Lloyds Bank - High Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire, UK
Posted by: 
Dragontree
N 52° 08.132 W 000° 27.967
30U E 673412 N 5779140
A striking, white building in Bedford High Street denotes the presence of the old premises of Lloyds Bank. Since then the bank has moved further along the High Street and the building was transformed.
Waymark Code: WMEKA2
Location: Eastern England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 06/08/2012
Views: 5
In recent times the building was used as a night club called Venom. It encompasses several floors and stands as a central focus opposite the statue of John Howard. A newspaper article portrayed the building as 'an almost palatial building' and 'Bedford's own White House' and indeed this can be seen.
Originally the building was constructed as the home of Charles Palgrave. He was a local chemist and founded the company Taylor, Brawn and Flood.
During this time the lower floor was the chemist and shop, whilst the family lived above. Charles Palgrave was Mayor of Bedford in 1849 and 1850. Charles' nephew Robert Palgrave designed the spire of the church here in St Paul's Square, the former Britannia Works buildings and the gateway on Kempston Road. Robert trained under the famous architect Sir Gilbert Scott.
The building certainly suited the dominance of a bank in this stretch of the town. In 2012 after a brief inhabitance by a '£10 for all on clothing' chain the building stands empty and in need of repair. It stands next to Castle Lane.
Address:
19 High Street
Bedford
MK40 1RN
Year: 1780
Website: [Web Link]
Current Use of Building: Empty
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Visit Instructions:
Please give your impression about the bank and/or it's architecture. Also please post another photo of the building.