Bedford Street features in The Belfast And Province Of Ulster Directory 1852. Marked as Bishop Street on Mason's town plan of 1815.
Bedford Street: “Originally known as Bishop Street it was mostly developed in the 1850s, using newly drained land. It soon became the centre of Linenopolis, with many Victorian warehouses, factories and offices devoted to the linen trade located here.” (Linen Quarter Document). Patton believes the name of this street “may come from Sir William Franklin of Bedfordshire, who married Letitia, widow of the First Earl of Donegall”. (Patton, p25). The first Earl of Donegall was Arthur Chichester who was born 16 June 1606 and died 18 March 1675. Clerkin in his book Dublin Street Names believes Bedford Row in Dublin was called after the Duke of Bedford. Following this line of thought, a possible surmise is that it was called after John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford (6 July 1766 – 20 October 1839). He was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 3 January 1757 to 3 April 1761.