Bedfordshire Archives

Bedfordshire Archives The county record office for the historic county of Bedfordshire. Created in 1913, we hold documents from the 12th century to the present day.

Keep up-to-date with our activities. We add to our collections and catalogues all the time, we also have a programme of events, this page will help you see what's new and what's on. For more information please use our main website.Visitors to searchroom by appointment, please e-mail or ring to request a booking.

— 7 September 1940 marked the beginning of the Blitz, when London came under sustained bombing during the Second World...
07/09/2026

— 7 September 1940 marked the beginning of the Blitz, when London came under sustained bombing during the Second World War.
To commemorate this significant moment in history, we’re sharing an item from our archives that highlights the impact of the Blitz closer to home, in Bedfordshire.

These images show a Blitz pass card belonging to R.G. Sharpe. The card authorised him to work in a factory that was considered essential to the war effort, allowing vital industries to continue operating during this uncertain and dangerous period.

A small piece of history, offering a glimpse into how the war affected everyday life here in Bedfordshire.

Around 600 people attended the Stewartby 100 event yesterday hosted by Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick Parish Council I...
06/09/2026

Around 600 people attended the Stewartby 100 event yesterday hosted by Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick Parish Council It was great to see all the information provided by Andrew the LBC Archivist from Forterra UK , Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership and not forgetting all the hard work undertaken by Joy Cooper-Watson.

If you weren't able to view the vintage film on display, this a link to it "The Making of Bricks" 1938 on the BFI website
https://replay.bfi.org.uk/video/5ec925ac-4ffc-545d-8a72-af4d8b2e5b2a
* Please note the first 4.5 minutes are not of Stewartby, but it is a 19 minute video!*

There is also an additional silent film about the Phorpres lorries from 1960 on the East Anglian Film Archive site, 2 minutes long
https://eafa.org.uk/work/?id=2692

All set up at Stewartby Village Hall to celebrate 100 years of the village. Lots to see, if you have an interest in the ...
05/09/2026

All set up at Stewartby Village Hall to celebrate 100 years of the village. Lots to see, if you have an interest in the area and its brickworks the event opens at midday until 4pm
Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick Parish Council Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership Heritage Bedford Bedfordshire Family History Society

Tomorrow! 12 - 4pm at Stewartby Village Hall, free entryCome and explore 100 years of village history
04/09/2026

Tomorrow! 12 - 4pm at Stewartby Village Hall, free entry
Come and explore 100 years of village history

Want to research your family history but not sure how to start? 6 week Family History Beginners course starting this Tue...
03/09/2026

Want to research your family history but not sure how to start? 6 week Family History Beginners course starting this Tuesday (8th) with Bedfordshire Family History Society in Bedford

It’s the 1st of the month which means ‘Which Parish in Bedfordshire?’ This month features a lovely nature-themed image. ...
02/09/2026

It’s the 1st of the month which means ‘Which Parish in Bedfordshire?’ This month features a lovely nature-themed image.

Today we're saying thank you to our volunteer Peter who after a gargantuan effort has completed the cataloguing of plann...
02/09/2026

Today we're saying thank you to our volunteer Peter who after a gargantuan effort has completed the cataloguing of planning application plans deposited with us from South Beds District Council. These span from the mid 1970s - mid 1980s and amount to 745 plans! We hold very few planning records for this area of the county and so we are sure these will be much appreciated

We are very grateful to all of our volunteers for their time and effort in helping us to repackage, sort and catalogue the collections deposited with us.

Join us this Saturday (5th September) as we help celebrate 100 years of Stewartby history at Stewartby Village Hall fro...
31/08/2026

Join us this Saturday (5th September) as we help celebrate 100 years of Stewartby history at Stewartby Village Hall from Midday - 4:00pm. Free entry.
We know many of our followers have relatives who worked in the county's brickyards, or who may have even worked / lived in the village themselves. We will be illustrating the village's history with Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick Parish Council along with other organisations including London Brick Company archivist, Andrew Mortlock, David Horn of Prime Media Images and the Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership

Bedfordshire Family History Society Heritage Bedford Forterra UK Bedford Architectural, Archaeological & Local History Society

We will be hosting free activities for children at the new Visitor Information Centre on Silver Street on Friday, 10am-1...
24/08/2026

We will be hosting free activities for children at the new Visitor Information Centre on Silver Street on Friday, 10am-1pm. Come along, entertain the children and if you want to, ask an Archivist about anything family or local history related.

We will have a rats & ladders floor game, seal stamping with plasticine and activity sheets linked to the history of the town centre. All ages welcome!

The Visitor Information Centre is located close to the Silver Faces sculpture.

Celebrating Poet's Day with the start of a verse about Millbrook by Revd E.W. Bowling, Rector of Houghton Conquest in th...
21/08/2026

Celebrating Poet's Day with the start of a verse about Millbrook by Revd E.W. Bowling, Rector of Houghton Conquest in the 1880s and 90s. At public functions he would recite yards of verse shrewdly commenting on local worthies & events, this is just the start of the poem which in total is 30 verses (150 lines) [Ref: AU39/1/6]

Address

Riverside Building, Borough Hall, Cauldwell Street
Bedford
MK429AP

Opening Hours

Monday 9:15am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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