Bedford
The Opening of Bedford Park

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From: The Bedfordshire Times c.1970

Transcription

The current restoration of Bedford Park's wrought iron gates, commented upon on this page last week with some asperity by an elderly reader, gives this week's old picture a topical touch.

It shows the opening of the park, complete with the said wrought-iron gates, by the then Marquis of Tavistock on July 11, 1888. On the same day, his lordship went on to perform a similar service for the suspension bridge.

The Bedfordshire Times of July 14th 1888, reported the event, said of the gates " these unusually large and handsome park gates differ from almost all other park gates set up in recent years in that they are entirely the work of manual labour: only the primitive forge, anvil and hammer have been used in their production. The work was entrusted to Messrs Bacchus and Ison The design selected was produced under their direction by Mssrs Starkie, Gardner and Co., of Lambeth, but whilst under consideration by the committee it was to a great extent remodelled and improved by Mr. Joseph Miller, who has supervised the work throughout and to whom the credit of the work as it now stands, is due.

"The design is of the style in vogue during the 17th century, when English smithing as a fine art was at its zenith, and the details recall the work executed for Hampton Court by Huntingdon Shaw, now in the Kensington Museum. The entire work, consisting of the massive pair of carriage gates, the quadrangular piers of open ironwork surmounted by imposing lamps, and the two wicket gates, and even the two small bronze, dedicatory shields, were produced within six weeks. The cost is about 350."

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