32

1729: George Hawkins, Draper

1760: Richard Swepson, Draper

1786: James Bailey, Draper

1798: Abraham Stapleton, Draper

1804: James Meacock, Draper

1804: John Philips & Thomas Atkinson, (London) Wholesale Linen Drapers

1811: Edward Turner Palmer, Draper

1821: Assignees of Edward Turner Palmer, Draper, a bankrupt

1822: Joseph Coleman, (Ampthill) Leather Cutter

1823 – 1830’s: Joseph Coleman, Grocer and Tea Dealer

1841 – c.1850: Frederick Thompson, Bookseller

c.1851 – 1854: Thomas Morton, Ironmonger/Whitesmith

No. 30 only

1861 – 1871: John Taborn, Coffee House and Beer Retailer/Publican

1871: Susan Taborn, Beer Retailer

1876: George Barnes, Licensed Refreshment House Keeper (Rifle Inn)

1881 – 1901: Henry Thomas Barnes, Licensed Refreshment House Keeper, (The Rifle)

1901 – 1913: Achille Serre, Dyer and Cleaner

1914: The River Plate Fresh Meat Co Ltd, Butcher

1915 – 1929: British and Argentine Meat Co Ltd, Butcher

1930 – 1966: J H Dewhurst Ltd, Butcher

1967: Empty. During Renovation three Anglo Saxon Skeletons found

No. 30 and 32 combined

1967 – 1976: No longer mentioned (subsumed/combined with No 32 High Street

1976 – 2023: (No32, Amigos, Chaplins Bar, Pig & Whistle,Time Out, Hi Fi & Astons - Clubs)