The BCA Building
The history of BCA's new premises at 13, High Street, Bedford can be traced right back to the 1850s, when Luke Cherry first started out as a linen & woollen draper and silk mercer. Indeed for much of its existence, the building has housed a high class clothing business. In 1875, the premises also incorporated funeral furnishing… After a number of name changes in the Victorian age, most of the last century saw just two owners of the business – Arthur Pearmain and Arthur Day. The latter was a well-known ladies' tailor and costumier, a far cry from the likes of Primark apparently. In the 1990s, the line of business changed and Polly Flinders was born – a real treasure trove of crafts, gifts, toys and dolls' houses. In recent years, the shop reverted to clothing again, this time specialising in costume hire and fancy dress.
BCA took up residence at the end of 2007 and now occupies the Ground and First floor of 13, High Street, Bedford.