The first known reference to a Mayor of Bedford England was in 1264.
Prior to the Municipal Corporations Act, 1835, the mayor of Bedford came into office on 29 September. The first mayor of the reformed corporation came into office on 1 January 1836, and subsequent mayors on 9 November. After the Local Government Act, 1948, and the Local Government Act, 1972, the mayors from 1949 onwards came into office in May. The civic mayor was replaced by a directly elected mayor in 2002.
Since April 2009 the Borough of Bedford is a unitary authority , with the executive having the powers and functions of both a non-metropolitan district and a non-metropolitan county .
List of Mayors of Bedford
Civic mayors Joshua Hawkins - Mayor of Bedford Alderman George Hurst (1800 - 1898), Mayor of Bedford (1855, 1873-4, 1878 and 1886) George Wells - Mayor in the 1890s Source: bedsarchives
13th Century Year Name Notes C.1250 John Slye Exact Year unknown ? Simon Barschot[ 1] ? John Brodeye[ 1] 1288 John Last Name Unknown 1297 John Cullebere Mayor 1297 and 1314
14th Century Year Name Notes 1312-13 John Mareschall 1313-14 John atte Wal 1314-15 John Cullebere Mayor 1297 and 1314 1315-16 Nicholas le Feroun 1316-17 Nicholas le Feroun 1319-20 John atte Wal 1322-23 Thomas Haliday 1324-25 Nicholas de Astwode 1325-26 Nicholas de Astwode 1327-28 Simon Cullebere 1330-31 Simon Cullebere 1331-32 Nicholas de Astwode 1334-35 Richard Frereman 1339-40 John le Marchal 1341-42 John le Marchal 1342-43 John le Marchal 1343-44 John le Marchal 1344-45 John le Marchal 1346-47 Walter de Perle 1347-48 Walter de Perle 1348-49 Henry Arnold 1349-50 John le Marchal 1350-51 Henry Arnold 1352-53 John le Marchal 1354-55 Henry Arnold 1356-57 Henry Arnold 1358-59 William de Kempston 1360-61 Henry Arnold 1361-62 William de Kempston 1362-63 William de Kempston 1363-64 William de Kempston 1365-66 William de Kempston 1367-68 John Bosom 1369-70 John Bosom 1372-73 Richard Frereman 1374-75 Richard Frereman 1379-80 Richard Frereman 1380-81 Thomas Jourdon 1381-82 Thomas Jourdon 1384-85 Thomas Jourdon 1385-86 Thomas Jourdon 1388-89 Thomas Jourdon 1389-90 John Howden 1390-91 Thomas Jourdon 1392-93 William Brown MP for Bedford , 1397 1393-94 Thomas Jourdon 1398-99 Roger Tunstal
15th Century Year Name Notes 1400-01 Thomas Jourdon 1401-02 Thomas Jourdon 1402-03 Thomas Jourdon 1404-05 William Coterstok 1406-07 Roger Tunstale 1407-08 Roger Tunstale 1408-09 William Goderstoke 1409-10 William Cothristoke 1411-12 John Tunstal 1412-13 John Tunstal 1413-14 John Tunstal 1414-15 John Kent MP for Bedford , 1406 1416-17 John Kent MP for Bedford , 1406 1418-19 William Douve 1422-23 William Douve 1423-24 William Douve 1425-26 Thomas Kempston 1426-27 Thomas Kempston 1428-29 Thomas Bull 1429-30 John Frepurs MP for Bedford , 1417 and 1427 1432-33 Thomas Hunt MP for Bedford , 1420 1433-34 Thomas Hunte 1435-36 Robert Wasselyn 1437-38 John Frepurs MP for Bedford , 1417 and 1427 1438-39 William Hunte 1440-41 Thomas Kempston 1441-42 Robert Plomer 1443-44 Wiilliam Bette 1444-45 John Frepurs MP for Bedford , 1417 and 1427 1445-46 John Frepurs MP for Bedford , 1417 and 1427 1446-47 Thomas Kempston 1447-48 Thomas Kempston 1448-49 Roger Yve 1449-50 Roger Yve 1450-51 Thomas Bole 1453-54 John Arthur 1454-55 John Spery 1455-56 John Spery 1456-57 John Arthur 1457 John Spery 