E P Rose & Son 1945-2021

In 1945 large numbers of shares were purchased from the Rose family by Debenhams and this was followed by similar purchases in 1947. In August 1949 Bedford architects Deacon & Gude submitted outline plans to the Borough Council on behalf of E P Rose as the ‘prospective purchaser of 46 High Street and freeholder of remaining land at rear, formerly known as 'Old George Inn' and wish to develop No 46 in order to extend existing retail department shop with restaurant and ancillary uses the new extension to be 12,770 square feet.’ (BorBP13801/1). In January 1950 E P Rose & Son Limited finally purchased number 46 High Street (X679/3/7) but the proposed redevelopment did not proceed. New plans were submitted in 1954 for the extension of shop & new third floor, 46-54 High Street & 2-4 Silver Street for Messrs E P Rose & Son Ltd (BorBP15813).

One of the problems was what to do about the entrance to the Old George Yard that came from the High Street. The Borough council supported E P Rose in negotiations with adjoining landowners to enable alternative access via Mayes yard off St Paul’s Square and in applying to the government for the stopping up of the right of way from the High Street. The plans called for more of the Prioratus building to be demolished in order for vehicles to be able to get into the yard from the west. Although approved the 1954 plans were still not acted on. Debenhams acquired more shares from the Rose family in 1962 and shares were reorganised into 28,000 shares (X679/11/3). In 1963 new plans were submitted for a new building to be erected on the site of No 46 High Street (Bor. Finally between 1965 and 1967 plans were carried out to rebuild number 46 and alter portions of the main store. By 29 January 1967 the project had cost £272,040 (X679/3/27). On the 29 January 1968 the private limited liability company E P Rose, a subsidiary of Debenhams, sold its property to Debenhams plc (X679/3/21-23). While E P Rose were busy rebuilding number 46, Bedford Holdings Limited demolished the next door property number 44 and began to rebuild. However, on the 29th March 1968 Debenhams proposed ‘to lease two floors of the building next door to us here in Bedford, and as only a shell exists, and also because openings between the Store and the leased premises have had to be made, certain expenditures have been authorised..’ 

Some time after 1976 Debenhams expanded into Number 42, seen below in 2012 , (Reference X679/6/18/1). Debenhams continued to occupy these buildings until May 2021 when the store closed.

Debenhams, 42 High Street, 2012 [X679/6/18/1]