47 High Street

First known occupant was Verdon Wass in 1841, a hatter, who hailed from Sheffield. The shop was then taken over from at least 1847 by a succession of grocers, namely William Faldor (1847 – 1854), Dunckley and Seabrook (c.1857 – 1861/2), Carter Brothers (1861/2 - 1867), Nunnelly and Son (c.1869), George Hawkes (1871 – 1884; Shop rebuilt in 1878) and Walter James Graves (1885 – 1902).

The premises was then purchased by John Bull and Co, Jewellers in 1904 and combined with their premises at No 49 High Street. John Bull and Company would stay on site up until 1964. During this period, from 1911 onwards, they shared the combined premises with a succession of businesses and tenants (see below).

In 1964 both buildings were sold to Northampton Town & County Building Society (Nationwide). The site at No 47 and 49 would again be split with Mellows and Sons, Solicitors and Commissioners of Oaths) sharing with Wallengers, Sewing Machine Dealers, from 1966 until at least 1976. In 1994 Nationwide, the owners, sold both buildings piecemeal during the following two years. In recent times No 49 has operated as an opticians, Alders, (2008 – 2012), a discount designer clothing shop (2014) – 2016), a kitchen retailer, Pride Kitchens (2015 – 2017) and a barbers shop, Ali Barber (2018 – 2024). 

No. 47 is a Victorian building which retained many of its original features. When John Bull died in 1870 his two sons Richard and Thomas took over his business. They decided to pull down the premises and in its place, they erected the present building with its elaborate brick facade, with large projecting clock and golden bull (a pun on the family name), making one of Bedford High Streets most familiar landmarks. In addition, there was a vertical pole set back behind the clock, which carried a golden ball which could move up and down the pole but was normally set near the top. At 10.00 am each morning, the ball would drop down and strike a large bell. This was the signal for people down the High Street to set their pocket watches, since the device was set off by an electric signal which came directly from Greenwich. 

The original timber bull was replaced with a polyester resin and fibre glass replica in May 1974. The original bull was taken by Bedford Museum.

Summary of Occupiers

1841 – c.1843: Verdon Wass, Hatter

1847 – 1854: William Faldor, Grocer

1857 – c.1861/2: Dunckley and Seabrook, Grocers

c.1861 – 1867: Carter Brothers,Grocers

1869: Nunnelly and Son, Grocers

1871 – 1884: George Hawkes, Grocer

1885 – 1902: Walter James Graves, Grocer

1904: No 47 High Street bought by John Bull and Co, Jewellers, and combined with No 49.

1904 – 1964: No’s 47 – 49: John Bull and Co, Jewellers

1911: No 47: Inland Revenue Valuation Department

1914: No 47: National Health Insurance Commission

1915: No 47: National Audit Department

1920 – 1922: No 47: Ministry of Health Insurance

                      No 47: National Insurance Audit Office

1923: No 47: Alfred Redhead. Tenant (?)

1925: No 47:  Bedford Language Institute & Typewriting Co

1926: No 47: Mrs Violet Gordon, Arthur John Robinson, Richard Gardner, Tenants (?)

1928 – 1936: No 47: Automatic Electrical Refrigerators

1929: No 47: Louis Moore Bell, Mrs Helen L D Campbell, Tenants (?)

1930: No 47: Joyce Helen R Salisbury, Frank Ewart Lewis, Tenants (?)

1932: No 47: Albert Edward Gough, Albert Edward Pegg, Tenants (?)

1934: No 47: Cecil George Barrett, Huntley Russell Henderson, Tenants (?)

1936: No 47: James Gibson, Mrs Lily Peppitt, Tenants (?)

1938 – 1939: No 47: Mrs Amy Elizabeth Thompson, Tenant (?)

1939: No 47: Mrs Mary Ivy Glendenning, Tenant (?)

1947: No 47: Miss Brown, Miss Pike, Mrs Thompson, Tenants (?)

1949 – 1950: No 47: Henry Crowe, Mrs Thompson, Tenants (?)

1952: No 47: P Warren, Mrs Thompson, Richard J Cheadle, Tenants (?)

1955 – 1957: No 47: Peter Warren, Mrs Thompson, A Bartram, Tenants (?)

1959: No 47: Denton, A Bartram, Tenants (?)

1961: No 47: Michael Baron, Frank H Bacon, A Bartram, Tenants (?)

1963: No 47: Michael Baron, Frank H Bacon, Fogarty, Tenants (?)

1964: No’s 47 – 49: Sold to Northampton Town & County Building Society (Nationwide)

1966 – 1976: No’s 47 & 49: Mellows & Sons, Solicitors & Commissioners of Oaths

                      No 47: Wallengers, Sewing Machine Dealers

1994 – 1995: No’s 47 – 49 Sold piecemeal by Nationwide

2008 – 2012: No’s 47 & 49Alders, Opticians.

2014: No 47: Discount Designer Clothing

2015 – 2017: No 47: Pride Kitchens

2017: Empty.

2018 – 2024: No 47: Ali Barber, Barbers Shop

List of sources at Bedfordshire Archives: 

• CRT169/18: History of John Bull & Co, silversmiths and watchmakers, Bedford established 1817.
• X110: Deposit by John Bull & Company, 1826-1898
• X171/62/64: Apprenticeship of John Richard Bull to John Bull (father), Bedford. Watchmaker, 1840-1841
• Z50/13/310: John Bull's watchmakers' shop at 49, High Street, sketched by W.F.K. Austin., 1856
• SL2/1/1873/94: Receipt. John Bull & Co., Silversmith Jewellers and Watch Makers, 1873
• Z890: Deeds relating to 47 & 49 High Street, Bedford., 1876-1964
• X71/282: Receipted bill from John Bull and Company, 49 High Street, Bedford, for a silver cream jug, 1886
• BTNegM8/75: John Bull & Co, 47-49 High Street, Bedford, shopfront, c.1920s
• BP48/6/19: Exterior of J. Bull & Cos shop window, showing a Giant Omega watch, 1920
• P74/2/2/15: Inventory of church plate by John Bull &  Co. jewellers, Bedford, 1943
• BP65/52/33: View of J. Bull & Cos bull & clock, taken from an upper window, No. 47 High Street c. 1950s 
• Z50/9/171: Photograph of 47 & 49 High Street. Jn Bull & Co. jewellers.