72-74 High Street
This property was researched by John Thurston.
Front elevation of House & shop, High Street, Bedford for Mr George Downes. Architect - Thomas Spencer. Thought to be property number 72. c.1868 [ref: BorBP171]
No’s 72 and 74 High Street were probably built in the early 19th Century with the earliest inhabitant being John Langley Mayle, a plumber and glazier, who resided at No 72 probably from the mid 1830’s. The 1841 Census shows the first known occupant of No 74 as being William Eastaff and Son, carpenters.
The Mayle family stayed until around 1860 and were succeeded briefly by Titus Tompkins a hairdresser, in 1861. In 1861 and 1862 Shrosbery and Spawton/Payton, woollen and linen drapers, are then listed in trade directories. In 1864 George Downes, a photographer, is in residence until around 1879. From 1879 to 1891 a partnership between between Edward Rawlins and Joseph George take over the business from George Downes. I have found about George & Rawlins of 72 High Street, Bedford.
On the 1881 census Edward Rawlins was at 72 High Street, Bedford, the property previously occupied by George Downes. Edward was a widower born in Shoreditch and had a son Edward A Rawlins aged 11 born in Islington. His housekeeper Eliza Gregory was 40 and born in Marsworth, Bucks.
In 1883 Messrs George & Rawlins advertised in the Beds Mercury of 23 August as ‘artists and photographers to the Queen’. Joseph George appears in the 1885 and 1890 directories as the occupier of 72 High Street, but the premises and business are taken over by (Edwin) Drury Stowe in 1891.
The business remains as a photographers up until 1961:
- 1864 – 1879: George Downes, Photographer
- c.1880-81, Edward Rawlins, Photographer
- 1883: George & Rawlins,artists and photographers
- 1885 – 1890: Joseph George, Photographer
- 1891 – 1899: (Edwin) Drury Stowe, Photographers
- 1900 – 1920: John Thomson, Photographer
- 1921 – 1961: Ernest Horace Swaine, Photographer
Sub letting from 1902 sees a variety of other businesses sharing the premises right up to 1975 (see Summary below). In 1976 the business returns to having a single occupier (Blue Arrow Staff Services) and in later years the premises has housed a Tanning Studio (Tanishi) in 2008) and a Hairdressers (Damiano Hair) in 2021.
No 72: (Single Occupiers Taken from Trade Directories)
1835 – c.1849: John Langley Mayle, Plumber and Glazier
1850 – 1851: Joseph Mayle, Grocer and Tea Dealer
1861: Titus Tompkins, Hairdresser
1861 – 1862: Shrosbery and Spawton/Payton, Woollen and Linen Drapers
1864 – 1879: George Downes, Photographer
c.1880 – 1881: George Downes and Edward A Rawlins, Photographers
1885 – 1890: Joseph George, Photographer
1891 – 1899: (Edwin) Drury Stowe, Photographers
1900 – 1920: John Thomson, Photographer
1921 – 1961: Ernest Horace Swaine, Photographer
1976: Blue Arrow Staff Services
2008: Tanishi Tanning Centre and Wine Bar (Cellar 2)
2021: Damiano Hair, Hairdressers
No 72 : Sublets 1902 – 1975 :
1902 – 1903: Walter Molesworth Peacock, Auctioneer
1910 – 1911: Rex Graham, Artificial Teeth Manufacturer
1914 – 1926: Herbert Shelton, Draper
1928 – 1975: H.E.Randall, Boot and Shoe Manufacturers
1930 – 1940: Beds and Hunts Farmers Union, Union Offices
1947 – 1955: National Farmers Union, Union Offices
1952: Bedfordshire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs, Farmers Clubs
1955: Oak Repertory Co, Repertory Company
1957: Parrott and Co, Accountants
1957: Office Craft Ltd, Office Supplies
1959 – 1972: R T Bustin and Co , Accountants/Auditors
1959: Insulated Containers Ltd, Container Company
1959 – 1961: Canada Life Assurance, Insurance Company
1963: Victor J F Farrar, Surveyor
1965 – 1966 , 68 – 75: County Staff Agency, Recruitment Services
1966 – 1967: Top Dresser, Dressmakers
1972 – 1973: Jordan, Bustin and Co, Accountants
See here for a more detailed list of occupiers of 72-74 High Street
No 74
After William Eastaff, the 1851 Census shows the next residents as being John Pool, a mealman (grain dealer) and his family. The residents in 1861 are William Benskin, a Corn Merchants Clerk, and his family. From 1864 William Hipwell, a miller and corn factors has taken over and along with a partner, a Mr Wykes, also runs a coal and salt merchants from the site. On the 1871 Census John Speck and his wife “the owner of two houses and land” is living there. The next mention of No 74 states it is untenanted in 1881, while in 1891 it is owned by Francis Gamman, a house furnisher but is still untenanted at night.
No 74 is last mentioned in Kellys of 1898 with Francis Gamman still in charge, but after this time appears in no further trade directories. There is just one further mention in the 20th Century when the erection of modern shop premises in 1955 on the site of the existing (No 74) is shown, perhaps erroneously, on BorBTP/55/204.
No. 74:
1841 – 1847: William Eastaff, Carpenter
1851: John Pool, Mealman (Grain Merchant)
1861: William M Benskin, Corn Merchants Clerk
1861 – 1869: William Hipwell, Corn Dealer, Mealman & Gauno Merchant
1871: John and Elizabeth Speck, Tenants
1881: Untenanted
1891 – 1898: Francis Gamman, House Furnisher
1898 – 1955: NO FURTHER MENTIONS
See here for a more detailed list of occupiers of 72-74 High Street