Bedford
De Parys Avenue

Places > Bedford > Streets > De Parys Avenue

The story behind De Parys Avenue, Bedfordshire On Sunday
 9th September 1979

Bedfordshire on Sunday, reproduced with permission

DE PARYS AVENUE In transforming Bedford from an agricultural centre to a residential town, the Victorians created one great urban vista, De Parys Avenue. The street was laid out from 1881 on land formerly belonging to St. Johns Hospital, a medical religious house reputedly founded by the half-mythical Robert De Parys. Traditionally he did this in 980 A.D., but a date sometime in the 12th century is more likely. In 1879 Bedford Corporation made the first moves to wind up the Hospital estate by Act of Parliament and release the land for building development, the proceeds of which would pay for a public recreation ground ie Bedford Park which was opened in 1888. The construction of De Parys Avenue began with the demolition of Bury Farm, west of St. Peters Church, an old house last inhabited by a French nobleman, the Viscomte de Vismes.

Page last updated: 21st January 2014