Bedford, Bunyan Memorial And Church Green c.1955
Photo ref: B51023
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Undoubtedly Bedford's most famous son - if only because of his imprisonment as a result of religious intolerance - John Bunyan was born into a tinker's family and lived something of the high life before becoming a Nonconformist preacher. In 1660 he was arrested for his beliefs and spent the next 12 years in prison. Released in 1672, when King Charles II issued the Declaration of Religious Indulgance, he was later returned to gaol when the Declaration was rescinded. The significant and most famous outcome of Bunyan's hardships was the writing and publication, on 18th February 1677, of a religious parable - 'Pilgrim's Progress'. It became one of the most successful books ever written, being published in over 200 languages. Historical theory has it that it is possible to link Pilgrim's journeying to various locations within Bedfordshire, and the recent establishment of the John Bunyan Trail attempts to add substance to the possibility.

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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

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

That view is still majestic, almost as much as my first days in the Lower School, as it was then, in 1950, when I moved up from the "Inky" as the prep. school was called. Everything was so well ordered, so old and really quite scary. There were so many rules to follow and the punishments could be quite severe if you transgressed.. Luckily, the worst I ever got was a detention. Others were not so lucky and could not sit comfortably for some while.
In the 50s in School holiday time, I and my cousins used to visit matinees in all three Cinemas. The Picturedrome (although it went by another rude name, informally, something to do with small biting insects), the Plaza and the Granada. All gone but not forgotten. The Wurlitzer from the Granada was saved and is now as far as I can find, being restored in Barnsley.
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 ...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