Five Higgins Horrors for Halloween

To celebrate Halloween, we have put together five Higgins Horrors for you to enjoy on the creepiest day of the year. Find out more about the spooktacular objects and artworks in our collections, if you dare…

Do You Want to Play?

Bobalicon by Francisco Goya c.1818-19

'Bobalicon' (Simpleton) is part of Francisco Goya’s last series of prints ‘Los Disparates’ (The Follies) that were published 30 years after his death. Though the meaning of this print is unclear, it was made during a time of political and social upheaval in 19th century Spain. In this nightmarish scene, Goya shows the grotesque side of carnivals with a giant dancing castanet-player, transformed into a disturbing figure and surrounded by ghostly faces. His audience consists of a man hiding behind his female companion who is scared rigid by the sight.

Spellbound

Witch Bottle

This witch bottle dates back to the 17th century and was found buried at Renhold. Witch Bottles were used as counter-magical devices for protection. Folk healers would mix together a variety of ingredients inside, including rosemary, red wine, seawater, thorns, sand, oil, hair, nail clippings and urine. The witch bottle would then be buried or hidden away where no one could find it. For the spell to work fully, the bottle had to remain hidden and unbroken. You can see this Witch Bottle on display in the Collectors Gallery.

Medieval Monsters

13th Century Corbel

This carved stone corbel was once part of Bedford’s St. Paul's Church during the 13th century. Medieval corbels were often decorated with angels placed high on the walls overlooking the congregation. However some churches depicted demons, gargoyles and grotesque figures as a reminder of ever-present evil. It was also thought that these terrifying corbels could serve as protection against harm and defend those within the church by fighting the Devil with his own. You can see this medieval corbel on display in the Settlement Gallery.

Very Superstitious

The Desiccated Cat

In the 17th century cats were regarded as being particularly gifted with a sixth sense and having a connection with the afterlife. It was believed that they could protect the home and guard against evil spirits, witches’ spells and curses in relation to the common superstitions of the time. They were intentionally hidden in walls, floors or attics, sometimes with the cat’s innards removed, dried and stuffed with straw. They were often placed into hunting positions to help protect the family home.

Double Double Toil and Trouble

Macbeth and the Witches by Richard Westall c.1797

This drawing is based on the three weird sisters from William Shakespeare's play, 'Macbeth'. It is set during Act One, Scene Three in the middle of a thunderstorm, upon a ‘blasted heath’. Here the witches share their wicked deeds, voice their incantations and predict Macbeth's future before vanishing into the air. Westall follows the description of the scene closely as the thundering sky and grotesque appearance of the witches give a sense of foreboding and doom.

‘So withered and so wild in their attire,
That look not like the inhabitants o' the earth,
And yet are on't?’

Written by Rebekah Matus, Audience Development Officer

Bedfordshire's Breweries - Newland and Nash Brewery Part 3

On 5th August 1890, William Pritzler Newland went into partnership with Susan Nash (widow of W.J. Nash – see part 1). W.P. Newland wanted more outlets for sale in the immediate vicinity of his Brewery. He had partly compensated for this by specialising in sales to private customers, but he really needed public houses to be able to expand his trade significantly. The offer of a partnership with the Nash Brewery with a much larger brewing plant than his own in Duck Mill Lane and public houses in Bedford was a heaven sent opportunity for Newland.

Newland and Nash Ltd, Bedford, Stoneware Beer Flagon, BEDFM 2008.42.283, Chrystal Collection

In the years 1890-1900, W.P. Newland was the dominant partner of the firm, and masterminded the increased purchase of existing properties, and the development of strategic sites on the newly built estates as public houses.

Susan Nash died on the 12th May, 1895 and so W.P. Newland went into partnership on 9th October 1895 with her 4 sisters: Emily Cressy Nash (19 in 1871), Florence Mary (12 in 1871), Rosa Gertrude (9 in 1871) and Constance Eveline (8 in 1871). The new partnership bought extensively in the Bedford area, and in 1891 they bought 2 lots of the Queens Park Building estate on the corner of Fairfax Road and Iddsleigh Road. On this, they built the 'Globe'. In 1894 the Coventry-Campions to whom Newland was related by marriage sold off a building estate in Bedford and the partnership bought 4 sites from this.

