Chapter 2 Trade and Industries

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Chapter 2 Trade and Industries In common with many similar towns, the arrival of the railways and largescale industry transformed Bedford in the mid 19 th century.

Railways main line in 1857 which stimulated growth on the west side of the old town centre.

He used to bring his dray around to his home each day at breakfast time.

Jack always brought him out a carrot and was impatient.

to as far as Prebend Street and the old railway station, which stood where the Focus DIY store now stands on Ashburnham Road.

1 Chapter 2 Trade and Industries In common with many similar towns, the arrival of the railways and largescale industry transformed Bedford in the mid 19 th century. The first railway line opened in 1846 and ran from Bedford St John s station to join the main line to London at Bletchley, but it was the building of the Midland Railways main line in 1857 which stimulated growth on the west side of the old town centre. Peggy Watts Mr Jack Ellis, a neighbour, worked for the railway company delivering the freight. He used to bring his dray around to his home each day at breakfast time. On one particular day he had not tethered his horse securely, so it got loose and managed to reach his front door and knock against it with his head. Jack always brought him out a carrot and was impatient. The railway and Allens 1940s By 1868, when the current main line into St Pancras was built, Well Street had been renamed Midland Road and houses were being built up to as far as Prebend Street and the old railway station, which stood where the Focus DIY store now stands on Ashburnham Road. The new main line led to the Gas Works and coking plant moving from its old site on Priory Street to its present site on the south side of Ford End Road, as the coal required for the production of town gas was more easily moved by rail than by boat up the River Ouse as it was formerly. Doll Facey Gas Works Coke was rationed after the war. We had to queue at the Gas Works as we could only have one bag. The queue went past the showrooms on Ford End Road right to the end of the road. The Railway Station 1860s (BLARS X373) The Gasworks 1928 (BLARS Z50/13/56) 6

The rest of the land to the west of the railway was farmland until the early 1890s and the arrival of W H Allen's.

At the suggestion of an employee, they visited Bedford in November 1893, and spotted a site next to the main railway line. Agreement was swiftly made and the 20-acre site purchased.

Mr W H Allen cutting the first turf The first turf was cut on 20 th of January 1894 and an office, pattern store, foundry and main factory were rapidly built.

This started a frenzy of building work for homes in the new Queen s Park estate, with the familiar grid of roads in the older part being laid out and built on in less than 10 years, by which time the

2 The rest of the land to the west of the railway was farmland until the early 1890s and the arrival of W H Allen's. William Henry and Richard Allen had been searching for sites to relocate their engineering business from London. At the suggestion of an employee, they visited Bedford in November 1893, and spotted a site next to the main railway line. Agreement was swiftly made and the 20-acre site purchased. William Henry Allen. Founder of W H Allen, Sons & Co. Ltd. Mr W H Allen cutting the first turf The first turf was cut on 20 th of January 1894 and an office, pattern store, foundry and main factory were rapidly built. By September machine tools were being moved in and installed, with over 100 employees being relocated to Bedford. This started a frenzy of building work for homes in the new Queen s Park estate, with the familiar grid of roads in the older part being laid out and built on in less than 10 years, by which time the Allen's works had doubled in size and by 1905 was employing about 1000 workers. Allen's had a world-class reputation for building pumps and generators and by the start of the First World War was producing these for naval Ruth Cooksley W H Allen My grandfather moved from London to Allen's in Bedford (he worked for them in London). He lodged in Fairfax Road. My dad (born in 1905) worked at Allen's first as an apprentice, then making turbines. My sister Millie and I went to Allen's Christmas parties during the early 1950s. First we were given a handmade hat, then we sat and had tea and cakes. After tea we had films such as Lassie and Sinbad the Sailor and Olive Oyl. After the films we had a magician with tricks. When we went home we were given fruit such as apple, banana and a bar of chocolate. 7

vessels and ocean going liners (including the Titanic).

Jill Storr W H Allen I worked for W H Allen from 1952-1961. I worked in the Accounts Department.

Most of my correspondence was to various shipbuilders and the Admiralty.

King George V and Queen Mary 1918 In 1918 there were 2360 men and boys, and 1034 women working on the two sites in Queen s Park.

10 acre site adjacent to the Biddenham works to be used for sports and recreation (Allen Park).

3 vessels and ocean going liners (including the Titanic). In 1915 the firm purchased a further 20 acres to the west of Westbourne Road in the parish of Biddenham to step up production, and to build aero engines. About a quarter of the workforce had signed up to fight in the war, and the firm now employed a large female contingent. Jill Storr W H Allen I worked for W H Allen from I worked in the Accounts Department. On the odd occasion, I was called in by George P Allen to take shorthand notes. Most of my correspondence was to various shipbuilders and the Admiralty. Between the wars, the Biddenham works shrank in size and the land was used to expand housing in Queen s Park. King George V and Queen Mary 1918 In 1918 there were 2360 men and boys, and 1034 women working on the two sites in Queen s Park. The company was visited by King George V and Queen Mary in the June of that year, and the following day announced the purchase of a 10 acre site adjacent to the Biddenham works to be used for sports and recreation (Allen Park). Prince Philip s visit to WH Allens 1959 The last major building work was the new office block, which was opened by Prince Philip in 1959 and still stands at the end of Ford End Road bridge. Mr Vernon Blackette W H Allen There was quite a few West Indians there in those days. I would walk or cycle to work. Main memory is of a nice place to work. I enjoyed it there, the bosses and staff got on well together. I worked there from and didn t leave for bad reasons. Workers leaving Allens (Courtesy of Times & Citizen newspaper) 8

