The Commercial Tavern, Bedford

Commercial Tavern, c.1910 [ref: Z1306/10/14/1]

The Commercial Tavern: 35 - 37 Commercial Road

The Commercial Tavern was a public house located at 35-37 Commercial Road, Bedford run by Higgins and Sons. The property was built around 1862 when John Francis purchased the land from John Elger of Brighton [ref: GK70/1]. That same year John Francis mortgages the property to George Higgins, brewer of Bedford [GK70/2].  

The first mention of the pub being called The Commercial Tavern is in a post office directory of 1869.

In the assessment book of licensed houses which was done by J R Eve & Son between 1910 and 1911 [ref: Z720/214/2] it states the following about the building:

• Commercial Tavern, 35-37 Commercial Road
• Occupier: Edwin Humphreys
• Owner: Higgins
• Public house
• Years: 9 years
• New rent: £38 tied
• New Trade: takings 20 – 22 a week
• Old Valuation; £55
• New Valuation: £80
• New rateable value: £64
• - 1 cellar
• - 1 private bar, 1 public bar, 2 and 6 beer pulls, 1 smoke room, 1 club room, 1 sitting room, 1 kitchen, 1 scullery, 1 pantry
• - first floor 3 bedrooms
• - second floor 3 bedrooms, 1 lumber room
• Notes as to trade: Mr. Humphreys out
• Advantages, Disadvantages & c.: Agreed no personal, "no back premises", "came from White Horse, father in Queens Park, Mrs. Wilmer about 18 years", "lot of people in" 6 barrels, 15 dozen bottles, 4 gal spirits.’

In 1931 the pub, along with others, was sold by Higgins and Sons to Wells and Winch [ref: GK297/1].

The pub is now closed and is a residential building.

Commercial Tavern, c.1990s [ref: CRT130BED/317/2]

List of Licensees: note that this is not a complete list; entries in italics refer to licensees where either beginning or end, or both, dates are not known:

• 1869: William Waldock
• 1877- 1885: Rebecca Gist
• 1887-1894: William John Wilmer (35 Commercial Road)
• 1898: W Wilmer
• 1903- 1931: Edwin Humphreys
• 1936-1940: Thos. Butler
• 1947: Mrs. Edith Rose Butler
• 1949-1955:  Rt. Benjamin Sansome
• 1957: Fredrick Diemer
• 1976: Stephen Cotter
• 1985: Henry Allen

List of sources at Bedfordshire Archives:

• GK70/1: Conveyance, 1862
• GK70/2: Mortgage, 1862
• GK70/3: Release of Equity of Redemption, 1863
• GK4/2: Conveyance, 1869
• BorBP3280/1-3: Building plans for dining room at the Commercial Tavern [No 35] for Messrs Higgins & Sons, 1897
• BMB4/1/11/53: Notebook containing inventories and valuations, 1886
• GK4/4: Agreement, 1902
• Z720/214/2: Assessment Book of Licensed Houses in Bedford, 1910-1911
• Z1306/10/14/1: Postcard showing view of Commercial Tavern, Commercial Road, c.1910
• GK4/6: Schedule of deeds relating to Freehold properties of Higgins and Sons Ltd, 1927
• GK297/1: Conveyance, 1931
• BTNegOB50/7: Commercial Tavern, Commercial Road, Bedford, 1931
• BP65/9/1: View of Battison Street looking north from Commercial Road showing The Commercial Tavern on the corner, c.1960
• Z1169/8/8/7/1: Proposed alterations of Commercial Tavern for Wells & Winch Ltd, 1952
• Z1169/8/8/7/2: Proposed alterations of Commercial Tavern for Wells & Winch Ltd, 1954
• X881/4/A20: Photograph of Henry Allen, landlord of Commercial Tavern, Bedford, c.1985
• CRT130BED/317/2: Frank Farmers notes on Bedford Pubs, 1990s