Newland & Nash Ltd, Champagne Brandy Paper Label, BEDFM 1998.105.38

In 1895, they bought 'The Bell' in Sandy, formerly belonging to George Anstee's Brewery at Eaton Socon. By the late 1890's it was clear that neither family would be able to produce another generation of active partners. It was also clear that the steam brewery in Lurke Street was far too small, as it had since 1890 been carrying the business of two Breweries, the Duck Mill Lane having been sold off in 1889. The site of the future 'Bell' also had not been built on. A large injection for capital was therefore needed and so the decision was made to turn the partnership into a Limited Company called Newland & Nash. On 13th August 1897 the two families conveyed most of their joint property (except that in Pavenham and Stevington) to the new firm.

The report states that there had been a steady and yearly increase in sales since 1890, with 3000 barrels of beer and 1000 gallons of spirits made. The brewing plant had been designed to carry on one business and since 1890, it had carried two. In the past summer they had been unable to brew sufficient beer to meet requirements and the plant needed enlarging with new bottling stores, new cooper's and carpenters shops, and an extension of malting. The report stated that the Brewery had 21 public houses in Bedford alone.

The 'Bell' and the 1900-1902 improvements were certificated by H. Young, Architect of Bedford, who probably drew up the plans. The work on the Brewery was completed by 17th April 1900 at a cost of £1,980, 14s, 8d. In 1898 the 'Bell' was built at Westbourne Road and between 1900 and 1902 new offices and an engine room were built for the Lurke Street Brewery, as well as new stables at the Midland Hotel and rebuilding of the 'Chequers Inn' at Wilden.

Newland & Nash Ltd, Bedford, Fine Old Irish Whiskey Paper Label, BEDFM 1998.105.41

On 24th August 1900 William Pritzler Newland was buried at Kempston.

From 1900 to 1936 Newland & Nash continued as the company Director Richard Summers and Claude E. Clark, the Secretary to the Company, replaced W.P. Newland as the other Director. After Newland's death the property of the Brewery continued to expand, buying 9 public houses and other property during the years 1900 to 1914, including the important 'Greyhound' in Sandy.

The First World War naturally slowed this expansion down with only 4 properties being bought before takeover of Wells and Winch in 1922. For a short while, the Brewery at Lurke Street was mentioned. Soon, however, all brewing was done at Biggleswade and only an office remained to run the Bedford area of Wells and Winch property which included the Higgins Brewery (sold in 1927 to Wells and Winch). The name of Newland and Nash continued to be used until 1936 when full integration with Wells and Winch occurred. A number of properties were added during this time including 'The Swan', Bromham and the 'St. John Arms', Melchbourne.

Thanks to Bedfordshire Archives for their background information – you can find a full description here. 

Written by Lydia Saul, Keeper of Social History

You can read more of our Bedfordshire Breweries series, including Part 1 and Part 2 of the Newland and Nash story here.

Bedfordshire's Breweries - Newland and Nash Brewery Part 2

This second part of the Newland and Nash story starts with F.T. Young and W.P. Newland running a brewery on Duck Mill Lane. Frederick Thomas Young was born c.1835 at 9 Elms in Surrey. By 1862 he was the manager of the long established St. Paul's Brewery, owned by the Newland family of Kempston House. In 1871 he employed 12 men, making it one of the largest breweries of the town. In 1873 on the death of Bingham Newland, the Brewery was sold up and bought by Thomas Jarvis, owner of the recently built Phoenix Brewery. He wanted the public houses as outlets for his own Brewery and always intended to sell the site of St. Paul's Brewery, which he did in 1875 to the Harpur Trust to expand the site of the school. 

F.T. Young & Co, Bedford, Large Stoneware Beer Flagon, BEDFM 2008.42.275, Chrystal Collection

Being made redundant following the St. Paul’s Brewery land sale, F.T. Young decided to set up on his own. He leased an area north of the Duck Mill Lane, St. Mary's Parish, Bedford, from Anthony Tacchi a Carver, Gilder and Barometer maker on the High Street. Young pulled down the existing buildings and constructed a modern brick built steam brewery.

It was fully completed by February 1873. The Brewery formed part of a major development of the Duck Mill Lane area. A variety of tradesmen set up and developed their yards and factory sites there. Samuel Foster, the important Building Contractor, had offices built here at the same time. In 1870 the Island Skating Rink and Pounds for George B. Lincoln were completed. These years also saw the increased development of housing in the area.

On 29th December 1873 F.T. Young bought a small Brewery based on the 'Old Swan' at Eaton Socon from William Bowyer of Buckden for £3,200. The sale included 5 public houses in the Eaton Socon/ St. Neots area.

