Harpur
Encyclopedia
Harpur is an electoral ward and area within the town
of Bedford
, England
.
The boundaries of Harpur are approximately Manton Lane to the north, De Parys Avenue to the east, Bromham Road to the south, with the Midland Main Line
railway line to the west.
Manton Heights, the Poets, the Prime Ministers, and the Black Tom neighbourhoods all lie within the boundaries of Harpur ward.
a famous Bedfordian. The area houses Bedford Modern School
and Bedford High School, both of which form part of the Harpur Trust
.
A notorious Highwayman
labelled 'Black Tom' reportedly frequented the area in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Supposedly he was buried with a stake driven through his heart at the junction of Tavistock Street, Union Street and Clapham Road. Today Black Tom is the informal name of the Tavistock Street neighbourhood in Harpur.
Most of Harpur has been developed for over two hundred years, and most buildings in the area date from the 19th Century or before. However the northern part of the area (Manton Heights) was developed much later, in the 1970s.
The Bedford Physical Training College (later, Bedford College of Physical Education) was founded on Landsdowne Road in 1903. The campus
joined two others in 1976 to form Bedford College of Higher Education
which in turn joined other colleges to form De Montfort University
in 1994. By this time many of the buildings on or around Lansdowne Road in Harpur were part of the university
campus. In 2006 the Bedford arm of De Montfort University and the University of Luton formed the University of Bedfordshire
. It was decided that the new University would merge its two Bedford campuses onto one site on Polhill Avenue, De Parys
. This meant the end of the Lansdowne Road campus, which lasted in the Harpur area for over 100 years. In July 2009, plans to develop the old university site into housing were rejected by Bedford Borough Council, the local planning authority.
John Le Mesurier
who starred as Sergeant Arthur Wilson
on the popular 1970s BBC comedy Dad's Army
was born in Chaucer Road in the area in 1912.
, with all community services under the direct control of Bedford Borough Council
. Harpur elects two councillors to Bedford Borough Council
, both of which are currently from the Labour Party
.
Road which houses Bedford Prison
. There has been a prison on this site since 1801.
Elsewhere there is a large Sainsbury's store on Clapham Road. To the north of Harpur is the Manton Heights Industrial Estate (located on Manton Lane) which houses many different businesses including offices of WesternGeco
, and the Aircraft Research Association, as well as an LA Fitness Gym and a Travelodge
. There are more hotels and guest-houses to be found on Shakespeare Road.
Lower School located on Manton Lane, and Livingstone Lower School situated on Clapham Road. There are no middle
or upper school
s in Harpur. Children in the area are in the catchment for Beauchamp Middle School
in Brickhill
and Biddenham Upper School
in Biddenham
.
There are four independent schools in Harpur - Polam Oaks School is located on Lansdowne Road, and Rushmoor School
is situated on Shakespeare Road. For older children Bedford High School is sited on Bromham Road, and Bedford Modern School
is on Manton Lane. Stella Mann College
is a private performing arts
college, located on Linden Road. The college attracts students from all over the UK and abroad, as well as locally.
is located just off Tavistock Street, on Princes Street. Harpur is the only area in Bedford not to have any large open space or recreation ground
within its boundaries, but there are some public tennis courts on Linden Road, and a small nature reserve
located off Park Road North and Ramsay Close. Bedford Park
is situated just outside the area, on the corner of Foster Hill Road and Park Avenue.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
of Bedford
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The boundaries of Harpur are approximately Manton Lane to the north, De Parys Avenue to the east, Bromham Road to the south, with the Midland Main Line
Midland Main Line
The Midland Main Line is a major railway route in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system.The present-day line links London St...
railway line to the west.
Manton Heights, the Poets, the Prime Ministers, and the Black Tom neighbourhoods all lie within the boundaries of Harpur ward.
History
The area is named after Sir William HarpurWilliam Harpur
Sir William Harpur was a merchant from Bedford who moved to London, amassed a large fortune, and became Lord Mayor of London. In 1566 he and his wife Dame Alice gave an endowment to support certain charities including education...
a famous Bedfordian. The area houses Bedford Modern School
Bedford Modern School
Bedford Modern School is a British co-educational independent school in the Harpur area of Bedford, in the county of Bedfordshire, in England.Bedford Modern comprises a junior school and a senior school...
and Bedford High School, both of which form part of the Harpur Trust
Harpur Trust
The Bedford Charity is a charity in Bedford, England which is principally concerned with the operation of private schools. The Bedford Charity is the legal name, but it is most often referred to as the Harpur Trust....
.
A notorious Highwayman
Highwayman
A highwayman was a thief and brigand who preyed on travellers. This type of outlaw, usually, travelled and robbed by horse, as compared to a footpad who traveled and robbed on foot. Mounted robbers were widely considered to be socially superior to footpads...
labelled 'Black Tom' reportedly frequented the area in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Supposedly he was buried with a stake driven through his heart at the junction of Tavistock Street, Union Street and Clapham Road. Today Black Tom is the informal name of the Tavistock Street neighbourhood in Harpur.
