Reference
CC
Title
Deposit of Messrs Conquest, Clare & Binns, solicitors
Date free text
1664 - 1913
Production date
From: 1664 To: 1913
Admin/biog history
The founder of the firm came from Biggleswade. The 1847 directory gives William Carrington as a draper in the High Street (see also CC 295, 350, 377 and 432). At the same date John Conquest was keeping a 'classical and commercial academy' in Shortmead Street. In 1861 this is described as Mead House Grammar School. He married Sarah, daughter of William and Mary Carrington, and John Carrington Conquest was their son. John Conquest died in 1876, and his will (CC 356), which directed that his children should share equally, stipulated that sums already spent on them, kept in a little red book, should be taken into the calculations.
John Carrington Conquest, solicitor, was practising at 44 High Street, Bedford, in the 1861 directory, possibly already in partnership with William Stimson. By 1869 the firm of Conquest & Stimson had moved to Duke Street, and J.C. Conquest was living at 30 Mill Street. The partnership however was dissolved by 1876, when Stimson was practising at 26 Mill Street, where by 1894 he was joined by his son(?) Charles, later Town Clerk (1910 - 1920). J.C. Conquest practised from his house at 30 Mill Street, and by 1877 he had taken another partner, Alfred Clare, who had won a prize premium at the Commercial School (see X 251/6 Articles of clerkship, 1868). The 1894 directory gives J.C. Conquest as living at Westlands, Rothsay Gardens, and Clare at 36 River Crescent, the Embankment, but the practice was carried on at 30a Mill Street.
At some time before 1914 it was taken over by P.N. Binns, who lived first in Kimbolton Avenue and later Bushmead Avenue. The firm was later absorbed into Pictons, 28 Dunstable Road, Luton LU1 1DY (01582 878504).
Deposited by Conquest, Clare & Binns, 22 April 1943.
Scope and Content
The collection includes material for Milton Ernest, Bedford, Clophill, Maulden, Houghton Conquest, Oakley, Ravensden, Renhold, Steppingley and Shefford.
The main interest in the collection is the break-up of the Rolt estate at Milton Ernest, centring round the manor of Bassetts. The Rolts were in difficulties in the early 18th century, and parted with the property in 1750 (see CC 20).
Some other documents of the 18th - 19th centuries deal with small properties in and round Bedford. There are also a number of 19th century probates, which unfortunately give little information about possessions or property.
Level of description
fonds