John Bunyan
People > Bunyan, John
Bunyan's Home was his source of inspiration
Bedfordshire Times October 1981
It is not the landscapes and towns that sum up the county but the words of men and their quiet actions too.
So says David Kennett in his recent Portrait of Bedfordshire and his words apply most aptly to Bedfordshire's most famous figure, the immortal tinker John Bunyan.
Wherever you walk through Bedford or Elstow, it is impossible not to be reminded of the man. His statue, erected in 1874, stands on the corner of St Peter's Green. Apart from the meeting house which he founded, originally a barn but twice rebuilt and now with a museum, there is a school, sports and social complex and streets named after him.
Yet sadly neither house in which he lived remains standing. His home in St Cuthbert's Street was demolished in 1838 and his birthplace in Elstow finally collapsed in 1968. Aided by a demolition squad, it took little effort to haul the old house to the ground after years as a target for passing cars and lorries.
St John's church and St John's house, the former rectory can still be seen. The pastor of St John's John Gifford, established Bunyan's faith and it was in the rectory now occupied by St John Ambulance, that the two men had long discussions which finally led to Bunyan's conversion.
But Bunyan's presence in the county is felt much more than in these ephemeral manifestations.
For in writing Pilgrim's Progress, Bunyan drew on the very soil, the countryside, its views and its ancient buildings, its beauty spots for material for the book.
Christian's journey can be mapped out in an area just south of Bedford. Many landmarks and natural features must have been embellished, reality stretched a little here and there to create the backdrop.
But Pilgrim Country is often so identifiable in a local spot as to bring the progress of the pilgrim to life.
Take the 11th century Elstow Abbey - a famous Benedictine nunnery founded by Judith, niece of William the conqueror. Perhaps the nuns, despite their rebuke from the Bishop of Lincoln, were models for the 'virgins of the House Beautiful'.
The Abbey had been dissolved in 1539 and Bunyan was born in 1628 but he may have recalled the 'ladies of Elstow' when describing 'Discretion, Prudence, Piety and Charity.'
'Vanity Fair' could be EIstow itself with its annual fair held on the green. Cages like the one The Pilgrims were put in were common on village greens. There was one at Wootton three miles away.
EIstow Church with its detached bell tower where Bunyan may have rang the bells is model for many things in the book. The wicket gate through which Christian fled, the Castle of Beelzebub, the virgins' closet could be the portal in the West end of the church, the detached tower and the chapter house by the south aisle.
Houghton House was probably the model for 'House Beautiful' whilst Elstow Place, the handsome Jacobean mansion home of the Hillersdens was perhaps the 'stately palace' where the Interpreter led Christian.
'The House of the Interpreter' is St John's rectory while 'Doubting Castle' could have been the castle mound of Cainhoe Castle at Clophill, clothed by Bunyan's imagination.
The river Great Ouse flooding its banks then as it does now creates many a 'Slough of Despond' and the view from Ampthill to the Chilterns is probably to 'The Delectable Mountains.'
There are odd references too but easily explainable. That high hill -'the side of it that was next the wayside did hang so much over that Christian was afraid to venture' and out of the side of which came 'flashes of fire.' Such a hill is to be found : at Castle Mills on the Ouse. Called Risinghoe, it was perhaps used as a signal station from which fire flashes were sent to other nearby stations. ,
Millbrook Gorge could be that 'Valley of the Shadow of Death' with its gloomy look and steep sides and as for the 'Silver Mine of Demas' well a Gold Mine is marked on the Ordnance Survey map at Pulloxhill!
Even a few names appear -Christian was 'set on by Guilt' in Deadman's Lane; there is a Deadman's Oak at the corner of Shirehatch wood not far from Elstow on the hills dividing the Ouse and Ivel valleys. At the top of Hanger Hill is Deadman's Corner and close by is Deadman's Cross.
The houses have gone and the cross on Elstow Green is a stump; the old goal where Bunyan wrote his famous book disappeared years ago.
But Pilgrim Country remains.
Reproduced by permission of the Bedfordshire Times
Page last updated: 23rd January 2014