Bedford New Schools were designed in 1831 by architect Edward Blore. They were built to house the Commercial School, which had shared  premises with the Grammar School in Saint Paul's Square, an orphanage, and administration rooms for the Harpur Trust. The Commercial School, housed in the north wing, eventually became Bedford Modern School and moved out in 1971, to the Manton Lane site which it now occupies.  The grand facade in Harpur Street now provides entrance to the Harpur Centre shopping mall.