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The Vault

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 High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) Cultural Projects

 

Build Your Own High Street

 

The HSHAZ project together with Bedford Borough Council, The Higgins Bedford and Albion Archaeology have created this wonderful model of number 107 The High Street, also known as Goldings, for you to make and decorate.

 

Goldings Model (1)

 

Goldings was in business on the High Street for 150 years and holds many fond memories for local residents. Now you can create your own scale model at home and discover more of its history.

 

Click the links to download a copy to print out at home or collect a free pack from The Higgins Bedford (subject to availability).

 

Instruction Sheets

Step-by-Step Guide

Model Sheets

 

Competition – win shopping vouchers and a chance to have your model displayed at The Higgins Bedford

 

Bedford BID (also part of the HAZ Cultural Workgroup), have kindly donated Love Bedford vouchers as prizes to residents who build the best Goldings building model.

 

Entries will be judged on:

  • Quality of Model Construction
  • Creative Enhancement – both on and surrounding the building (eg addition of window boxes, ghost signs, shop displays, historic advertisements)
  • Historic or Futuristic Additions (eg period features, signage, effects of climate change, social changes)

 

Goldings Model (6)

 

Prizes:

  • under 13 years - £25 Love Bedford Voucher
  • 13-17 years - £25 Love Bedford Voucher
  • Over 18 years - £50 Love Bedford Voucher

 

The 3 winning models will also be put on display at The Higgins Bedford

 

To Enter:  take photographs of your model (max 4 pictures) and email them to thehiggins@bedford.gov.uk with the subject line ‘Goldings Model Competition’ and the age of the model maker.

 

Competition Entry Deadline: 30 September 2021. Winners will be notified by email.

 

This project is part of the wider HSHAZ programme taking place in Bedford. In 2020, Bedford Borough Council received £1.76 million from Historic England as part of the High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) scheme. The grant is being used to deliver building works to regenerate Bedford High Street, alongside a cultural programme that encourages residents to engage with Bedford’s local heritage.

 

Build Your Own High Street Zoom Workshops

 

Join our online workshops for helpful hints on making the models and to discover more about the history of Goldings.

 

Goldings Model (2)

 

The workshops will be run by leaders from Bedford Young Archaeologists’ Club and members of Albion Archaeology and are available to all. (Children under 16 must be supervised by an adult).

 

Workshop 1: Saturday 4 September 2021 11am to 1pm

 

Workshop 2: Wednesday 8 September 2021 6:30pm to 8:30pm  

 

Both workshops will have the same content and are aimed at families.

 

Places are limited and will be booked on a first come, first served basis.

 

To book your place, or for more information please email clare.rogers@bedford.gov.uk

 

The Vault

 

 

WELCOME to the stories behind THE VAULT!

 

You may be here as you have already borne witness to the stunning piece of 3D illusion art, The Vault, executed by international artist Julian Beever, now sitting on the bank of the River Great Ouse on top of the site of the first commercial bank in Bedford, established by John Barnard in 1799. 

 

The piece was commissioned by Bedford Creative Arts on behalf of the High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) Cultural Consortium.

 

bank buildings plaque Image thanks to BCA

 

You may have arrived here but have not yet had the pleasure of seeing it in person. Fear not as the piece will remain in place for approximately two years (or until the site is developed) so you have many opportunities to see it for yourself. 

 

To get the most from this stunning piece of 3D anamorphic artwork, it is best viewed through a camera lens. So do take a photo of the piece and share on social media using the hashtags #BedfordVault #HistoricHighStreets.

 

This website supported by Bedford BID, will provide you with more information on the special piece of work that captured the imaginations of the passing Bedford public who watched it come to life over a sunny bank holiday weekend in June 2021.  

 

The Vault

The artist at work. Image: A.Willsher

 

The stories behind the paint

The artwork depicts a local urban myth that a hidden treasure – a bank vault - is still buried underneath the site. Is it still full of coins and notes?! 

 

What you will see as we ‘dig down’ into the piece are some wonderful impressions of real life treasures found in the area.  Look closely to see depictions of commonly found artefacts in Bedford including this late Saxon (or 'Saxo-Norman') jar with thumb impressed vertical bands that came from the 2007 Castle Lane excavations.

 

Albion Archaeology Large Saxon pot CLB965_C3333 photo (003)
Albion Archaeology Large Saxon pot CLB965_C3333 pot drawing (003)

(with thanks to Jeremy Oetgen BSc MCIfA of Albion Archaeology for the images and information)

 

Maybe you could let us know what else you can see in the earth between our world and the Vault!

 

People make a place

The artwork also shines a light on two characters as they enter the bank to place their well-earned income and wares into the safe keeping of the bank manager and his assistant who are proudly showing off the impressive Vault.

 

These two people were once present on Bedford high street and would have used the bank in their daily life. 

 

Our gentleman is well-known historic Bedford figure Mr Thomas Lester

 

Thomazin Lester2 (003)

 

In 1821, there were seven lace dealers in Bedfordshire. One of the most significant was Thomas Lester, who invented his own style of lace Bedfordshire Maltese Pillow lace to try to compete with machine-made lace, inspired by lace he had seen at The Great Exhibition in 1851. He exhibited at a number of international exhibitions and won prizes for his designs.

 

Like other dealers, Lester would pay his lace makers by the yard of lace they produced. He was a businessman of significant local standing as a member and Deacon at Bunyan Meeting Church. He would offer gifts of lace bobbins inscribed ‘A Gift from Lester’ to workers who won his approval.

 

C and T Lester shop

Picture from The Higgins Bedford collections

 

Our lady however, is not as well-known. 

 

Mary Pearson was a baker working at 88 High Street, Bedford in the 1870's. 

 

Maybe you have more information about Mary that you could share with us?   

 

We would love for you to share your own stories of shopkeepers or local characters from the area to help build a rich collection of tales that will bring the high street to life and celebrate its relationship with local Bedfordians.                   

                                                                                     

If you have stories you would like to share of the high street from unique characters to favourite high street shops past or present, please send your tales to: info@bedfordcreativearts.org.uk

 

The piece was commissioned by Bedford Creative Arts on behalf of the High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) Cultural Consortium

 

Funded by Historic England, and Bedford BID, supported by SEMLEP and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the High Street Heritage Action Zones (HSHAZ) programme is set to unlock the potential of Bedford high street with the aim of boosting the economic, social and cultural recovery of the area post-pandemic.

 

The wider HSHAZ programme is being led by Bedford Borough Council and aims to make the High Street a more attractive place for communities to live, work and enjoy leisure activities. More information is available on the Bedford Borough Council website.

 

#BedfordVault

 

About Bedford Creative Arts

Bedford Creative Arts is a contemporary arts charity dedicated to commissioning high-quality art with and for communities, working with artists to explore new developments in socially engaged art practice. Our work is focused outside the gallery space in social spaces and in schools in Bedford and Bedfordshire. See our Projects page to find out more.

 

We also produce The Culture Challenge programme for schools and cultural providers, and are an Arts Award Supporter.

 

Bedford Creative Arts is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation and a registered charity.

 

www.bedfordcreativearts.org.uk