IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
The Blore Tower, Harpur Centre, BEDFORD, MK40 1TQ

Sculpture in Bedford's Harpur Square called 'The Meeting' by John Mills.

This is just the façade of Bedford Modern School, which has been kept as the frontage to the Harpur Centre. The school moved to a new site at Manton Lane in the 1970's. Most of the buildings, which were unremarkable, were demolished to build the Harpur Centre. The frontage was the only decent piece of architecture, designed by Edward Blore. Grade II* listed. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101138232-bedford-modern-school-castle-ward

http://www.harpurshopping-bedford.co.uk/index_main.html

From the top of the Allhallows car park, we see the BHS shop at the corner of Allhallows and Church Square. Further away is the spire of St Paul's Church, and to its right the tower above the entrance to the Harpur Centre. (The tower is part of the original facade designed by Edward Blore for Bedford Modern School, which used to be on the site of the Harpur Centre. When the school moved to Manton Lane in the early 1970's, most of the buildings were demolished, but the facade was kept. The facade was the only interesting part of the school architecturally.) Further to the right is the tall block of the Town Hall, with another office building behind it. For a view to the left of this one see Image]

This is just the façade of Bedford Modern School, which has been kept as the frontage to the Harpur Centre. The school moved to a new site at Manton Lane in the 1970's. Most of the buildings, which were unremarkable, were demolished to build the Harpur Centre. The frontage was the only decent piece of architecture, designed by Edward Blore. Grade II* listed. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101138232-bedford-modern-school-castle-ward

Looking across Harpur Street to the facade designed by Edward Blore for Bedford Modern School. When the school moved to new buildings in the early 1970's, the facade was kept while all the rest of the buildings were demolished and a new shopping centre was built behind it. The room in the tower above the entrance was where I learned French one year in the 1960's and had occasional other lessons. It was reached by a normal staircase, but there was a spiral staircase in the rear left corner going up to the room on the next floor. A ghost was reputed to climb the staircase, and other boys claimed to have heard strange noises from the staircase, but I never noticed anything. Behind the windows to the right of the tower was the main hall - known as Big School. To the left were the offices of the Harpur Trust and the kitchens, I don't remember going in that part of the building. See also Image] for more information.

When this was part of the school, the main hall ("Big School") was behind the tall windows to the right of the tower and the smaller ones to their right. Inside, the stage was at the end nearest the tower, and a narrow gallery ran along the far side, with 2 or 3 classrooms opening off it. Below them were 2 classrooms with sliding partitions that could be used as an extension to the hall, and next to them the staff room. There was also a large gallery at the back upstairs, by the smaller windows, with 4 or 5 rows of benches with desktops. Judging by the inscriptions carved in them, they had been there many years. From the corner of the gallery a corridor ran to the library and a room that was the music room in the early 1960's (until music moved to more spacious rooms elsewhere in about 1964). Below the library was the headmaster's office and other offices. See also Image] for more information.

The Harpur Centre is a shopping centre behind the stone facade of the former Bedford Modern School which was designed by Edward Blore in 1830. The building was restored in 1975 by the Harpur's Bedford Charity during the building of the Harpur Centre.