On 1st October 1874 ,F.T. Young went into partnership with William Pritzler Newland who was the brother of his former employer Bingham Newland. Because of the terms of his brother's will, W.P. Newland had not been able to inherit St. Paul's Brewery. Before going into partnership with F.T. Young William had already run his own malting on the west side of Elstow Road. F.T. Young  following the expansion of his brewery and holdings was short of ready money and struggling to keep up with his bills, so the merger presented many solutions.

Newland and Young, Brewers, Wine and Spirit Merchants, Bedford, Stoneware Flagon, BEDFM 2008.42.259, Chrystal Collection

W.P. Newland gained the Kempston estate on the death of his brother. He used the estate as security for a loan and provided the necessary finance to start his joint venture with F.T. Young. They purchased a number of existing public houses but interestingly, they purchased nothing in Bedford, near to their Brewery. With 7 other Breweries (of which 4 were recently built or enlarged) the competition for any public houses for sale was keen in the Bedford area. Newland and Young starting a little after the rest were at a disadvantage. After building the Brewery they had little spare finance for developing building sites for public houses.

On 10th January 1878 F.T. Young transferred his share of the business to W.P. Newland. Whether Newland bought him out or there was a disagreement is unclear, as none of the documents relating to the transaction have survived. W.P. Newland expanded the business at a very slow rate. The scattered nature of the Brewery's holdings must have caused high transport costs and it seems as if the venture was not all that successful as the Kempston estate and the Brewery had to be mortgaged.

W P Newland, Stoneware Beer Flagon, BEDFM 2008.42.176, Chrystal Collection

Thanks to Bedfordshire Archives for their background information – you can find a full description here. 

Written by Lydia Saul, Keeper of Social History

Find out more about the Newland and Nash Brewery in Part 3.

Bedfordshire's Breweries - Newland and Nash Brewery Part 1

Newland and Nash is a story of several breweries coming together. The first is a brewery owned by Peregrine Nash brewing at St. Mary’s and later Lurke Street. His brewing legacy starts on the 6th and 7th May 1783 when he bought the Brewery site described as a 'Mansion house, with Malthouse and Kiln' in St. Mary's Bedford from Thomas Meacher of Barley End, Ivinghoe, Bucks. Meacher, acting as an agent for Peregrine, had bought the property from the descendants of Richard Bell in March. Richard's father, Robert Bell, held the property since 1697, certainly Malting and probably brewing had taken place on the site for many years before Nash took it on. 

Newland and Nash Ltd, Bedford, Green Glass Beer Bottle, BEDFM 2006.359

By 1819, Nash had renovated the brewery and converted the south of the Brewery from a bakehouse into the Windmill Public House. Peregrine Nash increased his public houses steadily by 2 in the 1780s, 5 in the 1790s, 4 in the 1800s and the site of the Peacock, St. Peter's Bedford (built by 1820). Of these 12 public houses, 7 were in Bedford itself and the rest in villages round Bedford, such as Pavenham, Oakley and Elstow, with Wilden and Marston Moretaine being the furthest away from the Brewery. Around 1810, Peregrine's only surviving son, George Peregrine, became a partner and from then on it is clear that George took over almost exclusive control of the Brewery. Almost at once, the Brewery acquired possibly the second largest Inn in Bedford: The Kings Arms on St. Mary Street, Bedford. They also purchased The Ship Inn on St. Cuthberts Street. Throughout the early 1800s, George continued to buy public houses around Bedford and the surrounding area. 

In 1842, George Peregrine I transferred some of his properties to his eldest son, George Peregrine Nash II, making him partner in the Brewery. However, by July 1843 George Peregrine II was living in London having moved there probably due to ill health, he died on 14th June, 1844. It appears that by 1849 although his father George Peregrine Nash was nominally in charge of the brewery it was William Joseph Nash, his younger son, who actually ran it. 

Nash and Son Bedford, Large Stoneware Beer Flagon, BEDFM 2008.42.337, Chrystal Collection

William Nash saw early on the commercial prospects of expanding in the town of Bedford, buying many more sites, including that of the future Midland Hotel which benefitted from the station being completed in January 1859. In 1867 crisis struck. The bank, Barnard & Wing insisted on security for an overdraft in 1867, which resulted in William taking on a further loan at 3% interest. It was this loan that probably saved him from Bankruptcy. He seemed to recover surprisingly quickly, as in 1869 he purchased the Fox & Hounds public house in Kempston and on 29th April 1870, he paid back his creditors. 

