Bedford in historic gazetteers

Gazetteer of the British Isles (Edinburgh: Bartholomew, 1887). John Bartholomew

Bedford.-- co. town of Bedfordshire, parl. and mun. bor., situated in a fertile dist., on both sides of river Ouse, crossed by a bridge of 5 arches, and on main line of Midland Ry., 49¾ miles NW. of London, 2127 ac., pop. 19,533; 2 Banks, 4 newspapers. Market-days, Monday and Saturday. It has important mfrs. of agricultural implements, straw-plait, and lace. It is also eminent as an educational centre. Among its endowments is a free grammar school, founded in 1561 by Sir W. Harpur, in connection with which 2 high schools for girls were opened in 1882; the annual income from this endowment, originally #40, is now upwards of £13,000. There is also the Bedford County School, a handsome new building, with accommodation for 300 boarders. John Bunyan (1628-88), author of the "Pilgrim's Progress", born at Elstow, in the vicinity, was imprisoned for twelve years in Bedford Gaol. The town returns 1 member to Parl.