Rushden Research Group: Co-op Stores Higham Road

Rushden Co-operative Society Ltd.

Higham Road - Grocery, Furniture & Butchery opened in 1928
A new grocery was added, and the whole was refurbished in 1956

The Co-op Store in Higham Road 1930 – No.8 shop opened in 1927

The first store here was built in 1927, and the butchery shop, just beyond, at the corner of North Street.

It had a grocery, electrical and hardware, and upstairs, over both shops there was a carpet and furniture display. Over the large door at the right side of the windows there was a stone plaque to declare it origins: "RICS 1927" and the door was converted to another window display, and the plaque retained in the 1956 refurbishment.

Then in 1956 a new self-service grocery was built, to the left of this grocery.

The butchery corner of North Street c1954

From Higham Road, looking into North Street

Nicholson's Garage left - and the house that was converted into the butchery department of the Co-op in 1957

Taken in the 1930s

Postcard shows a delivery trolley made for Raunds Co-op

Postcard 1933

This old postcard was sent to Rushden Co-op Furnishing department at Higham Road in August 1933.

It reads: Please allow me to compliment you on your excellent window display. On seeing it the other evening I was very much impressed by its general smartness & the lighting effect was very impressive. As an old Co-operative I thought I would like to send you my opinion. Faithfully F D Brazier

In 1939 a show house in a development in Hall Avenue, by MM Drabble Ltd, was fully furnished by the Co-op.

1939 Advert
Northants Evening Telegraph

Higham Road 1956 - more photos and refurbishment

When the new department store opened in High Street, this became the main
Carpet & Furniture department - but later transferred to the back area of the
High Street store overlooking the carpark in Rectory Road.

The car park in Rectory Road - the Furniture department at the back & offices
to the right shortly before demolition in 1992 ready for the rebuild.

Demolition of the Furniture department - undated

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