1457-58 Thomas Kempston 1460-61 William Brytevyle 1461-62 John Spery 1462-63 William Brytevyle 1466-67 William Cornnoeur 1467-68 Walter Stotfold 1469-70 Robert Rotur 1470-71 William Chicheley 1471-72 Walter Stotfold 1472-73 Walter Stotfold 1475-76 William Chicheley 1476-77 Roger Sperling 1477-78 John Chapman 1478-79 John Gowlde 1479-80 Philip Dyer 1480-81 William Paryse 1484-85 Thomas Hanchiche 1486-87 John Goold 1487-88 William Fitzhugh 1490-91 John Goold 1495-96 John Alwey 1496-97 Thomas May
16th Century Year Name Notes 1504-05 Simon West 1506-07 Robert Cokko 1507-08 William Payne 1508-09 Alexander Crowle 1509-10 Robert Smyth 1510-11 Simon West 1511-12 Thomas Heche 1512-13 Thomas Knyght 1513-14 Richard Halam 1514-15 Simon West 1519-20 John Pateman Butcher[ 2] 1520-21 Thomas Vinter 1521-22 Richard Halam 1522-23 John Albony 1527-28 Thomas Rowthe 1528-29 John Baker MP for Bedford , 1529 1529-30 Thomas West 1534-35 Giles Lawrance 1535-36 Thomas Smyth 1537-38 John Baker 1538-39 William Borme 1541-42 William Forde 1542-43 Peter Carre 1543-44 Thomas Russell 1544-45 Henry Albony 1545-46 John Ward 1546-47 John Williams Alias 'Scotte'[ 3] 1547-48 William Hall MP for Bedford , 1554 1548-49 Henry Fitzhugh 1549-50 John Williams 1551-52 John Williams 1553-54 William Forde 1554-55 William Hall MP for Bedford , 1554 1556-57 Thomas Leighe 1557-58 Thomas Dyve 1558-59 William Bull 1559-60 Richard Lawrence 1560-61 Humphrey Lawrence 1562-63 Henry Lawrence 1563-64 Simon Beckett 1564-65 Alexander Hunt 1565-66 Robert Paradyne 1566-67 Henry Lawrence 1573-74 Henry Lawrence 1574-75 Alexander Hunt 1575-76 Thomas Hawes 1576-77 Simon Beckett 1577-78 John Mighton 1578-79 Robert Waller 1580-81 Henry Lawrence 1581-82 Alexander Hunte 1583-84 John Mighton 1584-85 Thomas Hawes Sr. 1585-86 Robert Waller 1586-87 Thomas Abbys 1587-88 Thomas Hawes Jr. 1588-89 Alexander Hunte 1589-90 Richard Bell 1590-91 Thomas Abbys 1591-92 Thomas Hawes Sr. 1592-93 Samuel Christye 1593-94 William Wilson 1594-95 Robert Waller 1595-96 William Negus 1596-97 Thomas Hawes Jr. 1597-98 Thomas Abbys 1598-99 John Stanton 1599-00 Simon Beckett
17th Century Year Name Notes 1600-01 William Negus 1601-02 Thomas Hawes Jr. 1602-03 Thomas Hawes Jr. 1603-04 Robert Lawrence 1604-05 Thomas Abbys 1605-06 Robert Hawes 1606-07 Simon Beckett Sr. 1607-08 James Payley 1608-09 Jasper Chrystie 1609-10 Thomas Hawes Jr. 1610-11 Thomas Hawes Jr. 1611-12 Peter Bamford 1612-13 William Abbys 1613-14 Thomas Paradine 1614-15 Simon Beckett 1615-16 John Goodhall 1616-17 Jacob Lawrence 1617-18 William Waller 1618-19 Thomas Hawes Jr. 1619-20 William Abbys 1620-21 Robert Hawes 1621-22 Robert Bamforth 1622-23 Peter Bamforth 1623-24 Thomas Spencer 1624-25 William Faldoe 1625-26 William Waller 1626-27 William Abbys 1627-28 Steven Luxford 1628-29 John Spencer 1629-30 Robert Bamforth 1630-31 Thomas Waller 1631-32 William Waller 1632-33 Thomas Paradine 1633-34 Thomas Hawes 1634-35 William Abbys 1635-36 Francis Bannester 1636-37 John Whitaker 1637-38 John Spencer 1638-39 Robert Hawes 1639-40 John Eston 1640-41 Thomas Hawes 1641-42 Robert Bamforth 1642-43 Robert Bell 1643-44 William Paley 1644-45 Simon Beckett Sr. 1645-46 Francis Bannester 1646-47 John Grew 1647-48 John Hancock 1648-49 John Faldo 1649-50 Henry Fitzhugh 1650-51 John Eston 1651-52 Robert Bell 1652-53 