W P Newland, Stoneware Beer Flagon, BEDFM 2008.42.176, Chrystal Collection

William was doing so well again by 1874, that he replaced St. Mary's Brewery with a much larger steam brewery at Lurke Street, Bedford in December 1875. By the 7th October 1876, the valuation of the brewery steadily declined and was reduced to zero. William died in 1884 aged 69. His widow, Susan, carried on the Brewery for the benefit of herself and her 5 surviving daughters until 1890. As she was 79 this could only be a temporary measure. She needed the help of an experienced businessman, preferably a brewer, to help her. She found him in W.P. Newland with whom she went into partnership on 5th August 1890. 

Find out more about the Newland and Nash Brewery in Part 2 

Thanks to Bedfordshire Archives for their background information – you can find a full description here.

Written by Lydia Saul, Keeper of Social History

Bedfordshire's Breweries - Thomas Jarvis & Co., Phoenix Brewery

Thomas Jarvis was born in 1803 at Eaton Socon. He moved to Bedford and married Ann Wainright in July 1826 at St. Paul’s Church. Their first and only child was Samuel Wainright Jarvis, born in February 1828. Sadly, Ann died aged just 44 years old on 31st December 1843.

By 1841, Thomas Jarvis had set up his brewery in Gwyn Street. At that time, there were eight breweries in Bedford and the brewing industry was second only to the cotton industry in the country. Weak or “small” beer was cheaper and safer to drink than water and both adults and children drank beer in preference to water.

Following the death of his first wife Ann, Thomas married Eliza Page on 30th July 1844 at St. Peter’s Church, Bedford. Eliza was from Gloucestershire and was 17 years younger than Thomas. Before Eliza married she had lived at the Moravian Girls College, 34 St. Peter’s Street, Bedford. The Moravian College was founded in 1801 and closed in 1911. Until the arrival of the Harpur Trust Girls School in 1882 it was the best girls school in the local area.

 

Jarvis and Co. Ginger Beer Bottle, BEDFM 2008.42.303, Chrystal Collection

By 1851 Thomas was living at 185 Gwyn Street with Eliza and their three children, Lewis, Robert, and, Mary Ann. They went on to have five more children, three girls, and two boys. Sadly, two of their daughters died in infancy. 

Jarvis and Co. ‘Old Rum’ Bottle, with Phoenix Brewery logo at top of label, BEDFM 2008.42.173, Chrystal Collection.

Over the years, the brewery went from strength to strength, so in 1866 Thomas expanded operations and moved to Midland Road to build a larger brewery. He called it the ‘Phoenix Brewery’, and he moved next door. Four years later, he was employing six men, and trading as Thomas Jarvis & Co., Brewers, Wine and Spirit Merchants. 

Jarvis and Co. Beer Bottle of green glass, BEDFM 2008.42.251, Chrystal Collection

Thomas was the victim of theft by one of his servant’s, Emma Green, who had been employed by him for about ten weeks. On Monday 31st May 1869, Emma Green appeared before the Borough Petty Sessions Court. The Bedfordshire Times on Saturday 5th June 1869, reported;

“Emma Green, aged about 21, a domestic servant, lately in the employ of Mr. Thomas Jarvis, brewer, was charged with stealing a cheque belonging to her late master, on the 26th May, and pleaded guilty. She was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment with hard labour. It appeared that the girl presented a cheque, drawn for £5, at Messrs Barnard’s Bank, on the 26th May., … an investigation took place at the bank, and Mr. Alger, chief clerk, discovered that the cheque thus presented belonged to the cheque book held by Mr. Jarvis … it was ascertained that five cheques had been taken away. The book had been left out of the bureau on one occasion … and on another occasion, the lock of the bureau had been forced. With many tears, Emma Green said she was very sorry she did not think what she was doing at the time. She did not take more than one cheque.”

Emma Green had lived with her parents and three siblings at Maldons Yard, Bedford. Her time in prison appeared to have taught her a lesson. Emma was able to turn her life around after her release from prison, she moved to Luton where she worked as a cook for a solicitor and his family.

