75 High Street
This property was researched by John Thurston.
Earliest occupier was George Hurst, a Linen and Woollen Draper who is first recorded in 1830. During the next 34 years Hurst, a five times Mayor of Bedford, is shown operating his business with two different partners, Hurst and Wootton (c.1839 – 1850), and Hurst and Cutliffe (1851 – 1864).
At the beginning of the second partnership, in 1851, Hurst completely rebuilds the building, complete with statues outside depicting Paladis, Christopher Wren & Inigo Jones.
The shop is then taken over by Radford and Allan, also Drapers, around 1869*, who stay until 1887. William Dust then takes over the Drapery business which runs under his name until 1910 and then becomes Dust-Bedford until 1955.
In 1957 the Hurst building is demolished and rebuilt. The new occupants are the Consumer Tea Company and Pearl Assurance Co Ltd until 1961.
Pearl then share with Stones Fashions, Costumiers (1963 – 1967), Renore Ltd, Ladies Fashions (1968 – 1973) and Hepworths, Tailors (1973 – 1976).
In recent times Laura Ashley, Ladies Outfitters, have shared the premises with Adecco, Employment Agency in 2008 probably until 2012, then with Higgins Recruitment Agency from 2012 – 2024.
The shop downstairs was empty from 2015 – 2018 and was then taken over by Marie Curie, Charity Shop, who shared with Escape Rooms, Amusements (2020 – 2024) and the Cellar Bar (2024)
Summary of Occupiers
1830 – c.1838: George Hurst, Linen and Woollen Drapers
1839 – 1850: Hurst and Wootton, Linen and Woollen Drapers
1851: Building erected by George Hurst, Linen and Woollen Draper
1851 – 1864: Hurst and Cutliffe, Linen and Woollen Drapers
1869 – 1887: Radford and Allan, Linen and Woollen Drapers
1870: * Cutliffe and Bennett, drapers
1888 – 1955: William Dust/Dust Bedford Ltd, Drapers and Court Milliners
1957: Building demolished and rebuilt
1959 – 1961: Consumers Tea Co Ltd + Pearl Assurance Co Ltd
1963 – 1967: Pearl Assurance Co Ltd + Stones Fashions Ltd, Costumiers
1968 – 1973: Pearl Assurance Co Ltd + Renore Ltd, Ladies Fashions
1973 – 1976: Pearl Assurance Co Ltd + Hepworths
2008 – 2014: Laura Ashley, Ladies Outfitters
2008 – 2009: Adecco, Recruitment Agency
2012 – 2024: Higgins Recruitment Company Ltd
2019 – 2024: Marie Curie, Charity Shop
2020 – 2021: Escape Rooms, Amusements
2024: Cellar Bar
* N.B. A press cutting exists from 1870 mentioning “Cutliffe and Bennett” Drapers which contradicts Directory Entries; possibly this was a short lived partnership before Radford and Allan properly took over the business.