A brief history

The Bedford Charity, also known as the Harpur Trust, has been in existence since 1566 when it was founded by Sir William Harpur (1496-1573) a tailor from Bedford. William became Lord Mayor of London in 1561 and was knighted one year later.

In 1566, he and his wife, Dame Alice, executed a deed of gift creating an endowment to sustain a school he had already established in Bedford. This school had been granted "letters patent" from King Edward VI in 1552 and later became what is now known as Bedford School. The endowment also made provision for the marriage of poor maids of the town, for deprived children to be nourished and informed, and for any residue to be distributed to the poor of the town.

These ideals evolved over the years into the three charitable objects of the Bedford Charity today:

• The Promotion of Education

• The Relief of those who are sick or in need, hardship or distress

• The provision of recreational facilities with a social welfare purpose

The endowment originally consisted of some property and the schoolhouse in Bedford and, "...thirteen acres and one rood..." of water meadows in Middlesex. The latter being now part of Holborn, the endowment of the Charity has reached a valuation last year of over £45,500,000.

Today, the activities of the Charity are still inspired by the vision of William Harpur who saw the real value of education and the real needs to be addressed amongst the disadvantaged, poor and sick in his home town of Bedford.

		Timeline
		1548	Re-founding of Bedford School
		1552	King Edward VI issues letters patent to Bedford School
		1566	Gift to Bedford by Sir William Harpur and his wife Dame Alice of land in Bedford (on which the new School stood) and Holborn Purposes: the establishment and maintenance of the School marriage portions for poor maids and the "nourishment and education of poor children" distribution of alms
		1764	Foundation of the Charity by Act of Parliament Foundation of the Writing School (now Bedford Modern) Creation of the almshouses
		1873	New Act of Parliament regulated the division of the endowment: 8/11ths to the present four Schools 2/11ths to elementary education provision in Bedford 1/11th for the maintenance of the Almshouses
		1882	Bedford High School established
		1882	Girls’ Modern School established
		1891	Bedford School moves to its present site
		1902	Education Act transfers elementary education to the town Council
		1938	Girls' Modern School moves to the present site of Dame Alice Harpur School
		1946	Girls’ Modern School became Dame Alice Harpur School for Girls
		1974	Bedford Modern School moves to its present site
		1988	A Scheme by the Charity Commission creates the Trust of today
		2000	A new Scheme approved by the Charity Commission
		2003	Bedford Modern School becomes co-educational