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The Arcade
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The Bedfordshire Mercury described The Arcade, which opened on Saturday 25th March 1905 as "a Crystal Palace". The architects were Usher and Anthony and the builder was George Haynes.
The newspaper went on to report that the High Street entrance was fixed with a Bostwick collapsible gate with The Arcade being closed at 8.00pm on weekdays and 10.00pm on Saturdays with a caretaker in livery being in attendance for the opening, closing and cleaning of the Arcade. At the High Street entrance was the spacious shop taken by. Tom Combs and called The Arcadium. There were also 20 other shops and the rent was 30 a year.
The newspaper reported, "though gas was laid on to everyone of the premises, it is open to tenants to have electric light if preferred the cable being quiet handy" and "the Arcade itself is fitted with Lucass incandescent lamps of tremendous candle power".
There were also 20 shops at the Harpur Street end, known as the Lower Arcade with room for 15 more.
The Kellys directory for 1906 listed the following shops.
The Arcade, Bedford by Bedfordshire Libraries, 2012
Page last updated: 22nd January 2014