The historic parish of Kempston covered a large area to the south-west of the town of Bedford.

[3] By this time, the north-eastern part of Kempston parish (closest to Bedford) was becoming increasingly urbanised.

[6] He was a clergyman, being the chaplain of the Savoy Chapel at the time, but had previously served between 1889 and 1894 as the first vicar of St Leonard's Church, just over the borough boundary into Bedford.

[8] New offices and a council chamber were built in 1904 at 104 Bedford Road, Kempston, being officially opened on 13 October 1904.

A community centre was built behind 104 Bedford Road at the time, which was named Centenary Hall, marking the anniversary of the creation of the Urban District Council a hundred years earlier.