Skip to main content

Bishopsgate Institute

  • What's on
  • Archives
  • Hire
  • Visit
  • Support us
  • LogoutLogin
  • My Account
  • Basket
  • Search
  • Open Menu.

Bishopsgate Institute

SearchClose
  • LogoutLogin
  • My Account
  • Basket
  • What's on
  • Archives
  • Hire
  • Visit
  • Support us
  • Take me to...

    Explore our online events
  • Read our latest Stories
  • Discover our archives
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
Join mailing list

More Site Pages

  • About
  • Stories
  • Work with us
  • Press

Legal Pages

  • Terms & conditions
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility
  • Cookies
  • Site Map
  • Contact

Contact Details



020 7392 9200enquiries@bishopsgate.org.uk

Small Print

Copyright © 2025 Bishopsgate Foundation. Registered Charity No: 1090923. Website by Supercool
Return to main

Bedford, James

  1. Archives
  2. Labour and Socialist History

About this Archive

(1845-1904) trade unionist

Administrative/Biographical History

James Bedford was born in Birmingham in 1845, one of eight children of a guard on the London and North Eastern Railway, who was severly injured in the course of his duty. The father died at the age of 45, when Bedford was 11, leaving him little prospects in terms of education. However, Bedford soon found employment working as a newspaper boy at Euston Station. After working on the railway for three years, he took a job as a porter and collector for a wholesale publishing company, although shortly after his whole family moved to Sunderland and Bedford found himself apprenticed to Dawson Brothers, ship owners. During this employment, he served his time in the East India trade, visiting Persia, Arabia, Ceylon, India and Abyssinia by sea and earned himself a 'Chief Mate's' certificate.

Bedford left shortly after and established the first teetotal public house in London which was a commercial success. He proceeded to travel the country lecturing on temperance and the business of teetotal public house keeping and published several essays on the subject. Bedford also became a tailor, teaching himself cutting and other skills and established a tailor's shops in Bethnal Green Road and Hackney Road. Bedford was also heavily involved with trade-unionism, serving as President of both the General Railway Workers Union and the Society of Firewood Choppers, and served as a Vestryman and Guardian for Bethnal Green. He died in 1904.

Scope and Content

Three scrapbooks containing press cuttings, correspondence, manuscripts and printed material regarding Bedford's experiences as Labour candidate for Norwich in the 1892 General Election, his presidency of the General Railway Workers Union, work on the Bethnal Green Board of Guardians and accusations of corruption levelled at him by labour colleagues and trade unionists, 1891-1897.

Quantity

3 volumes.

  • Share
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • email

Looking to discover more stories from our archives?

Sign up to our newsletter

Labour and Socialist History Go to this category page.

Joyce and Vic Butler Archive

Harry Landis Unity Theatre Collection

Ron Travis Unity Theatre Collection

Jewish Socialist Archive

Parliamentary Profiles Archive

Beetlestone, Florence

Sargeant, Jean

Richman, Geoff and Marie

National Miners Support Network

Find More Labour and Socialist History

Amalgamated Society of Engineers, Machinists, Millwrights, Smiths and Pattern Makers

Sedgwick, Peter

Howell Library

Moonman, Eric

Bernie Grant

Howell, George

Glover, Reg

General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU)

Gaster, Jack

Fyrth, Hubert James

Evening Standard Outside Chapel

Dore, John

Challinor, Raymond

Branson, Noreen

Bowman, Aubrey Clement

Bedford, James

Barnes, Michael

Barltrop, Robert

Chris and Betty Birch Archive

Greater London Labour Party

Reid, David McNeil

Pottins, Charlie

National Union of Teachers Photographic Archive

Widgery, David

Hall, William George Glenvil

Velvet Fist

Leighton, Ronald

Red Pepper Magazine

Morning Star Photographic Archive

Labour Party Black Sections

Manchester Unity Oddfellows Friendly Society

Hughes, John Dennis

Dunbar, Malcolm

Kean, Hilda

Colbert, John

Ash, William Franklin

Woodward, Alan

Wetzel, Dave

Campaign for Labour Party Democracy

Left Unity

What We Do

Proudly independent since 1895, Bishopsgate Institute is a cultural venue in the City of London. Our beautiful Victorian building is a place for people to connect over a shared love of learning. We believe everyone’s history should be valued, and our special collections and archives document the experiences of everyday life, as well as the people who have campaigned for social, political and cultural change. Come on in to explore our archives, take a course, or hire our amazing spaces.
Find out more

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
Join mailing list

More Site Pages

  • About
  • Stories
  • Work with us
  • Press

Legal Pages

  • Terms & conditions
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility
  • Cookies
  • Site Map
  • Contact

Contact Details



020 7392 9200enquiries@bishopsgate.org.uk

Small Print

Copyright © 2025 Bishopsgate Foundation. Registered Charity No: 1090923. Website by Supercool