Francis Frith logo

The Francis Frith Collection Francis Frith

An Historical Photographic Archive of National Importance

Call: +44 (0)1722 716 376
Sign-in or Register
Contact Us
Trustpilot
Sign-in or Register
Delivery Info Help Contact Us
US ($)
Choose A Francis Frith Shop
 UK (£) For UK & International delivery US ($) For US/Canada delivery
Call +44 (0)1722 716376
0 Items: View Basket
Shopping Basket
Trustpilot
  1. Home
  2. Bedford
  3. Photos
  4. Bedford, St Paul's Square c.1955

Bedford, St Paul's Square c.1955
Photo ref: B51020
Made in Britain logo

Photo ref: B51020
Photo of Bedford, St Paul's Square c.1955
All Photos
Previous
19 / 283
Next

More about this scene

St Paul's Square, also known as Market Place, is bounded on the west by the churchyard of St Paul. The old guild hall and numerous small market encroachment buildings were cleared away early in the 19th century by the town's Improvement Commissioners; this in effect recreated the original scale of the medieval market place. In this view, the market place is mostly a car park, with market stalls along the south side of the Square - one is visible at the left.

An extract from Bedford Photographic Memories.

Add to Album
What's an Album? Info
Share This Photo

Buy a Print

Unframed, Mounted, Framed and Canvas prints in a range of sizes and styles.

View Sizes & Prices

Create a Gift

Mug
On a Mug
Calendar
In a Calendar
Calendar
Multi-Photo Prints
In a
Multi-Photo Print
Tea Towel
Tea Towel
Cushion Covers
Cushion Cover
Cushion
Gift Card
Gift Card

Featuring this image:

This image appears in the Theme:

50s & 60s

Favourite archive photos celebrating the 50s & 60s

View 50s & 60s Theme
Bedford Photographic Memories

Bedford Photographic Memories

The photo 'Bedford, St Paul's Square c1955' 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?

Add a memory of this photo

Over Whelmed.
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.
Bedford, Bedford School c1950
Contact Contributor
Add Comment
Added 26 November 2024

One Of Three
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.
Bedford, the Picturedrome 1921
Contact Contributor
Add Comment
Added 26 November 2024

Evacuee To Bedford 1939
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
Contact Contributor
Add Comment
Added 22 November 2019

Proper Pride
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
Contact Contributor
Read Comments 4
Added 06 August 2016

More about Image Optimisation

All our photos are printed as optimised versions of their originals, this process can take anything from 15 minutes to several hours. This ensures that the product you get shows the true quality that Frith photos are renowned for.

Example of image retouching:

Before
After

Genealogy & Research Images

Despite over 20 years’ work on the archive, these scans have still not been individually checked and may prove to be damaged, faded, or not of sufficient quality to ever be offered in our full product range. However, if you would particularly like to buy one of these please get in touch quoting the Frith negative number,(s) the town name and size of print you would like to buy. On receipt of your enquiry our archivist will check the scan and advise you if the quality is good enough.

What is an Album?

An album is a way to save a selection of Frith photos, maps and memories that are of interest to you.

Creating an Album enables you to make short lists and then make a final selection from the album. In particular it makes ordering things like calendars much easier - simply create an Album of the 12 photos you like and then use the Album when placng your order - our order process will give you this option.

You can create as many Albums as you want, so perhaps make one for your hometown, where you live now, where your parents live now etc.