William Faldo Sr. 1653-54 Thomas Spencer 1654-55 John Crawley 1655-56 Simon Beckett Sr. Removed from office[ 4] 1656 Robert Fitzhugh 1656 John Eston Made Mayor: 19 March[ 5] 1656 John Grew Made Mayor: 21 March[ 5] 1657-58 Richard Mightnall 1658-59 John Hancock 1659-60 John Eston 1660-61 Robert Bell 1661-62 Simon Becket 1662-63 William Riseley 1663-64 John Crawley 1664-65 William Faldo Sr. Died in office[ 5] 1665 John White 1665-66 John Crawley 1666-67 William Faldo Jr. 1667-68 Francis Becket 1668-69 Thomas Underwood 1669-70 William Faldo Jr. 1670-71 William Lane 1671-72 Richard Mightnall 1672-73 Thomas Paley 1673-74 John Crawley 1674-75 John White 1675-76 William Becket 1676-77 Ralph Smith 1677-78 Simon Beckett Sr. 1678-79 William Fenn Died in office[ 5] 1679 Robert Fitzhugh Made Mayor: 24 August[ 5] 1679-80 William Bamforth 1680-81 Anthony Bolton 1681-82 Paul Bamforth 1682-83 John Paradine 1683-84 Paul Cobb Sr. 1684-85 Paul Cobb Sr. Died in office[ 5] 1685-86 William Faldo Sr. 1686-87 Francis Becket 1687-88 Thomas Underwood 1688 Paul Cobb Made Mayor: 17 October,[ 5] Bedford Court 1658, Clerk of the Peace of the County[ 6] 1688 Thomas Underwood Made Mayor: 29 October[ 5] 1688-89 William Isaack 1689-90 William Becket Made Mayor: 8 March[ 5] 1690-91 John Eston 1691-92 Thomas Battison 1692-93 Ralph Smith 1693-94 John Pawlin 1694-95 John Peck 1695-96 Richard Chichely 1696-97 George Maddy 1697-98 William Faldo 1698-99 John Deare 1699-00 John Kidd
18th Century Year Name Notes 1700-01 Thomas Wilkes 1701-02 Thomas Battison 1702-03 George Wagsuffe 1703-04 Henry White 1704-05 John Peck 1705-06 John Fenn Died in office[ 7] 1706 Francis Walker 1706-07 Thomas Underwood Made Mayor: 24th January[ 7] 1707-08 Thomas Day 1708-09 Philip Negus 1709-10 Robert Crawley 1710 John Hornbuckle 1710-11 Thomas Underwood Made Mayor: 24th April[ 7] 1711-12 William Faldo 1712-13 Richard Willis 1713-14 George Maddey 1714-15 John Kidd Died in office[ 7] 1715 Alexander Read 1715-16 Thomas Battison Made Mayor: 8th February[ 7] 1716-17 David Ovray 1717-18 George Hawkins 1718-19 William Staines 1719-20 Francis Okeley 1720-21 Thomas Wilkes 1721-22 John Pulley 1722-23 Thomas Battison Jr. 1723-24 Henry Fleming 1724-25 Thomas Day 1725-26 William Bromsall 1726-27 William Lake Sr. 1727-28 John Bardolph 1728-29 David Ovray 1729-30 George Hawkins 1730-31 William Staines 1731-32 Thomas Cave 1732–33 Thomas Hawes 1733–34 Peter Haslewood 1734–35 Francis Walker 1735–36 Robert Battison 1736–37 Thomas Edwards 1737–38 Thomas Maddey 1738–39 Gidney Phillips 1739–40 John Grey 1740–41 Samuel Richardson 1741–42 Robert Battison 1742–43 Isaac Hayes 1743–44 John Hornbuckle 1744–45 John Russell 1745–46 John Webb 1746–47 John Hill 1747–48 William Webb 1748–49 Samuel Richardson 1749–50 James Bailey 1750–51 Gidney Phillips 1751–52 James Chamberlain 1752–53 Thomas Cave 1753–54 William Palmer 1754–55 Robert Richards Died in office[ 7] 1755 Gidney Phillips Made Mayor: 21st August[ 7] 1755–56 Richard Gave 1756–57 William Parker Sr. 1757–58 John Howard 1758–59 Richard Cave 1759–60 John Hill 1760–61 Samuel Richardson 1761–62 William Webb 1762–63 William Parker Jr. 1763–64 John Cave 1764–65 James Chamberlain 1765–66 Thomas Knight 1766–67 John Howard 1767–68 Gidney Phillips 1768–69 John Heaven 1769–70 John Cawne 1770–71 Richard Cave 1771–72 