Bedford
High Street History
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Palgraves - Druggists and Chemists
19/21 High Street
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The Palgrave Family
Robert Palgrave
stood surety for yeoman, Joseph Hoason, in 1799 and was described as a
druggist from Bedford. In 1820, he is listed as a freeholder in the parish of
St Pauls, Bedford and in 1832, according to the electors list of that year, he
had a property at Palgrave Row.
John Pierson Palgrave 1794-1840 was thought to be the son of Robert Palgrave above. The Parish Register for St Pauls Bedford records the baptism of John Pierson Palgrave, born 18.2.1794, son of Robert and Joanna Palgrave on 13.1.1795. Pigot & Co.s National Commercial Directory, 1830, lists John and Chas. Palgrave, High Street, Bedford as Chymists and Druggists. In the 1832 electors list, he is shown as having a freehold property at Gravel Lane, Bedford.
Charles Frederick Palgrave 1797-1854 was thought to be the son of Robert Palgrave above. The Parish Register for St Pauls Bedford records the baptism of Charles Frederick Palgrave, born 3.10.1797, son of Robert and Joanna Palgrave on 9.9.1799. In the 1832/33 Register of Electors for St Pauls Bedford, he is listed as living in Bedford and the owner of a tenanted freehold cottage. And in the 1847/48 Register for the same parish he is listed as the owner of a freehold cottage in Well Street.
Charles was in business with his brother as a Chymist and Druggist according to Pigots Directory, 1830. He was Mayor of Bedford in 1849 and 1850. J. Hamson records in 'Bedford Town and Townsmen', that in September 1846 Charles Frederick Palgrave seconded a motion to approve a scheme for the formation of a railway from the Midlands through Bedford. This was carried after an address by George Hudson the Railway King.
His architect nephew Robert Palgrave (1831-1882), designed an imposing chemists shop and living quarters for him at 19-21 High Street in c. 1849. His nephew was a pupil of George Gilbert Scott and also designed Howards Britannia Works in 1857 and St Pauls tower and spire in Bedford.
The business was sold to John Usher Taylor, Chemist after Charles Palgraves death in 1854.
Information from David Fowler 2011
Timeline
Nos. 19/21 High Street, Bedford
| c.1800 | Palgraves, Chemists and Druggists, established |
| 1849-51 | Shop and residential quarters built for Charles Palgrave |
| 1854 | John Usher Taylor, Chemist |
| 1858 | Taylor and Cuthbert, Chemists |
| 1890 |
19, Taylor and Cuthbert,
Pharmaceutical Chemists 21, Harry Whittome, Clothier |
| 1898 |
19, Taylor and Cuthbert,
Pharmaceutical Chemists 19, Slipper, Shipley, Dentists 21, Bedford Clothing Co. |
| 1899 |
19, vacant 21, Bedford Clothing Co. |
| 1903 |
19, Theed Pearse, Solicitor 19, Upson and Co., Bootmaker 21, Bedford Clothing Co. |
| 1912 |
19, Upson and Co.,Boot and Shoe
Stores 21, Charnley and Sons, Opticians |
| c.1915 |
19, Capital and Counties Bank
(later Lloyds Bank) 21, Charnley and Sons, Opticians |
| 1938 |
19, Lloyds Bank 21, Charnley and Sons, Opticians |
| 1947 |
19, Lloyds Bank 21, Charnley and Sons, Opticians |
| 1952 | 19/21 Lloyds Bank |
| up to 1970s | Lloyds Bank |
| from 1970s | various bars and clubs |
Sources
Bedford Local Studies and Heritage Library (HL)
- Parish Registers - Bedford, St Pauls
- Bedfordshire Times 8.7.1882 p.5 Death of an Architect (Robert Palgrave)
- Brawn, H.S. Trio of Ointment Makers. Bedfordshire Magazine vol.2, 1949 p.7-9 (Brief mention of C.F. Palgrave)
- Hamson, J. Bedford Town & Townsmen 1845-1895: a record of the local history of Bedford during the last half century, Bedfordshire Times Office, 1896, 942.561 HL
- Bedford Directories HL
- Registers for Electors - St Pauls, Bedford 1832/33 and 1847/48 HL
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Page last updated: 29th January 2014