4 After a series of mergers and takeovers the company sadly declined, selling off more land for housing on both sites, and finally closing for good in The north end of the site had changed hands several times, and was occupied for many years by the Pyghtle works of J P Whites. This company produced high-class woodwork items, specialising in ecclesiastical works, carvings and garden furniture. Derek Pontefract J P Whites It was a family business run by James and his 2 sons (Jimmy and John). They lived in a big house on Bromham Road The Pyghtles. I was an apprentice there for 3 years until they moved to Reading (I think) in the late 1950s. We apprentices worked in the apprentice shop and only got the small jobs such as making the wooden inner drawers for tills. The intricate work was done by the experienced men in the joiners shop. I was made redundant when the Bedford works closed so sadly never finished my apprenticeship. Its renown for quality led to many commissions including interior fittings for the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in Stratford Upon Avon and the Battle of Britain memorial chapel in Westminster Abbey. This latter commission was very appropriate as during the Second World War the factory produced wooden parts for many aircraft, including rudders and doors for Spitfires, and wings for gliders. View of coal yard, railway, and Allens office building As well as providing many jobs in the area, Allens also meant work for other firms in Queen s Park. E Hull Ltd was a local firm started by Edwin Hull in the early 1900s. Like W H Allen, he came from London, he met and married a Kempston girl and they moved to Queen s Park where he started a haulage business in Marlborough Road. He d seen a niche opening up because of the start up of Allen's bringing work into the area. The place that he worked from is now a cobblers (Mario was featured in an earlier magazine) and he stabled two horses there. As the business grew, he needed bigger premises, so he had built a double-fronted house at the junction of Old Ford End Road and Honey Hill Road, with a yard attached to stable six horses and a large loft for the hay and horse food. As well as servicing Allen's, delivering sand for Hulls 1940s 9

the foundry, he was also employed by Bedford Corporation for general delivery work.

individual homes. As well as running a thriving business, Edwin also managed to sire ten children.

twelve horses. Lorries were introduced in the early thirties and gradually replaced the horses.

The Bell) Jim Hull remembers I was born in Queen s Park, still live here and worked here most of my life.

The drivers would carefully wash and groom them, plaiting their manes, cleaning the special brasses they

During the war, munitions were transported on a daily basis from Allen's to Southampton Docks.

Eventually a fleet of 40 vehicles worked throughout the UK and Europe.

5 the foundry, he was also employed by Bedford Corporation for general delivery work. Also, coal brought to Bedford by rail and loaded into bags by hand, was then delivered by Hulls to individual homes. As well as running a thriving business, Edwin also managed to sire ten children. Later, he expanded further and bought premises in Ford End Road (now Keyline) to house what were now twelve horses. Lorries were introduced in the early thirties and gradually replaced the horses. The last horse was replaced in Hulls 1960s Outside Hulls premises (opp. The Bell) Jim Hull remembers I was born in Queen s Park, still live here and worked here most of my life. As a boy of 10, I used to take 3 or 4 shire horses with my father and sister to The Paddlers where they enjoyed swimming in the water. They also used to take part in the annual processions in Bedford in the 50s, pulling company floats. The drivers would carefully wash and groom them, plaiting their manes, cleaning the special brasses they wore and whitening the fetlocks and polishing their hooves to be ready for this popular event. During the war, munitions were transported on a daily basis from Allen's to Southampton Docks. After the war, Hulls became involved in heavy haulage and was known nationally. Eventually a fleet of 40 vehicles worked throughout the UK and Europe. In 1965, Hulls introduced the first skip lorries in Bedford. Jim Hull became Managing Director in 1967 until his retirement in More and larger lorries were purchased as W H Allen's loads increased in size. Another industry in the area was Tilley s sweets in Gratton Road. The premises used to manufacture sweets 10

This firm produced well-known brands of sweets from the early 1900s and employed a

The firm is still manufacturing sweets today from its premises in Thrapston in

Tilley s may have left the area, but still prospering today is the brewery of Charles

The brewery is a relatively recent firm to settle in Queen s Park, having moved from

Having first built on the old gasworks allotments, it expanded onto the land vacated

It now has a major brewing and canning business on the site.

Lewis Charles Wells I worked on the bottling line.

6 This firm produced well-known brands of sweets from the early 1900s and employed a number of local residents. The firm is still manufacturing sweets today from its premises in Thrapston in Northamptonshire. Tilley s may have left the area, but still prospering today is the brewery of Charles Wells. The brewery is a relatively recent firm to settle in Queen s Park, having moved from its cramped town centre site on Horne Lane in Having first built on the old gasworks allotments, it expanded onto the land vacated by Bedford Town Football Cub after the club folded in It now has a major brewing and canning business on the site. Charles Wells Brewery showing Bedford Town FC social club and Nelson St stand Sybil Lewis Charles Wells I worked on the bottling line. You have a turntable and when the beer come out on the labeller it come on a turntable and you used to pack it by hand, you know. And before that you used to take turns in the back where you put the empty bottles to go through the machine. You pick four bottles and you put it (they have a hole where you put them) in the back of the machine by hand. Those days everything by hand. Bottling line at Charles Wells Brewery 11

7 Queen s Park Lives Issue Three 2006 Prince Philip opening Allens offices in 1959 Allens machine shop workers outside Allens Club

Bill and Chuck on furlough January 1946 Dad, Mother, Ginny CROSSING THE ATLANTIC ON USS COALDALE TROOP SHIP

Bill and Chuck on furlough January 1946 Dad, Mother, Ginny CROSSING THE ATLANTIC ON USS COALDALE TROOP SHIP CAMP PICKETT, VIRGINIA After celebrating Christmas at the base, we headed home to Trenton for a fortyfive day furlough. En-route by train, our unit stopped for a couple of days at Camp Pickett near Blackstone,