An old postcard of the Wharf Bridge and the Anchor Inn
(left) the inn and other buildings in a derelict state in 1950
The Anchor Inn was kept by James West between 1847
and 1876. He also sold Coal, Coke, Wood, Slate, Stone.
In 1906 Thomas Middleton was the landlord.
The Inn closed sometime during WWI. In the 1920s it sold non-alcoholic refreshments.
11 July 1890 - Northampton Mercury
Quoits—On Saturday, a match was played between the Rushden Wheat Sheaf and the Higham Wharf Clubs, at the Wharf, resulting in a win for the home team points.
Rushden Echo & Argus, 4th December 1931, transcribed by Kay Collins
30 years ago – 29th Nov 1901
The Swan Coursing Club, Higham Ferrers, held their second annual meeting in the Acres, near the Wharf, the officials being Messrs H Pack, W Bridgeford, F Mantle and A Lines.
Rushden Echo, 1st Aug 1909, transcribed by Kay Collins
A Narrow escape—Whilst playing near the river at Higham wharf on Wednesday afternoon, a lad named Smith, living in Queen-street, Rushden, fell in but was immediately pulled out by a lad named Copson.
Rushden Echo, 14th February 1919, transcribed by Kay Collins
SKATING took place in the fields near Higham Wharf on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Although the river had only frozen a little at the edges, the fields were covered with good solid ice. Gay crowds in large numbers—novices and experts— were skating most of Sunday. On Monday, owing to several of the factory engines not starting, there was a big number of adult skaters at the Wharf. Newton-road Schools, Rushden, had to close on Monday morning through the children absenting themselves for sport on the ice. Skating has been kept up all the week.
The Rushden Argus June 9th 1922, transcribed by Susan Manton
At the Wharf
Children’s Happy Holiday
Paddling in Nene Shallows
Some of the children of Rushden and Higham Ferrers didn’t mean the heat wave to have everything its own way on Whit Monday, so they stripped out and bathed in the water of the Nene. Near the Wharf at Higham Ferrers, where our picture was taken, was the favourite spot and was visited by hundreds of sunburnt children and adults.