Most of Harpur has been developed for over two hundred years, and most buildings in the area date from the 19th Century or before. However the northern part of the area (Manton Heights) was developed much later, in the 1970s.
The Bedford Physical Training College (later, Bedford College of Physical Education) was founded on Landsdowne Road in 1903. The campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
joined two others in 1976 to form Bedford College of Higher Education
Bedford College of Higher Education
Bedford College of Higher Education was a higher education institution in Bedford, England, specializing in teacher training.-History:Until 1976, three separate institutions offered tertiary education in Bedford: Bedford College of Physical Education in Landsdowne Road , Bedford College of...
which in turn joined other colleges to form De Montfort University
De Montfort University
De Montfort University is a public research and teaching university situated in the medieval Old Town of Leicester, England, adjacent to the River Soar and the Leicester Castle Gardens...
in 1994. By this time many of the buildings on or around Lansdowne Road in Harpur were part of the university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
campus. In 2006 the Bedford arm of De Montfort University and the University of Luton formed the University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
The University of Bedfordshire is based in Luton and Bedford, the two largest towns in the English county of Bedfordshire. The university was created by the merger of the University of Luton and the Bedford campus of De Montfort University on 1 August 2006 following approval by the Privy Council...
. It was decided that the new University would merge its two Bedford campuses onto one site on Polhill Avenue, De Parys
De Parys
De Parys is an electoral ward and area within the town of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.The boundaries of De Parys are approximately Bedford Park and Stancliffe Road to the north, the Bedford campus of the University of Bedfordshire to the east, Goldington Road to the south, with De Parys Avenue...
. This meant the end of the Lansdowne Road campus, which lasted in the Harpur area for over 100 years. In July 2009, plans to develop the old university site into housing were rejected by Bedford Borough Council, the local planning authority.
John Le Mesurier
John Le Mesurier
John Le Mesurier was a BAFTA Award-winning English actor. He is most famous for his role as Sergeant Arthur Wilson in the popular 1970s BBC comedy Dad's Army.-Career:...
who starred as Sergeant Arthur Wilson
Sergeant Arthur Wilson
Sergeant The Honourable Arthur Wilson is a fictional Home Guard platoon sergeant and bank clerk portrayed by John Le Mesurier on the BBC television situation comedy Dad's Army....
on the popular 1970s BBC comedy Dad's Army
Dad's Army
Dad's Army is a British sitcom about the Home Guard during the Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft and broadcast on BBC television between 1968 and 1977. The series ran for 9 series and 80 episodes in total, plus a radio series, a feature film and a stage show...
was born in Chaucer Road in the area in 1912.
Governance
Harpur is an unparished areaUnparished area
In England, an unparished area is an area that is not covered by a civil parish. Most urbanised districts of England are either entirely or partly unparished. Many towns and some cities in otherwise rural districts are also unparished areas and therefore no longer have a town council or city...
, with all community services under the direct control of Bedford Borough Council
Bedford (borough)
Bedford is a unitary authority with the status of a borough in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, England. Its council is based at Bedford, which is also the county town of Bedfordshire. The borough contains a single urban area, the 69th largest in the United Kingdom that comprises Bedford and...
. Harpur elects two councillors to Bedford Borough Council
Bedford (borough)
Bedford is a unitary authority with the status of a borough in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, England. Its council is based at Bedford, which is also the county town of Bedfordshire. The borough contains a single urban area, the 69th largest in the United Kingdom that comprises Bedford and...
, both of which are currently from the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
.
Economy
Harpur contains Tavistock Street, one of Bedford's major commercial zones. There are various shops, pubs, offices and restaurants on Tavistock Street. There are more shops and businesses dotted around Harpur, including BromhamBromham
Bromham may refer to:* Bromham, Bedfordshire, a village in the county of Bedfordshire, England* Bromham, Wiltshire, a village in the county of Wiltshire, England...
Road which houses Bedford Prison
Bedford (HM Prison)
HMP Bedford is a Category B men's prison, located in the Harpur area of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service.-History:...
. There has been a prison on this site since 1801.
Elsewhere there is a large Sainsbury's store on Clapham Road. To the north of Harpur is the Manton Heights Industrial Estate (located on Manton Lane) which houses many different businesses including offices of WesternGeco
WesternGeco
WesternGeco is a geophysical services company. It is headquartered in the Schlumberger House on the property of London Gatwick Airport in Crawley, West Sussex, in Greater London.-Background:...
, and the Aircraft Research Association, as well as an LA Fitness Gym and a Travelodge
Travelodge
Travelodge refers to several hotel chains around the world. Current operations include: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, the Republic of Ireland, New Zealand and Australia...
