Like most of Rushden, the land was formerly farm land. This area was owned by George Denton, of Denton shoe manufacturers, and he sold it in the late 1880s. The plot was purchased by Wallis Wilkerson, who built a row of 5 shops, known as Victoria Buildings.
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An advert (right) tells us perhaps the first occupier at 118 was Mr B Wall, a draper. Nothing more has been found about him or his business.
John and Charles Robinson, boot dealers, already had stores in Wellingborough and Kettering by 1894 when we find them trading at Rushden, somewhere near Tailby & Putnam's shop at 129 High Street.
In May 1897 they took the lease and moved from across the road, and remained at 118 High Street, until about 1912.
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Advert from The Argus 1893
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Tailby & Putnam's shop at 129 High Street
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| Misses Edith and Ethel Neal, milliners, were the next to trade here, from 1913.
In 1924 a news report tells that the two ladies had purchased the shop next door at 116.
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| Joseph John Page, a tailor was next to occupy the shop. He had started his business in 1905 with John Ladds, but then joined up in WWI.
In 1924 he advertised he had taken 118 and was trading in his own name. Just before WWII he moved across the road to aanother shop at 149 High Street. He traded there until the 1960s.
A blue plaque in 2005 tells this was demolished in 1976.
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149 High Street shortly before demolition
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H Desborough was the next owner in the property and he ran a gift and fancy goods shop.
In 1955 Jim Osborne bought the property, and eventually took over three of the shops.
The business continues with Jim's widow Pam and their son Will at the helm.
It has been on Rushden High Street for 65 years, and counting.............
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1953 advert
The Gift Shops
(Prop. H E Desborough)
118 & 128 High St.
Rushden
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