The White Horse Inn, Midland Road, 1928, Lantern Slide by Walter N Henman, associated with Jarvis and Co. just before the pub was demolished to build Marks and Spencers on that site in 1929, BEDFM 1974.27.138

On the 16th July 1873, following the death of Bingham Newland of Newland and Nash brewers, Thomas Jarvis purchased St. Paul’s Brewery and 35 public houses for the sum of £34,200. He merged it with his Phoenix Brewery. In 1876 he sold the St. Paul’s brewery site to the Harpur Trust to extend its Grammar School. In 1883 Thomas retired and his three sons, Lewis, Robert, and Walter ran the brewery, trading as Jarvis & Company. On the 14th October 1886, Thomas died aged 83 years. He is buried in the graveyard behind the Moravian Chapel at St. Peter’s Street, Bedford. Lewis, Thomas’s eldest son, married Ada Maud Dawson on the 5th October 1876. They moved in to ‘Barley Craft’ at Sharnbrook in Bedfordshire and all their eleven children were born there.

Jarvis and Co. Beer Bottle, clear glass, BEDFM 2008.42.249, Chrystal Collection

Lewis retired on 13th May 1897. His brothers Robert and Walter then ran the firm of Jarvis & Co. On the 9th February 1912, Robert died aged 64 at his home Castle Lodge, Castle Hill, Bedford. Walter Jarvis was the last surviving partner of the firm and spent much of his time in the business. Walter died aged 58 years in 1915.

Jarvis and Co. Codd Bottle, BEDFM 2008.42.160, Chrystal Collection

In 1917, Charles Wells purchased the Phoenix Brewery for the sum of £79,000. It came with two maltings and 69 pubs and off-licences. In 1918, brewing ceased. 

Source:

https://www.fosterhillroadcemetery.co.uk/jarvis-a-family-of-brewers/

Written by Lydia Saul, Keeper of Social History

You can read more of our Bedfordshire Breweries series here.

Victory in Europe Day Celebrations

Victory in Europe - V.E. Day was celebrated on 8th May, 1945. Today 75 years on we remember all those who were called up and served in the military army, navy and air force and especially those who were lost during the fighting of the Second World War. We remember those who served on the home front keeping civilians safe from the bombing raids through the effort of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), the Home Guard, the Women's Land Army who helped to keep the nation and troops fed, the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service who supported canteens and local initiatives, and other civilians who served their nation and communities during wartime.

At a time where we see our communities pulling together against the Coronavirus, we can reflect and compare our own situation with some of the challenges this wartime generation faced. This earlier generation made it through the fighting at the front, the bombs, the rationing of food and materials, the grief and loss of loved ones either serving in the armed forces or killed on the home front, and supported one another through it all. We can learn a great deal from their memories and their fortitude in such adversity. Today we remember the relief of that generation at the end of a long 5 year war that was experienced by this generation 75 years ago today. 

‘Well I don’t think any of us for one moment thought we wouldn’t win, I don’t think it ever entered our heads.  When you look back on it, it was certainly touch and go! 

You just saw more and more Airforce and there would be convoys, Army convoys.  As I say we lived in Goldington Road and I remember on one day there was a convoy.  It started near the rugger ground and it parked at the side of the road and there was about two or three miles of it and it just parked up for about six hours.  I know mother was busy making tea, providing them with tea. The particular ones that came into our house were Canadians - well she was running a cafeteria from the kitchen.’
Mr. John Crawley, a young man living in Bedford

V.E. Day Street Party Acacia Road Bedford, Photograph courtesy of Mr. M. J. Darlow.

‘We were given holidays straight away and then we celebrated in the town of course, in Ampthill. We had a dance on the Market Square and that was good. If you had a dance on the Market Square now nobody would go and dance but in those days you just did and we were doing the Palais Glide and the Hokey Cokey, everything you can think of, the Lambeth Walk, the old and young, they were all in.  I couldn’t dance at that time but everybody was on there having a whale of a time.

We had records.  It was Andrew Underwood’s father, he was good, he had that sort of shop, an electrical shop and he wired it all up, all these loudspeakers and that.  We all lent records to be played and that’s how it went on.  We had a lovely time and then at the end they all did the Conga down the streets. I’VE never forgotten it.  I mean everybody was so relieved and happy - they thought it was the War to end Wars. It was a lovely feeling really because you’d had five years of war and it was just, well, marvellous!
Mrs. Mary Smith (née Sharpe), then working at Elstow Ordnance Factory

You can listen to Mrs Mary Smith's experiences of VE Day in her own words here.

