Bedford, The Howard Monument 1898
Photo ref: 40860
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This statue of 1890 is by perhaps England's finest Art Nouveau sculptor, Alfred Gilbert, whose sinuous, slightly disquieting style is seen at its best around the base of the pedestal. He was the sculptor of Eros in Piccadilly Circus in London. John Howard (1726- 1790) lived at nearby Cardington, and was twice Mayor of Bedford and in 1773 Lord High Sheriff of the county. He was concerned with prison reform: his name lives on in the Howard League for Penal Reform.

An extract from Bedford Photographic Memories.

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Bedford Photographic Memories

Bedford Photographic Memories

The photo 'Bedford, the Howard Monument 1898' appears in this book.

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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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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