Bedford
Harpur Street

Places > Bedford > Streets > Harpur Street

On Speeds map of 1610 the southern end is called Sheps Chepping and the northern end Duck Lane. In the 18th century public house names were used for relevant parts of the street e.g. Angel Street after the inn which stood where Bedford Central Library now is and White Horse Lane after a public house which stood on the present site of Marks and Spencer.

In 1835 the Improvement Commission chose to name the whole of the street from St. Pauls Square to Dame Alice Street Harpur Street.

Sources

• The Newspaper Cuttings Collection, Local Studies Library, Bedford Central Library
• FREEMAN, Ian  From Saxons to Speed : a new history of old Bedford.  2006.

Page last updated: 22nd January 2014