‘At the end of the war, when my mother and our neighbour and her daughter and I heard the end had come, we rushed down to the river to celebrate with all the Forces, and I remember people climbing lamp posts. Sybil and I were singing, ‘Let him go, let him tarry, let him sink or let him swim’ which was a hit at the time. We went down to the river, across the Suspension Bridge to Russell Park and all the WAAFs and Americans and Forces were dancing and going mad.’
Mrs. Patricia Ingray (née King), a schoolgirl living with her family who had evacuated to Bedford

V.E. Day celebrations - Dancing in Russell Park, Bedford 8th May, 1945

© Bedfordshire and Luton Archives Service (The Bedford Times Collection)

‘It was totally uneventful. We were operating the next day very early bringing back prisoners, so it was an early night to bed, that was it!  That was my V.E. Day!  We went to Lübeck and brought them back to somewhere or other.  We brought them back over the cliffs of Dover.’
Serviceman’s experience of V.E. Day, Mr. Reg Cann, then Navigator 1, 582 No 8 (PFF) Group, Little Staughton Airfield

‘The thing that upset my education was V.E. Day, because I was just about due to take Higher School Cert(ificate) that June and July and I was in the middle of swotting and it wasn’t really conducive to heavy swotting, that sort of thing.

At the beginning of the war, probably 1940, Mrs. Fowler bought a large tin of fruit salad and she said, ‘I’m not touching that! We are going to have that when the war is over!’ And it stayed in their larder for four and a half years until 1945 when they did have a little tea party in the back garden with Mr. and Mrs. Lamb from next door.  They opened this tin of fruit salad and it had fermented – it was delicious, it really was.  It was like having fruit in alcohol and everybody got drunk on fruit salad! Really, we finished up rolling about. We had cream with it of course that came from Stevington!

V.E. Day I remember because of the parades.  I think that the Bedford Modern Cadet Force opened their armoury and took out all the thunder flashes, as I’m sure did our Army Cadet Forces.  The ATC, I mean you couldn’t do anything, you’d only got morse tappers!  But they were marching down The Embankment throwing thunder flashes into the crowd or throwing thunder flashes down on the road and putting dustbin lids on the top.  They were walking down and banging dustbin lids together to make a good noise.  If you put a dustbin lid over a thunder flash it went at least 15 feet into the air and then you had to dodge it coming down. And we finished up having a parade through town. I think in the school mag there was a photograph of the parade, I remember Johnny Stockton was in it.  There was a large white flag with a big letter ‘O’ in the middle that somebody had run up.’
Mr. Alan Lock, an evacuee with Owen School. London to Bedford

The memories shared above were donated to the museum’s BBC People’s War archive, project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This project aimed to collect local individual’s valuable insights about the war before they were lost. Thank you to all the participants who shared their stories to this project, to Ann Hagen (previous Keeper of Social History) and Jenny Ford (Oral Historian) who curated this archive for future generations to enjoy.

Written by Lydia Saul, Keeper of Social History

Bedfordshire's Breweries - Whitbread Brewery

Samuel Whitbread was born in 1720 at Cardington. At 14 he was sent to London to become an apprentice to a brewer, John Witman. Samuel then went into partnership with Godfrey and Thomas Shewell and by 1750, they started operating a shared brewery site on Chiswell Street. Samuel Whitbread created the first purpose-built mass-production brewery in the UK and over the following years, Whitbread became a household name.  In 1765 Whitbread bought Shewell out and by 1800 the brewery was the largest in London. Samuel Whitbread was a pioneer of new brewing techniques and in 1784 installed the first ever steam engine, designed by famous engineer, James Watt.

Samuel Whitbread II (1758-1815) by John Opie Fp.71

Building on his success with the brewing business, Samuel Whitbread decided to enter politics, and was elected as a Member of Parliament for Bedford in 1768, a seat he held until 1790. The year before his death in 1796, Samuel Whitbread bought Southill Park, a 17th century house, remodelled by George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington.

Ashtray advertising Whitbread’s Brewery company, Chrystal Collection, BEDFM 2008.42.58

Samuel Whitbread's son, another Samuel (1758-1815), is probably the most well-known member of the family. He was born in Cardington and entered the family brewing business in 1786. In 1787 King George III and Queen Charlotte paid a visit to Chiswell street and according to the newspapers of the day, the King was ‘wonderfully pleased’ with the innovative steam engine.

W H Allens Sports and Social Club Darts championship trophy presented by Whitbread and Co. Ltd, BEDFM 2011.6.22

Samuel entered parliament as member for Bedford, his father's old seat, in 1790. Whereas his father had been a Tory, Samuel junior was a Whig.  A zealous reformer Whitbread campaigned for the abolition of slavery and for a national system of education. He was the leader of the Whig party, the opposition, in parliament after the death of Charles James Fox in 1805. He made the mistake of championing Napoleon's reforms in France and came to be seen as a supporter. During 1814 Whitbread began to suffer depression, which sadly led to his suicide, on 6 June 1815, just twelve days before the battle of Waterloo.

