Who was Black Tom in Bedford?

Who was Black Tom in Bedford?

History. The area is named after Sir William Harpur a famous Bedfordian. The area houses Bedford Modern School which is part of the Harpur Trust. A notorious Highwayman labelled ‘Black Tom’ reportedly frequented the area in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

Is Bedford a town or city?

Bedford, city, Bedford unitary authority, historic county of Bedfordshire, England, in the fertile valley of the River Ouse. A Roman fording station and a Saxon town (cemetery of Kempston), it was recaptured by the Anglo-Saxon sovereign Edward the Elder (ruled 899–924) from the Danes in 914.

Where is the Black Tom area of Bedford?

Places > Bedford > Streets > Black Tom Area The name Black Tom was given to the area of houses between the two Park Roads, Tavistock Street and Foster Hill Road.

Are there black people in Bedford?

10.3% of people in Central Bedfordshire were from ethnic minority communities in 2011, compared to 20.2% in England….Ethnicity In Central Bedfordshire.

Ethnicity Number %
White: Gypsy or Irish Traveller 480 0.2%
White: Other White 7040 2.8%
Mixed: White and Caribbean 1785 0.27%
Mixed: White and Black African 520 0.2%

Is Bedford UK a nice place to live?

A balance of rural and urban features ensures that living in Bedford is appealing to all. Bedford is also very highly regarded. The Sunday Times voted Bedford as one of the best places to live in the UK in 2019, calling the town unfairly underappreciated!

Is Bedford cheap to live?

Bedford is 32.07% less expensive than New York (without rent). Rent in Bedford is, on average, 75.96% lower than in New York.

Does Bedford have a high immigrant population?

Bedford is no stranger to ethnic diversity. Workers, family members, students and refugees from divergent parts of the world have made the town their home over many decades. Migrants first started arriving in significant numbers – mainly from Italy and Poland – to work at the London Brick Company in the 1950s.

What is Harpur ward in Bedford?

Manton Heights, the Poets, the Prime Ministers, and the Black Tom neighbourhoods all lie within the boundaries of Harpur ward. The area is named after Sir William Harpur a famous Bedfordian. The area houses Bedford Modern School which is part of the Harpur Trust.

What has the Harpur Trust done for Bedford Borough Schools?

In 2016 The Harpur Trust turned 450 years old and to celebrate, we launched an Art Competition for Bedford Borough Schools. We offered free workshops to state schools delivered by a team of visiting artists, and the competition resulted in a 2 month exhibition of children’s art work at The Higgins Bedford.

What’s in the Harpur centre?

National brands including, Starbucks, Primark, Boots, WH Smith, Specsavers, Greggs, Pandora and Fraser Hart provide everything you need under one roof alongside unique independent stores and a host of mobile phone providers. Free Wi-Fi can now be enjoyed throughout the Harpur Centre.

Who was the founder of the Harpur Trust?

The Harpur Trust was established by Sir William Harpur (c.1496–1574). Harpur was a merchant from Bedford who became Lord Mayor of London in 1561. He was knighted in the following year.