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Name:	PUBLIC LIBRARY, Harpur Suite, Harpur Street
HER No.:	1221
Type of Record:	Listed Building

Summary

Now called the Harpur Suite. Built in 1834 as Assembly Rooms, and for the Literary and Scientific Institute, later became a private subscription library, then the Public Library from 1936 to 1972. Neo-classical style Grade II* listed building.

Grid Reference:	TL 049 497
Parish:	BEDFORD, BEDFORD BOROUGH, BEDFORDSHIRE
Map:	Show location on Streetmap

Full Description

1834 by Thomas Elger. Originally the Literary and Scientific Institution. Stucco. 2-storey 3-window centre with giant tetrastyle Greek Doric portico, 1-storey 1-window wings. Interior: fine 2-storey hall, rectangular with apses either end, Doric pilasters, coffered ceiling.

BCC Photographic Unit, PU 47/66 (Unpublished document). SBD10507.

Bedfordshire & Luton Archives and Records Service Documents, BLARS: Li/LibB/1/16/2, 4, Library pamphlets, 1920s (Unpublished document). SBD10551.

HER Photograph Archive, F1008/1a-13a (Photograph). SBD10506.

HER Photograph Archive, F1105/34-36 (Photograph). SBD10506.

HER Photograph Archive, F1106/34 (Photograph). SBD10506.

HER Photograph Archive, F1153/1a-9a (Photograph). SBD10506.

HER Photograph Archive, F1249/29a, 30a (Photograph). SBD10506.

HER Photograph Archive, F30/21 (Photograph). SBD10506.

HER Slide Archive, 7326-7327 (Slide). SBD10508.

HER Slide Archive, 7382-7389 (Slide). SBD10508.

HER Slide Archive, 7691-7692 (Slide). SBD10508.

Unknown origin, List of architects inc T Elger, n.d. (Unpublished document). SBD10535.

1971, DoE Borough of North Beds 3rd List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 1/28 (Index). SBD11013.

Victor J F Farrar, 2007, Bedford 50 Years Ago: the Architecture of a County town., p 34, pl 28 (Bibliographic reference). SBD10665.

Protected Status:

Listed Building (II*) 1129009: Former Bedford Literary and Scientific Institute and General Library

Monument Type(s):

BUILDING (19th Century to Unknown - 1834 AD)
LIBRARY (Victorian to Late 20th Century - 1837 AD to 1972 AD)
LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTE (Victorian - 1837 AD to 1901 AD)

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

EBD511 - Report detailing the results of an investigation of the interior decoration to the Harpur Suite, Bedford

Sources and Further Reading

---	SBD10506 - Photograph: HER Photograph Archive. F30/21.
---	SBD10507 - Unpublished document: BCC Photographic Unit. PU 47/66.
---	SBD10508 - Slide: HER Slide Archive. 7326-7327.
---	SBD10535 - Unpublished document: Unknown origin. List of architects inc T Elger, n.d..
---	SBD10551 - Unpublished document: Bedfordshire & Luton Archives and Records Service Documents. BLARS: Li/LibB/1/16/2, 4, Library pamphlets, 1920s.
---	SBD10665 - Bibliographic reference: Victor J F Farrar. 2007. Bedford 50 Years Ago: the Architecture of a County town.. p 34, pl 28.
---	SBD11013 - Index: 1971. DoE Borough of North Beds 3rd List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. 1/28.

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