Bedford, Swan Hotel And The River Ouse 1898
Photo ref: 40862
Made in Britain logo

Photo ref: 40862
Photo of Bedford, Swan Hotel And The River Ouse 1898

More about this scene

Highway improvements have swept away the Italianate and balustraded mid 19th-century buildings in front of the spire, which is that of St Paul's Church. At the far right is the Swan Hotel. This elegant stone building was designed by Henry Holland and built in 1794, replacing an earlier timber-framed inn nearer the bridge. Holland had worked for the Duke of Bedford at his seat at Woburn Abbey some ten miles south-west of Bedford, and the duke had acquired the old inn in 1787.

An extract from Bedford Photographic Memories.

Featuring this image:

Bedford Photographic Memories

Bedford Photographic Memories

The photo 'Bedford, Swan Hotel and the River Ouse 1898' appears in this book.

View Book

A Selection of Memories from Bedford

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our website to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was, prompted by the photographs in our archive. Here are some from Bedford

Sparked a Memory for you?

If this has sparked a memory, why not share it here?

I was evacuated to Bedford in 1939 aged 7 and stayed first of all with a Mrs Drake ,the wife of a captain Drake who was in command of a ship called the Warspite. I remember it was off Goldington rd. by the school where all the evacuees were taken and sat around the central hall to be selected and billeted with various families. Mrs Drake had a housemaid and I remember the air raid sirens sounding at 11.00 am to ...see more
My mother used to work at a factory called "proper pride" making lingerie does anyone remember it I think it was in mile road, it would be lovely to hear from anyone who knew it. My mother was called maria longo
In 1956 when I was 17 years old my brother in law built a sailing boat but neither if us had ever sailed. We took the boat on a trailer to "Kelpie's" yard on the river Ouse at Great Barford near to Bedford and were soon leaning the skills of gybing until a late gybe left us stranded in reeds. I was the lucky one having been elected to enter the water to clear a way (picture Humphry Bogart in African Queen). ...see more
I spent many a happy afternoons here , watching film's . Beautiful old place , so sad when they tore it down . It was supposed to be a listed building , thank's BB Council , they also pulled down the old Granada, which was also ' a Listed building !!!! It was also in a lovely setting by the river , i miss those days ...