The Whitbread family still live at Southhill Park and continued in the brewing business until it was sold in 2000.

Written by Lydia Saul, Keeper of Social History 

You can read more of our Bedfordshire Breweries series here.

Making COVID-19 History

The Higgins Bedford would like for you to share your experiences of life during the outbreak.

Are you keeping a journal, taking photographs of your daily exercise, posting to social media? Are you running a local business to support local people day to day, or creating a rainbow artwork for your front windows?  Have you volunteered to be part of a community initiative to support those self-isolating or our key workers? Are you a key worker facing the busiest time of your working life?

We are all in the midst of it now, but one day this pandemic will be history. The full impact of the COVID-19 crisis will be important to document and evaluate for future generations looking back at this historic event.

The Higgins Bedford and Bedfordshire Archives would like to recognise all the varied and different contributions that are specific to our local area during this crisis, to be a repository for those stories and items for future generations as a tribute and record of life during the crisis.

Courtesy of Chiara MacCall @CallChiara

Each day of lockdown Chiara is using her daily exercise walk to reach out to someone in Bedford. By arrangement she walks past their house, waves from a distance and takes a photo. It’s not a hug or a handshake, but it’s a safe way of staying connected with people and reminding each other we are not alone.

If you have a story, photographs, video, poetry, letters, journals, artworks, objects or other contributions related to your own response to the COVID-19 crisis you would like to tell us about and potentially offer as a donation following the end of the crisis, please email Lydia Saul, Keeper of Social History at The Higgins Bedford at Lydia.Saul@bedford.gov.uk for further information.

Your suggestions and offers will be placed onto our potential list of COVID-19 collection items. The Higgins Bedford and Bedfordshire Archives will consider them for acquisition into the collections following the end of the COVID-19 crisis and they will get in touch with you for further information. 

Bedfordshire's Breweries - Charles Wells Brewery

Charles Wells was born in Bedford in 1842. When he left the Commercial School (now Bedford Modern School) at the age of 14, he was determined to join the Navy. In 1856 he joined the “Devonshire” as a midshipman and sailed from London to India. He was rapidly promoted to Chief Officer by 1868 and served on three ships.

BEDFM 2003.243, Portrait photograph of Charles Wells

All of this changed when he was on leave and fell in love with Josephine Grimbly in 1870. Her father approved of the match, but he did not want Charles to marry his daughter whilst serving in the Merchant Navy. He felt it was too dangerous and Charles would be away from home too often. Having left the Navy, Charles married Josephine in 1872. In December 1875 the Horne Lane Brewery was put up for sale at auction and sold for £16,000 to Charles. The Horne Lane Brewery was situated alongside the river Ouse with wharves, where malt and hops could be unloaded and beer dispatched.

(Left) BEDFM 2008.42.250, Charles Wells bottle with starfish design, Chrystal Collection
(Right) BEDFM 2006.328, Charles Wells model toy vehicle, c.1993

Charles threw himself wholeheartedly into the business and was successful. His early beer bottles carried the starfish design, chosen by him because of his love for the sea and the naval career he had given up to marry Josephine, and pursue his new business venture. In 1881 he bought 9 pubs for £4,486 and by 1889 he had paid off his loan. In 1890 the brewery owned 80 pubs and traded 12,552 barrels per year. Charles’ personal fortune amounted to £120,000.

BEDFM 2008.42.385, Commemorative Plate celebrating 

100 years of brewing for Charles Wells, 1876 – 1976, 

Chrystal Collection

Charles was in poor health for several years while running the business with help from his sons. He died on 18th April 1914, survived by Josephine, 5 sons and 3 daughters. He is buried in Foster Hill Cemetery, Bedford. His obituary in the Bedfordshire Times stated; "All who knew Mr. Wells, whether in business or private life, regarded him as one of the straightest men that ever breathed. There was about him all the brusqueness, candour and honesty of the British manner".

Written by Lydia Saul, Keeper of Social History

You can read more of our Bedfordshire Breweries series here.

Bedfordshire’s Breweries - The Higgins & Sons Brewery

Charles Higgins and his family moved to Bedford in the 1820s. He was proprietor of the Swan hotel and founded the brewery on land owned by the Duke of Bedford at Castle Lane. The brewery was built 1838 and Charles built the Higgins family home next to it in 1842. The family business was very successful and they were influential figures in the town for over a hundred years.

