Historic Bedfordshire

27/12/2025

24/12/2025

As it it such a nice morning, I thought I would head over to the Longholme Cafe for breakfast.

The boating lake today is very different from the the image on this postcard sent over 100 years ago.

23/12/2025

Merry Christmas everyone.

This is the oldest postcard I have of the High Street, and is dated 1902.

I love how busy the High Street is and how stylishly dressed everyone is.

21/12/2025

These original postcards are of Bedford Park, c. 1910.

The playground area looks very different to the playground area now.

The main gates are still the same, as is the bandstand. Somewhere I also have a postcard of the 'cafe' in Bedford Park. If I find it before Christmas I will post it here.

The playground image is for sale, framed at épanoui. If you would like the originals of any of the other postcards, please DM me direct.

In the New Year, I though I might share the antique postcards I have that relate to DeParys, The Broadway and St Peters.

19/12/2025

A couple more images taken from postcards of The High Street. One has a stamp dated 1924, the other a bit earlier. Look how busy the High Street is.

I remember the Cadena cafe as my grandmother used to take me there as a child. It operated as a cafe until c. 1976.

(Again you can purchase the original postcards from Epanoui on Mill Street.)

Over the weekend I will post what original images I have of Bedford Park.

15/12/2025

As promised a photo of The High Street c.1906 which shows The George Hotel before it was demolished.

This is one of my favorite postcards of this end of The High Street, as I have often wondered what the policeman was thinking as he looked out over the river.

The buildings on the left were demolished to eventually make way for the widening of the bridge. One of the businesses there was "A Stavinski" who described himself as a 'Court Hairdresser'. I found out information on him as part of my research into the House History of a property in Waterloo Road.

One interesting fact regarding the family was that Stavinski's son married the girl next door, and they had known each other from the ages of 6 & 8.

I have framed this original postcard and a few others of The High Street and Embankment. They are available for sale at épanoui in Bedford.

12/12/2025

Following on from the postcard I posted of The High Street a couple of days ago, I looked through my collection and found another postcard of the corner of The High Street for this period. It is interesting as you can see a better picture of the Murkett Brothers showroom, and how it cornered The High Street and The Embankment. You have a much better sense of the fashion during this period, and I love the two women with the small child on the bridge.

I have three copies of this postcard, but can date them to 1916 due to the stamp, and postmark on the back.

The postcard was sent from 30 The Embankment in Bedford. The 1918 electoral register for Bedfordshire records the residents as George and Mabel Sanders.

If you are interesting in obtaining one of these original postcards, please DM me direct.

Following on from this theme, next week I will post some original postcards pre 1911, which shows The George Inn before it was converted into the showroom and garage by The Murkett Brothers. (I think a framed original of this is for sale at Epanoui).

I also have a story about the barbers in the building on the left hand side.

10/12/2025

When sourcing original antique maps of Bedfordshire, I occasionally have to buy them as a 'job lot' with other county maps.

As a qualified map and paper conservator, I always clean and re-mount the any Bedfordshire related maps and pictures, and repair if necessary.

As the maps below are not part of Bedfordshire, I am having a clear out and selling these maps at a clearance price of £12 each, £8 for the map of south west England. Some have their original mount, some don't. I can confirm they are genuine originals and date c. 1850. They are in good condition and sold as seen. The mounts are OK, but I would personally remount them. Please DM me if you are interested. Local collection only. Again, these could make an excellent present for someone who lives in these counties....

If you are interested in Bedfordshire, there are a couple of framed maps for sale in épanoui Bedford.

08/12/2025

I love what's going on in the postcard of The High Street in Bedford, c. 1906.

So much has changed since then. Murkett Brothers on the right were motor engineers. They started trading in The High Street 1911 and traded there until 1959 when they moved to site in Barkers Lane.

(This is one of the framed postcards for sale at épanoui).

05/12/2025

Happy Christmas everyone. This postcard is of The Embankment in 1906. This postcard, and other like it are framed and for sale at épanoui, on Mill Street in Bedford.

05/11/2024

Poddington Post Office. Taken approximately 10 years ago. Is it still open?

21/02/2022

Having a bit of a clear out and found these four photographic images that I had taken from 1905 postcards. All the picture are on good quality photographic paper, so reading for framing.
Selling at £5.00 for all four photos..
,
I also have a spare of The Embankment photo showing the River and boats, which I can sell for £1.25.

First come, first serve...

Thanks