Bedford
Black Tom Area

Places > Bedford > Streets > Black Tom Area

The name Black Tom was given to the area of houses between the two Park Roads, Tavistock Street and Foster Hill Road. In the early 1960s many of the houses were demolished as part of the area was rebuilt as the Bedford Central Redevelopment Area. This consisted of two 5 storey blocks of flats, Gwyn Court and Patteshull Court, six shops and maisonettes in Priory Street, the six storey Beauchamp Court and the three storey blocks of flats known as Becket Court, Roise Court and Priory Court. The redevelopment provided 331 new dwellings with accommodation for between 450 and 500 people. In addition the new bus station, a multi-storey car park and shops were also built in the area.

Legend has it that the name Black Tom originates from a 19th century highwayman who terrorised the area before he was eventually caught and hung.

Sources

• The Newspaper Cuttings Collection, Local Studies Library, Bedford Central Library.
• BEDFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL Official Opening of Gwyn and Patteshull Courts Monday 9th April 1962. A copy is held in The Heritage Library, Bedford Central Library

Page last updated: 7th May 2014