It surrounded but did not include the Municipal Borough of Bedford and Kempston Urban District.

An order was made prior to the new councils coming into force directing that Podington and Wymington should join the Bedford Rural District.

[3] The link with the Poor Law Union continued, with all the elected councillors of the Rural District Council being ex officio members of the Board of Guardians for Bedford (or Wellingborough for those two parishes).

The first meeting of the new council was held on 5 January 1895 in the board room of the Bedford Union Workhouse.

[11] In 1958 the council moved to a pair of large Victorian houses at 41-43 Goldington Road in Bedford, and gradually acquired adjoining properties.