Looking After Our Cherished Embankment

Recently I popped along to the Embankment to have a look at the historic balustrades, which we are repairing and renewing as part of a £50,000 investment to preserve this landmark feature of Bedford Town Centre.

Specialist stone masons have been commissioned to carry out the works to the balustrades between Town Bridge and Newnham Road, as work continues to maintain and preserve the River Great Ouse and its surroundings for current and future generations.

Records from the archives show that the oldest section of the balustrades date back to at least 1860. Shockingly, they then needed to be extended in response to deaths caused when a number of people fell into the river and drowned when the Embankment was opened to the public.

You may see the works going on along this part of the Embankment in the coming weeks as this project to preserve this cherished feature of the borough continues. They are due to be completed before the end of the year.