The St. Crispin Productive Society - a co-operative - was established in July 1891. They first hired a barn in Grove Street where they made army boots, and in 1893 moved to a house in Hill Street previously occupied by Raunds Productive Society. Machines were installed in these premises and members had 1s per week deducted from their wages.

The new Factory in Sackville Street

A new factory was built in 1898. Charles Groome was works manager in 1913. In 1928 the first St. Crispin football boot was produced. On 5th February 1945, the factory was destroyed by fire. The Society managed to continue until a new factory opened in March the following year and began to rebuild the trade again.

In July 1895 the first shop outing saw a large party travel to Llandudno, by train from Irthlingborough station. They left in the early hours of the morning and arrived home early the following morning. The majority of the party walked across the meadows to the station and arrived, it was said, before a four-seater horse-drawn wagon, the only other choice.