Bedford
Trade and Industry
Harrison & Rowley
Places > Bedford > Trade and Industry > Harrison & Rowley
The firm of Harrison and Rowley opened in 1922, Mr. Rowley was a cabinet maker from Shortstown while Mr Harrison was an upholsterer. The original premises in Foster Hill Road were small and very basic. Part of the set up was two cottages in Princess Street, which were demolished in 1930 to provide extra shop space. The main problem with the site was a lack of a rear entrance but this was resolved when they bought the land behind the shop. Later on the corner shop and house were bought at an auction.
Originally the shop only dealt in second hand furniture but they soon started selling new stock. Neither man forgot their trades and repair work was undertaken until 1930. After the war the firm also started a removal service and in 1970 the firm closed its second hand furniture department. In 2004 the firm closed with the site being redeveloped as a three-storey block of 15 flats.
Sources:
- The Newspaper Cuttings Collection, Local Studies Library, Bedford Central Library
- Kelly’s Directories of Bedford
Harrison & Rowley by Bedfordshire Libraries, 2014
Page last updated: 7th May 2014