. There are more hotels and guest-houses to be found on Shakespeare Road.
Education
There are two state lower Schools in Harpur - Edith CavellEdith Cavell
Edith Louisa Cavell was a British nurse and spy. She is celebrated for saving the lives of soldiers from all sides without distinction and in helping some 200 Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium during World War I, for which she was arrested...
Lower School located on Manton Lane, and Livingstone Lower School situated on Clapham Road. There are no middle
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
or upper school
Upper school
Upper Schools tend to be schools within secondary education. Outside England, the term normally refers to a section of a larger school. There is some variation in the use of the term in England.-State Maintained Schools:...
s in Harpur. Children in the area are in the catchment for Beauchamp Middle School
Beauchamp Middle School
Beauchamp Middle School is a co-educational, comprehensive middle school in the Brickhill area of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.The school was created out of a merger of Parkwood and Brickhill Middle Schools in the early 1990s...
in Brickhill
Brickhill
Brickhill is a civil parish and electoral ward within northern Bedford in Bedfordshire, England.The boundaries of Brickhill are approximately Kimbolton Road to the east, Bedford Park and the old Bedford cemetery to the south, with Cemetery Hill and the Manton Heights Industrial Estate to the...
and Biddenham Upper School
Biddenham Upper School
Biddenham Upper School is a 13-19 coeducational state comprehensive school serving the Brickhill, Harpur and Queens Park areas of Bedford plus the village of Biddenham, England. The school holds Specialist Sports College status...
in Biddenham
Biddenham
Biddenham is a large village and a civil parish in Bedfordshire, England, located to the west of Bedford near the A428 road.The village largely serves as a dormitory settlement for Bedford, and also for commuters to London, being on the same side of the town centre as Bedford railway station...
.
There are four independent schools in Harpur - Polam Oaks School is located on Lansdowne Road, and Rushmoor School
Rushmoor School
Rushmoor School is an independent day school, located in the Harpur area of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England. It is coeducational from ages 3–11 then boys only from 12-16. The school is located at 58-60 Shakespeare Road.- History :...
is situated on Shakespeare Road. For older children Bedford High School is sited on Bromham Road, and Bedford Modern School
Bedford Modern School
Bedford Modern School is a British co-educational independent school in the Harpur area of Bedford, in the county of Bedfordshire, in England.Bedford Modern comprises a junior school and a senior school...
is on Manton Lane. Stella Mann College
Stella Mann College of Performing Arts
Stella Mann College of Performing Arts is an independent, co-educational performing arts school and college specialising in dance and musical theatre. The college is located in the Harpur area of Bedford, Bedfordshire, in the United Kingdom.-Overview:...
is a private performing arts
Performing arts
The performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object...
college, located on Linden Road. The college attracts students from all over the UK and abroad, as well as locally.
Religious sites
- St Martin's Church (Church of EnglandChurch of EnglandThe Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
), located on Clapham Road - Primitive Methodist Church, located on Park Road
- The Bedford Quakers have a Meeting House on Lansdowne Road
- The International Church of the Foursquare GospelInternational Church of the Foursquare GospelThe International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, commonly referred to as the Foursquare Church, is an evangelical Pentecostal Christian denomination. As of 2000 it had a worldwide membership of over 8,000,000, with almost 60,000 churches in 144 countries. In 2006, membership in the United States...
hold services at the Tavistock Community Centre on Princes Street - The Apostolic Faith MissionApostolic Faith MissionThe Apostolic Faith Church , formerly the Apostolic Faith Mission, is a Pentecostal Christian denomination with headquarters in Portland, Oregon, United States. The Apostolic Faith Mission of Portland was founded in 1906 by Florence L. Crawford, who was affiliated at that time with William J....
, also at the Tavistock Community Centre - Kingdom Way Church, also at the Tavistock Community Centre
- The Glorious Freedom Church, also at the Tavistock Community Centre
Community facilities
Harpur's community centreCommunity centre
Community centres or community centers or jumping recreation centers are public locations where members of a community tend to gather for group activities, social support, public information, and other purposes. They may sometimes be open for the whole community or for a specialised group within...
is located just off Tavistock Street, on Princes Street. Harpur is the only area in Bedford not to have any large open space or recreation ground
Recreation Ground
A recreation ground is a type of park.Recreation Ground is the name of the following stadiums in the United Kingdom:*Recreation Ground , the home ground of Aldershot Town F.C., located in Aldershot, England...
within its boundaries, but there are some public tennis courts on Linden Road, and a small nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
located off Park Road North and Ramsay Close. Bedford Park
Bedford Park, Bedford
Bedford Park is a large urban park, located in the town of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England. The park is the largest urban park within the town of Bedford, and is owned and maintained by Bedford Borough Council....
is situated just outside the area, on the corner of Foster Hill Road and Park Avenue.