The George & Dragon Public House, Bedford
The George & Dragon, c. 1990s [ref: CRT130BED/2]
The George & Dragon Public House: 39 (formerly no.7) Mill Street, Bedford
In 1884 the brewery Higgins & Son Limited commissioned the architects Usher & Anthony to design the new George & Dragon pub in Mill Street. The builders were Messrs Knight & Boston. This building was on the site of the previous building at 7 Mill Street (later re-numbered to 39) which was also a pub, variously known as the George and then George & Dragon.
The 1841 Census shows John Mayle was publican at this time. His widowed wife Susan is listed as the licensee in the 1847 Directory. By 1850 Joseph Judge was the licensee, and he, and later his widow Eliza held the pub for the next 30 years, as recorded in the censuses:
Alterations plan, 1932 [ref: BORBP9076]
The first Landlord after the pub was rebuilt in 1884-6 was Daniel William Lightfoot. He only occupied the pub briefly, and local Quarter Sessions Court records list him as a witness in a case of stolen poultry [ref: QSR1887/1/5/2-4]
By 1891 William Nicholls, was the landlord and he stays there until at least 1911. William’s brothers were also landlords at the same time as him, with Harry Nicholls being the landlord of The Wheatsheaf in Cauldwell Street and Samuel Nicholls being the landlord of The Five Bells in Cople. William later becomes Mayor of Bedford in 1921 and 1927.
The George & Dragon is still a pub and is open as of writing [2026].
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:
- 1841: John Mayle
- 1847: Susan Mayle
- 1850-1861: Joseph Judge
- 1869-1881: Elizabeth Judge
- 1884: Daniel Walter Lightfoot
- 1891-1911: William Nicholls
- 1914: Harold J. Fuller
- 1920: John Hobkirk
- 1924-1928: Harry Dickins
- 1931-1950: William Wootton
- 1952-1957: Mrs C A Wootton
List of sources at Bedfordshire Archives:
- GK72: Deeds and documents relating to The George & Dragon, 1818-1860
- BorBP1347/1-2: Building plans for Old George Yard, Bedford. Additions to the George & Dragon [7 Mill Street] for Messrs Higgins & Sons, 1885
- ST/U3/12: Usher & Anthony architects notebook marked George & Dragon Higgins & Sons. 1886-7 and Aug 1895
- QSR1887/1/5/2-4: Deposition of D W Lightfoot, 1887
- QSR1887/1/4/2-4/b: Deposition of Daniel William Lightfoot, licensed victualler of the George & Dragon Inn, Mill Street, Bedford, 1887
- ST/U4/9: Usher & Anthony architect notebook marked George & Dragon, July - Sept 1892
- Z1265/14/3/3: Rules of Heartsease Lodge No. 585, Bedford District, of the National United Order of Free Gardeners held at George & Dragon Inn, Mill Street, Bedford, 1896
- GK4/4: Agreement - Higgins and Sons Ltd, 27 Jan 1902
- GK4/6: Schedule of Deeds relating to Freehold properties of Higgins and Sons Ltd., Brewers of Bedford: 'George and Dragon', Bedford (1845), 1927
- Z1039/10/1: File relating to The George & Dragon, 1931
- BTNegOB39/6a-b: Negatives of George & Dragon, Mill Street, Bedford, 1931
- GK297/1: Conveyance includes George & Dragon, Mill St, Bedford (formerly Old George), 1931
- BORBP9076: Plan of alterations to George & Dragon, Mill Street for Wells & Winch Limited, 1932-1934
- X373/203-204: Glass plate negative & positive print of Mill Street. Nos. 7 - 11a, c. Mar 1934
- BorBPH3/243: Negative of 37 and 39 Mill Street (Electra, electrical appliances; The George and Dragon Public House), 1972
- BorBTP/90/1294: Planning application for The George and Dragon Public House, Mill Street, Bedford: conservatory covered area and fire escape, 1990
- X881/6/4/32/12: Colour photograph of the George and Dragon, 39 Mill Street, Bedford, 1990s
- BorBP535: Building plans for Old George Yard (off High Street), Bedford. Additions to public house for Mr Corcoran [George & Dragon?], not dated