William Parker Sr. 1772–73 Edward Chapman 1773–74 Gidney Phillips 1774 John Cawne Died in office[ 7] 1774–75 Gidney Phillips Made Mayor: 22nd November[ 7] 1775–76 John Parker 1776–77 Anthony Barton 1777–78 Gidney Phillips 1778–79 John Palmer 1779–80 William Parker Jr. 1780–81 Anthony Barton 1781–82 Thomas Howard 1782–83 William Pateman 1783–84 John Pheasant 1784–85 John Cave 1785–86 William Palmer 1786–87 Thomas Partridge 1787–88 William Smith 1788–89 William Parker 1789–90 William Smith 1790–91 Thomas Clayton 1791–92 Thomas Small 1792–93 William Parker 1793–94 John Wing 1794–95 Thomas Cockman 1795–96 Peregrine Nash 1796–97 John Day 1797–98 John Cooke 1798–99 Charles Webb 1799–00 Edward Chapman
19th Century Year Name Notes 1800-01 John Day Made Mayor: 8th December[ 7] 1801–02 William Smith 1802–03 Isaac Elger 1803–04 William Long 1804–05 Francis Green 1805–06 William Campion 1806–07 Thomas Kidman 1807–08 Peregrine Nash 1808–09 John Wing 1809–10 John Cooke 1810–11 Grant David Yeats 1811–12 Charles Short 1812–13 John Day 1813–14 William Long 1814–15 Francis Green 1815–16 Thomas Kidman 1816–17 Charles Webb 1817–18 John Wing 1818–19 John Cooke 1819–20 John Green 1820–21 John Day 1821–22 Charles Short 1822–23 Sir William Long 1823–24 Francis Green 1824–25 Thomas Kidman 1825–26 James Webb 1826–27 Charles Short 1827–28 Charles Bailey 1828–29 George Livius 1829–30 Sir William Long Painting remains[ 8] 1830–31 Thomas Gwyn Elger 1831–32 Charles Bailey 1832–33 George Peregrine Nash 1833–34 Thomas Wooldridge 1834–35 Dr. George Witt Head of Bedford Infirmary and a Fellow of the Royal Society .[ 9] 1835–36 Thomas Gwyn Elger 1836–38 Charles Short Made Mayor: 1st January[ 10] 1838–39 Thomas Gwyn Elger 1839–40 Thomas Abbott Green 1840–41 Robert Newland 1841–42 William Robert Mesham 1842–43 Joseph Browne 1843–45 Thomas John Green 1845–46 Robert Newland 1846–47 Alexander Sharman 1847–48 Henry Leech 1848–49 Charles Higgins 1849–51 Charles Frederick Palgrave 1851–53 William Williams 1853–54 William Blower 1854–55 Thomas Barnard 1855–56 George Hurst Painting remains[ 11] 1856–57 William Wells Kilpin 1857–58 George Handscomb Miller 1858–62 John Howard Painting remains[ 12] 1862–63 Robert Couchman 1863–65 James Howard 1865–67 William Joseph Nash 1867–69 Thomas Tokelove Gray 1869–70 Augustus Edgar Burch 1870–71 John Richard Bull Painting remains[ 13] 1871–72 James Coombs Made Mayor: 15th November[ 10] 1872–73 Frederick Thomas Young 1873–75 George Hurst Painting remains[ 11] 1875–77 James Thomas Hobson Painting remains[ 14] 1877–78 John Usher Taylor Died in office[ 10] 1878 George Hurst Made Mayor: 2nd August[ 10] 1878-79 Thomas Gwyn Empy Elger 1879–80 John Elworthy Cutcliffe 1880–81 James Thomas Hobson Painting remains[ 14] 1881–82 James Woodward Hill 1882–83 Luke Cherry 1883–85 Joshua Hawkins Painting remains[ 15] 1885–86 Edwin Ransom 1886–87 George Hurst Painting remains[ 11] 1887–89 Joshua Hawkins Painting remains[ 15] 1889–90 James Coombs 1890–91 Joshua Hawkins Painting remains[ 15] 1891–92 James Coombs 1892–93 Frederick Augustus Blaydes 1893–95 George Wells Painting remains[ 16] 1895–96 Frederick Augustus Blaydes 1896–99 George Wells Painting remains[ 16] 1899–00 Hedley Baxter
