IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
High Street, BEDFORD, MK42 9XU

A 16th century Grade II listed public house. http://www.bedfordshire.gov.uk/CommunityAndLiving/ArchivesAndRecordOffice/CommunityArchives/Elstow/SwanPublicHouse.aspx?ContensisTextOnly=text

A long range of half-timbered buildings, part of which was the White Lion coaching inn in times past.

This old public house is Grade II listed it was formerly The Star and White Swan, it was believed to have started life as a cottage in 1611

This archway, known locally as The Jetty, use to be a coaching inn called The White Lion and was a stopping point for horse drawn coaches on the route between Bedford and London.

Looking westwards, out to the Wilstead Road, from this group of nicely kept black and white houses.

An information board states: Moot Hall is a timber framed building constructed in the late 15th century with red brick infilling and a clay roof. The upper floor is jettied on three sides supported by diagonal 'dragon beams' projecting at the two western corners. Originally it consisted of four bays but a further bay and external brick chimney were added to the eastern end in the late 16th century. Six shops once occupied the western part of the ground floor. The open upper hall running the full length of the building was originally used as a court and meeting room. During the 19th century the hall was used as a place of worship by non-conformists and as a school room. Moot Hall is now a museum containing both a collection of 16th and 17th century furniture and items relating to the life and works of John Bunyan who was born in Elstow parish and lived there for part of his life. http://www.discoverbedfordshire.co.uk/article.php?id=91&issueopen=2

Built in the 15th century partly to serve as a market-house, the hall had shops on the ground floor. The building was extended, probably in the late 15th century, adding two more shop bays and two rooms suitable for living in - these were probably used to accommodate important visitors to the nearby Abbey.