Reference
QSH2/24-80
Title
House on east bought from Gibbard 1878: 6 St Paul's Square, Bedford
Date free text
1558 - 1900
Production date
From: 1558 To: 1949
Scope and Content
The occupancy of this house can be traced back to Richard Wayman in 1558. One family was the well-known one of Paradine. For a time the tenants were surgeons, Francis Jessop, then Thomas Gadsby. In 1773 the house was bought by Gadsby's son, the Rev. Thomas Gadsby, who lived there till his death in 1840 when he bequeathed it to Mary Gibbard of Sharnbrook. She let it to tenants (latterly Sharman & Smail) till she sold it to the county in 1878 for 2,000. It was intended to pull it down and build judge's lodgings there, but economy prevailed. After the Education Act of 1902 it was converted for use as eduation office, till it was damaged by fire in 1908 so badly that reconstruction was necessary; so no. 5 was acquired and the entire site used.
Level of description
sub-file