20th Century Year Name Notes 1900–01 William Smith 1901–02 Geoffrey Howard[ 17] 1902–03 Hedley Baxter Conservative[ 18] [ 19] 1903 George Royle Made Mayor: 8th June[ 19] 1903–04 Edward Lavender Moulton 1904–05 Henry Burridge 1905–07 George Haynes 1907–08 Samuel Leach Kilpin 1908–09 Edward Lavender Moulton 1909–10 Henry William Longhurst 1910–11 John Basil Hope 1911–12 William Roff 1912–15 Harry Browning 1915–17 Frederic Rich Hockliffe 1917–18 Harry Browning 1918–19 Frederic Rich Hockliffe 1919–21 William Ernest Sowter 1921–22 William Nicholls 1922–27 Gilbert Henry Barford 1927–28 William Nicholls 1928–29 Gilbert Henry Barford 1929–31 Samuel Blackwell Morling 1931–32 George Hayward Wells 1932–33 Samuel Blackwell Morling 1933–36 Horace Richard Neate 1936–38 Williarn Ernest Sowter 1938–40 Archibald Braggins 1940–42 Albert Maurice Dudeney 1942–44 Frederick Arthur Rickard 1944–47 John Albert Canvin 1947–50 Alfred Leonard Nicholls Term of office extended by Local Government Act 1948[ 19] 1950–52 Richard Turner
Directly elected mayors
See also
References ^ a b "Mayors of Bedford: 13th Century" . bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk . 22 July 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2025 .^ "Folio 109 - Henry Pateman, Bedford St. Paul's" . Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue . 26 November 1544. Retrieved 21 May 2025 .^ "Mayors of Bedford: 16th Century" . bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk . 16 July 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2025 .^ "Simon Beckett" . bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk . 16 July 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2025 .^ a b c d e f g h i "Mayors of Bedford: 17th Century" . bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk . 16 July 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2025 .^ "Paul Cobb, Thomas Underwood and William Isaack" . bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk . 5 April 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2025 .^ a b c d e f g h i j "Mayors of Bedford: 18th Century" . bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk . 22 July 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2025 .^ Painting of Sir William Long , James Lonsdale (died 1839), BBC, retrieved July 2014^ Thomas, Laura (25 May 2000). "Restricted to men of 'taste and education' . Times Higher Education. Retrieved 26 July 2014 . ^ a b c d "Mayors of Bedford: 19th Century" . bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk . 23 July 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2025 .^ a b c painting , BBC, retrieved July 2014^ John Howard painting , by unknown, retrieved 26 July 2014^ Painting , unknown artist, retrieved July 2014^ a b painting of James Thomas Hobson , unknown artist, retrieved July 2014^ a b c Painting of Joshua Hawkins , Joseph Carrier, BBC, retrieved 26 July 2014^ a b George Wells - Mayor , Joseph Carrier, BBC, retrieved 26 July 2014^ "Court Circular". The Times . No. 36895. London. 10 October 1902. p. 7. ^ "Election of Mayors". The Times . No. 36922. London. 11 November 1902. p. 12. ^ a b c "Mayors of Bedford: 20th Century" . bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk . 7 November 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2025 .
Lists of civic mayors (excluding lord mayors) in the United Kingdom
England
Wales
Scotland
Northern Ireland
Ireland (pre-1922)