Bradford Rudge (1813-1885) Bedford Times Coach © The Higgins Bedford Collection. Charles Higgins standing in the door way to The Swan Inn in the red slippers.

As well as founding the brewery, Charles Higgins (c.1789-1862) was a successful Liberal politician and Mayor of Bedford. During his tenure as Mayor he was presented with a silver salver (now on display in the Mayor's Parlour) commemorating the ‘zeal, ability and humanity extended by him’ during the cholera epidemic of 1849. Following Charles Higgins' lead, the Higgins family remained devoted to Bedford life. George Higgins (1816-1883), Cecil's father, was a Justice of the Peace, a member of the Town Council and a Trustee of the Harpur Charity. Lawrence (1849-1930), Cecil's brother, was also a Justice of the Peace, and Cecil (1856-1941) was a local magistrate for many years.

(Left) Higgins Brewery c.1895 (Right) Plan of brewery site and Higgins family home at Castle Close

Charles Higgins’ son, George, ran the brewery in partnership with Charles and then passed the baton to his second son Lawrence. Cecil, the youngest of the family, moved to London and enjoyed the high life, visiting the opera, gallivanting around in his Rolls Royce, and collecting decorative pieces of furniture for his home. The brewery and house buildings were bought from the Duke of Bedford by Lawrence and Cecil in 1908 for £13,250.

(Left) Photograph of Cecil Higgins © The Higgins Bedford Collection (Right) Higgins and Sons Ltd bottle, BMG.25

The brewery was very successful and the brothers bought over 40 local pubs, including The Case is Altered at Ravensden and the Cat and Custard Pot at Shelton. Eventually Lawrence retired from the operational side of the business and Cecil was given responsibility for the brewery. It remained in the Higgins family for over 90 years until brewing ceased on 5 October 1928 when Cecil Higgins, then over seventy, decided to sell. In 1931 competitors Wells & Winch Ltd. of Biggleswade bought the brewery for £180,000 and promptly closed it down.

Lantern Slide of The Case is Altered, Ravensden, Walter N Henman, 1939, BEDFM 1974.27.599

After the sale, Cecil devoted his later life to collecting fine and decorative art with the aim of founding a museum ‘for the benefit, interest and education of the inhabitants of, and visitors to Bedford’. Cecil Higgins Art Gallery opened in 1949 in the Higgins family home. The brewery became Bennett’s Clothing factory for a time and during the Second World War factory workers made shirts for the military. Later the buildings became a postal sorting office. When this closed in the 1960s the building fell into disrepair and was nominated for refurbishment by the Bedford Borough Council so that Bedford Museum could move into the former Higgins & Sons Brewery building in 1981, housing the Bedford Modern School collection. The brewery and house opened as The Higgins Bedford in 2013 following refurbishment and extension of the buildings as one complete site.

Written by Lydia Saul, Keeper of Social History

You can read more of our Bedfordshire Breweries series here.

Talks & Tours Coming Soon...

© The Mutual Security Agency

Brickmaking in Bedfordshire by Alan Cox

Thursday 18th July, 2:30pm

£5.90, (£4.70 Concessions)

As part of the exhibition, The Journey from Bunyan to the Brickworks, join author of ‘Brickmaking: A History and Gazeteer (Survey of Bedfordshire)’, Alan Cox, as he discusses the development of the brickmaking industries and the impact they have made in Bedfordshire.

Cecil Higgins Anniversary Tours
Thursday 25th July, 11.30am & 2pm
£5.90 (£4.70 Concessions)

Explore the internationally renowned Cecil Higgins Art Gallery Collection and celebrate 70 years since it first opened to the public.

What makes this collection so special is that, unlike other benefactors who have supported institutions with a lifetime of collecting, Cecil Higgins collected with the specific intention of opening a museum.

With mesmerising works by Picasso, JMW Turner and Edward Bawden, amazing pieces by William Burges and William Morris and porcelain by Meissen and Chelsea, this is a unique opportunity to find out more about Bedford’s benefactor, Cecil Higgins, and the wonderful collection he gave to his town.

Garden Tours - Transforming the Gardens at The Higgins Bedford 
Thursday 25th July
11:15am, Free

Explore the Castle Gardens in a free, half an hour tour, discover the history of the grounds and find out more about the volunteer-led project to rejuvenate the gardens.

Supported by SDC Community Fund, established by SDC Builders Ltd



Booking is essential for these talks and tours. To book your place, please telephone 01234 718618 or email thehiggins@bedford.gov.uk.