BENONI BYGONES: The Bedford Hotel, established in 1918

The City Times is proud to revive a monthly history piece compiled by local historian Glynis Cox Millett-Clay, which she has named Benoni Bygones.

The Bedford Hotel was a compact establishment built in 1918 on the corner of Bedford Street and Cranbourne Avenue. Its details were flawless, and the hotel offered the highest management standards.

The Bedford had an air of important well-being, which was particularly attractive to anyone who stayed where they paid less attention to the guests’ comfort and consideration.

It was under the management of Mr and Mrs HR Huntley, which says much for the pleasant air always evident in the hotel, and was noted for the excellent cuisine.

ALSO READ: A journey to 100 years

They made all the Bedford Hotel’s boer-meal bread in its spacious model kitchen.

The hotel had 25 bedrooms, all well furnished, with adequate hot and cold water for having a bath.

The attractive public lounges were popular, and it was declared that virtually all the sporting clubs in Benoni had made the Bedford Hotel their headquarters.

A separate building, included on the hotel premises, was well suited for dances and entertainment of all kinds.

Anyone visiting the two public bars could not fail to be amazed by the attractive mahogany fittings. Waring & Gillow in London made them for the Imperial Hotel in Bloemfontein, and when the government took over Imperial for a post office, they were bought for the Bedford bars.

Mr Huntley hailed from London and was in government service in the House of Commons for many years. He had extensive experience in public catering in SA and was the right man in the right place as a resident in SA since 1926.

Bedford Street changed to Tom Jones Street after the town councillor in the 1920s because Bedford Avenue, named by Sir George Farrar, already existed in Benoni. (Source: Environs of the Golden City and Pretoria).

ALSO READ: William Hills part 21: How “Coffee Jacobs” drove South Africa’s first motor car