Bedford
Braggins

Places > Bedford > Shops > Braggins

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The original business was founded in High Street, Bedford by Ezra Braggins. In 1885 he bought the premises on the corner of Silver Street and Harpur Street. The shop was open from 8.00am to 8.00pm during the week and 8.00am to 10.00pm on Saturdays.

In the early days the shop was a drapers and boys outfitters, however in 1914 the High Street shop selling girls cloths was shut with the business moving to the Silver Street corner shop. After the Second World War Braggins expanded in Silver Street when in 1947 Bryants Fish Shop was bought, in 1950 the Victory Hall was taken over and in 1955 new departments were opened for ladies clothes and fabrics. In 1970 a new £85,000 extension in Harpur Street was built.

In 1982 the store was bought by Beale’s a Bournmouth based family owned chain of stores and with the takeover came the name change to Beale’s.

Sources

• The Newspaper Cuttings Collection, Local Studies Library, Bedford Central Library

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Braggins by Bedfordshire Libraries, 2014

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Page last updated: 7th May 2014