Need local knowledge of Bedford

[Jane Masri]

I have an address dating from 1944, 18 Canning Street, Bedford.  Doing a Google search only brings up one reference to the street & Google maps doesn't recognise it.  Perhaps someone can tell me if it exists today but is known by another name or if it's totally erroneous 

Jane

[sugarbakers]

Not on the modern maps of Bedford, but checking for it on the 1891 census it was just to the north and east of Tavistock Street. It begins a book in the census and immediately after Canning St is Chandos St ... which is still there and is on Google maps.

Bryan

[carol8353]

Tavistock Street is the main road going in to Bedford town centre from the North.

There has been quite a lot of building around there recently.
Bedford School (for boys?) is at the beginning of it,and a roundabout with a fairly large Sainsbury's off it,to get your bearings.

Regards

Carol (who lives in Northants but goes into Bedford down Tavistock Street occasionally!)

[johnP-bedford]

Canning Street starts from Tavistock Street and went northwards. It crossed Chandos street & progressed to Russell Street. Some of Canning Street still exists. The northern end & Russell Street were demolished to make way for Roff Avenue & Chandos Court flats in the late 1960's.

[Jane Masri]

Thank you all.  So it did exist.  I don't suppose anyone's got access to electoral registers or a phone book for about 1944?  Just like to know the name of the occupant which should be the final piece of my jigsaw 

Jane

[bedfordshire boy]

Bedford School (for boys?) is at the beginning of it

That's Bedford Modern School which used to be in the middle of town in what is now the Harpur Centre, and was a boys' school, but which is now mixed. Bedford School is a separate boys school in de Parys Avenue, although both are part of the Harpur Trust

[carol8353]

Bedford School (for boys?) is at the beginning of it

That's Bedford Modern School which used to be in the middle of town in what is now the Harpur Centre, and was a boys' school, but which is now mixed. Bedford School is a separate boys school in de Parys Avenue, although both are part of the Harpur Trust

Ahhh thanks, I wasn't sure 

I thought it might give a bit of a reference point if the OP wanted to look the street up on Googlemaps.

[johnP-bedford]

From the 1938 Bedford Directory at no 18 Canning Street was Sidney Arthur Stratton, labourer. From 1947 Kellys at that address was William Frederick Bravery. I have no years in between so cannot say who was there in 1944. What name were you expecting? ** Bravery perhaps? From 1949 though to 1965 Kellys listed there is Mrs L B Bravery. The address disappears in 1968 & so does she!

Here's a link to a topic about Canning Street from a facebook group...

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=381315275357651&set=gm.852699761441266&type=1

[Jane Masri]

  You're Brilliant JohnP-bedford  Yes, that's who I was hoping to be there.
Back story.  My ancestor, William Bravery, bought a pub in Bermondsey upon his discharge from the army.  Sadly, on July 1 1944, the pub sustained a direct hit from a VII rocket instantly killing his wife & married daughter.  From CWGC, the daughters details give her fathers address (William's) as 18 Canning Street, Bedford.  For many years there was a hint that William had a son but I could never prove it.  The only likely one from the GRO indexes was a William F. Bravery.  Then found a marriage for William F & from that, births of children in Bedford...that was the link 
Last piece of jigsaw in place.  Just wondering why William senr. was with his son in 1944, perhaps he had separated from his wife?
Many, many thanks,

Jane

PS. Can't access the link you gave, think it's a closed group