43 High Street
This property was researched by John Thurston
43 High Street (Lewis Separates (Shades), ladies' outfitters), 25 April 1968. [BorBPH3/100]
A Grade II Listed Building (No.1138265), No. 43 is among a group of buildings from No 27 to No 45 (The “Rose Inn”) on the east side of the High Street. Three stories high and two bays wide with a Welsh slate roof, No 43 was possibly constructed in the 17th Century or earlier and was believed to have been refronted around 1835. The Commercial history of the building during the 19th and 20th Centuries can be gleaned from Censuses and Trade Directories dating from 1841 – 1976.
The 1841 Census data shows the earliest known 19th century occupant was William Stepson (Aged 70) who along with his wife Mary (nee Coleman) and daughter, also named Mary ran an Ironmongers from the premises. William was baptised on July 17th 1770 at St.Pauls Bedford and possibly may have been living at No.43 from this time. At some period between 1841 – 1847 he retired and along with his wife and niece (Ann Ashlin) is shown on the 1851 Census as living at St Cuthberts Street , Bedford. William eventually died in 1857 aged 87.
The premises were next occupied by the Shelton Family who would in time occupy No.43 for at least the next 86 years (1847 – 1932). Described variously as “Carvers and Gilders, Picture Frame makers, Paper Hangers, Looking Glass Manufacturers, Dealers in Oil Paintings and Engravers” , Charles John Shelton is first mentioned in a Post Office Directory for 1847 and appears on further directories up until 1881. The next named occupant was his son, Charles Daniel Shelton who appears on both censuses and trade directories from 1871 until 1932.
Around 1933/4 a new company would take over the Premises, namely Johnson and Co (Bedford) Ltd, otherwise known as The Consumers Tea Company. They vacated the premises either in 1958 or 1959, moving down the road to No.75 High Street.
The next listed occupants in 1961 are Lewis Separates, a Ladies Outfitters who stayed until 1976 when Chelsea Girl boutique took over, another Ladies Outfitters.. They stayed until at least 1984 after which a string of short lived companies appear to have occupied the premises up until the present day including Threeway Cards (1999), Marie Curie Cancer Care (2008), Ali Barber (2018) and bbtea Café (2023).
Summary of Occupiers
c.1847: William Swepson, Ironmongers
1847-1932: Shelton Family, Carvers and Gilders
1934-1957: Johnson and Co (Consumer Tea Company)
1959: Empty?
1961-1975: Lewis Separates, Women's Outfitters
1976 - 1984: Chelsea Girl Boutique, Women's Outfitters
1984-2023: Various
See here for a more detailed list of owners and occupiers of 43 High Street.