NATIONWIDE BUILDING SOCIETY, BEDFORD: Deeds to 47 and 49 High Street

The deeds provide information on the history of no.47 High Street only from 1868, although glimpses of its earlier ownership and occupation are available from abuttals mentioned in the deeds to no.49. The deeds to no.49 commence in 1880, but full details of the earlier history of the property are contained in the abstract of title from 1829 and (in the recitals it contains) from 1719.

In the following list, the deeds are arranged to reflect the history of the property, i.e.

Z 890/1-6: Deeds to 47 High Street; 1876-1890

Z 890/7-9: Deeds to 49 High Street; 1880

Z 890/10-16: Deeds to 47 and 49 High Street; 1942-1964

Acc. 7659

Documents deposited in 1995 by Group Legal Services, Nationwide Building Society, Kings Park Road, Moulton Park, Northampton, NN3 6NW (ref: NLEG/CSS/22424/KW)

The Nationwide Building Society (as the Northampton Town and County Building Society) acquired nos.47 and 49 High Street, Bedford, from John Bull & Co. by deed dated 23rd October 1964. A branch of the Society operated from this address from 1964 until the early 1990s. Part of the property was sold in July 1994 and the remainder in August 1995.

The Bull family, whose clock and watchmaking business and jewellers shop had been at no.49 since at least 1828, acquired no.47 in 1884. From that date until 1964 - and subsequently while owned by the Building Society - the two premises were in common ownership.