page_title: Bedford
section_title: Culture
hierarchical_section_title: Bedford / Culture
caption_attribution_description: Bedford Corn Exchange, Bedford's Premier venue for music (and some drama). Glenn Miller played there in World War 2 and there is a little bust of him in an alcove just above the name. It is also the venue for the Bedford Beer Festival. It was refurbished a couple of years back to fix the awful acoustics. On the front there is a bust of Glenn Miller and 3 plaques:- File:GlennMillerBustBedford.JPG, File:BedfordCornExchangeGlennMillerPlaque.JPG, File:BedfordCornExchangeLaidPlaque.JPG and File:BedfordCornExchangeOPenPlaque.JPG.
context_page_description: Bedford is a historic market and the county town of Bedfordshire, England. At the 2011 Census, the population of the Bedford built-up area was 106,940, while that within its traditional boundary was 87,590. At the same census, the Borough of Bedford had a population of 157,479.
  Bedford was founded at a ford on the River Great Ouse, and is thought to have been the burial place of Offa of Mercia. Bedford Castle was built by Henry I, although it was destroyed in 1224. Bedford was granted borough status in 1165 and has been represented in Parliament since 1265. It is known for its large population of Italian descent.
  Bedford is on the Midland Main Line, with stopping services to London and Brighton operated by Thameslink, and express services to London and the East Midlands operated by East Midlands Railway.
context_section_description: The Higgins Art Gallery & Museum, Bedford is housed in the recreated Victorian home of the Higgins family of Victorian brewers and in a modern extension. The museum has local history collections, while the galleries have notable collections of watercolours, prints and drawings, ceramics, glass and lace.
  The Panacea Museum tells the story of the Panacea Society, a religious community formed in the early twentieth century.
  The Bedford Corn Exchange is the largest entertainment venue in the town and plays host to a variety of performances, meetings, conferences, concerts and private functions. The venue has been host to many great entertainers such as Glenn Miller and Bob Hope.
  The University of Bedfordshire Theatre is the largest theatre in Bedford and hosts many larger productions as well as projects from the university. There is an active amdram (community theatre) scene, with groups such as the Swan Theatre Company, Bedford Drama Company (formerly Bedford Dramatic Club), Bedford Marianettes and ShowCo Bedford producing plays and musicals in venues like the Place Theatre and the Corn Exchange. The Bedford Pantomime Company produces a traditional pantomime at the Bedford Corn Exchange each Christmas. Esquires (one of the town's premier live music venues) regularly plays host to many notable bands and acts from all over the United Kingdom as well as showcasing local live music.
  Every two years, an event called the "Bedford River Festival" is held near the river in Bedford during early July. The event lasts for two days and regularly attracts about 250,000 visitors. The event includes sports, funfairs and live music. It is the second-largest regular outdoor event in the United Kingdom, beaten in numbers only by the Notting Hill Carnival. The Bedford Regatta each May is Britain's largest one-day river rowing regatta.
  Other annual events include "Bedford by the Sea" (when large quantities of sand are deposited in the town centre), the "Bedford International Kite Festival" and "Bedford Festival of Motoring" in June. "Proms in the Park", held in early August, is a popular musical event.
  Bedford's special brand of the ordinary has resulted in regular small TV and radio appearances, for instance the joyful episode of Mark Steel's in Town  contrasting with the less enthusiastic treatment in "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert". The "Bedford of Bedfordshire's Community Calendar" segment of this US show featured Bedford born John Oliver.
caption: Bedford Corn Exchange
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