BEDFORD MUSEUM
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Within these Castle Walls ….
….. a new era for Bedford Castle
Castle Mound is one of the oldest visible elements of Bedford’s long history. However, few people know of its existence, and even fewer are aware of its true significance.
The Borough Council has recently invested over £650,000 in archaeological excavations, conservation work and improved landscaping around the mound. In addition, a £50,000 grant has been received from the Heritage Lottery Fund to provide interpretation on the site so that the stories of Castle Mound can be brought to life for visitors and local people alike.
The £50,000 grant will fund:
a mosaic roundel, by artist Gary Drostle, depicting the street pattern of the town in Saxon times
maps and information panels at the entrances to the site with timber frames reflecting the structures used to build the castle
on-site interpretation panels within a specially designed viewing shelter. These panels will tell the story of life within the castle, the Great Siege of 1224, the castle’s demise and its more recent history
two rings of cut stone, carved with messages and illustrations, inlaid on the top of the mound indicating the size and position of the keep and inner curtain wall
interpretation of the 19th century Ice House including a scenic display and audio point
a discovery trail for families and young children with leaflets and metal plaques for crayon rubbings
a new display about Bedford Castle inside the museum, including working models of medieval siege weapons and displays of archaeological finds from the castle
educational resource material for schools
The Mosaic Roundel
The Borough Council has appointed Gary Drostle - an acclaimed mosaic artist and "Winner of the International Mosaic Artists Org 'Mosaic of the year' 2002" - to produce the mosaic which will be installed between Castle Mound and The Embankment at the end of October 2004.
After consulting with local people at the Riverside Festival a favourite design has been selected. The black and white design is based on the medieval street plan of Bedford surrounded by depictions of key historical events. The surrounding border was inspired by early Saxon dragon designs, often seen on jewellery including some in Bedford Museum's permanent collection
Telling the Stories of Castle Mound
The Heritage Lottery funding will help us to tell the ancient and more recent stories of the Castle and Bedford Museum and Art Gallery buildings to ensure that visitors and local people understand the importance of this site within Bedford’s history.
It will also help to give the Castle Mound a new life by making it a focus of activity within the town once again.
We Need Your Help!
Our timeline for the Castle, Museum and Art Gallery buildings has been gathered from archive materials, old maps, archaeological excavations and some guesswork.
There are still gaps in our story, which perhaps you could help to fill.
We’d love to hear why Castle Mound is special to you.
Do you have any stories, or memories, about Castle Mound, Castle Close, the Brewery, the Ice House, Bennett’s Hosiery Factory or the GPO Sorting Office
If so, please let us know by letter, phone or email bmuseum@bedford.gov.uk
If you have any photographs or other material which you think the museum may like to see relating to the Castle Lane area, please let us know. Perhaps you have a school uniform that was made at Bennett’s Works, or maybe a relation worked at the Higgins Castle Brewery.
We’d also like to know what you think about our ideas for Castle Mound.
Higgins Castle Brewery c 1895,
later Bennett's Works, the GPO sorting office, 
and now the home of Bedford Museum. Photograph courtesy of Bedfordshire and
Luton Archives and Records Service.