The rich history of Bedford has been celebrated in a YouTube video, covering everything from the town’s Saxon heritage and John Bunyan connection, through to the indie retail scene, via the band The Grubby Mitts.
Indeed, it was the Bedford-based band, The Grubby Mitts, that lured London-based film-maker and author, John Rogers, to travel up the BedPan line on a pilgrimage of his own, to secure a vinyl copy of the band’s new album and explore Bedford at the same time.
His YouTube channel, Adventures in the Overlooked City, shines a light on the less celebrated visitor destinations in and around London, so last Tuesday (14 October), John found himself on a walking tour of Bedford.
“I’d been aware of an event that Andy Holden of the Grubby Mitts had organised in 2010 [at Wysing Arts Centre] and had a romantic idea of what he had created,” John told the Bedford Clanger.
“I’ve followed his career and his band ever since.
“I had no idea of the history of Bedford until I decided to visit; I didn’t know about the connection with John Bunyan or King Offa – in fact, the Edwardian Arcade was top of my list, as it is home to Slide Records, where I knew I wanted to buy the new Grubby Mitts’ album.
“Now I’ve been, it was a day that will stay with me. And despite being in the town for six hours, I didn’t see everything I wanted to, so I’ll have to make a return visit.”
John began uploading films in the pre-YouTube era (circa 2004), exploring his interest in psychogeography, explaining, “A bus stop has as many stories and significance to people as a heritage site.”
He launched his YouTube channel in 2006, exploring overlooked places in and around the capital city, and described Bedford as somewhere art and culture can survive and thrive outside London.
“The greatest advert for Bedford that’s ever been made”
Speaking to artist and Grubby Mitt, Andy Holden, he told the Bedford Clanger that he was aware of John’s work, but was “quite surprised when I watched it” that John had been inspired to visit the town specifically to buy the band’s new album.
“I think it’s the greatest advert for Bedford that’s ever been made,” he said.
“I was actually thinking of leaving Bedford, but John might have just persuaded me to stay. Sometimes it takes someone from outside somewhere to enthuse about it, particularly if it’s someone you implicitly trust, whose research is so thorough.”
Andy, who currently has work exhibited at the Frieze contemporary art fair in Regent’s Park, organised a bus tour of Bedford in 2010, which, he told the Bedford Clanger, “was basically the same route that John took; it was almost identical.
“The only thing he missed out was the Panacea Museum,” said Andy.
“It’s the place I always take visitors to Bedford, I’m essentially their unofficial ambassador.”
A walk around Bedford
John’s Secret Bedford walk has been viewed more than 14,000 times on YouTube.
The description of the walk says: “A walk around the fantastic history of the town of Bedford in England, just 40 minutes by train from London St Pancras Station.
“Bedford sits on the River Great Ouse and is best known for its association with John Bunyan, author of The Pilgrim’s Progress. Bedford has an incredibly rich history dating back to Anglo-Saxon times, when it’s said to be the burial place of the powerful Mercian King Offa.
“The town was raided and occupied by Vikings, then liberated and fortified by the Saxon King Edward the Elder and was a border town between Wessex law and the Danelaw.
“It was the scene of two dramatic sieges of its powerful castle, in 1153 and 1224. The church of St Paul was built on the site of a Saxon church, and the stones of the church were at one time used to fortify the castle.
“The video also features the fantastic Edwardian Arcade, opened in 1915 and highlights local band The Grubby Mitts.”
Civic pride
Despite visiting on a fairly gloomy Tuesday in October, John said: “Even though it was not in its Sunday best, Bedford still looked incredible.
“The quality and quantity of detailed heritage information throughout the town was excellent; really well done.
“It shows there is immense civic pride in the town and its heritage.”
“I spoke to a couple of shopkeepers, and their instant reaction to my visit was really positive, giving me suggestions of where to go for lunch and what to see while I was here. That kind of positivity and enthusiasm tells you a lot about a place.”
Opinion
At a time when social media is awash with negativity about aspects of the town centre, it’s a breath of fresh air to watch something so overwhelmingly positive about Bedford. Even the below-the-line comments on YouTube are heartwarming.
It’s easy to walk through the same streets every day without seeing beyond the empty shops or road works; even my rose-tinted glasses were beginning to slip.
Watching John’s film and interviewing him has given me renewed pride of place in my hometown and reminded me not to take our history and heritage for granted. We all need to be Hometown Tourists every so often.
I really hope he’ll take up our offer of a tour round the Panacea Museum, a trip on the John Bunyan Boat and lunch of a Bedfordshire Clanger on his next visit.
You’re welcome back anytime, John!
