John William (Bill) Houghton and Edith Mary Church married in 1935 at the Park Road Baptist Chapel. At that time Bill was living at 15 Windmill Road, and Edith at 88 Crabb Street. Edith kept a shop for several years at 15 Windmill Road.

They set up home at 42 Crabb Street. Bill was a dairyman and rented land at Sanders Lodge beside the railway line at Skew Bridge, where his herd of cattle grazed, and a milking parlour, cow sheds and outbuildings were sited. Chickens and pigs were also kept there.

Bill & Edith with the van in Crabb Street

Before the second war he delivered milk from a van with the churns of milk and ladles. Customers would bring out their jugs for the milk. The shop was run by Edith and she sold vegetables and fruit in season, and milk to passers by.

A man called Joe was employed to help with the farm duties. Joe was too old to fight so he remained working and the Land Army provided a girl to help with the compulsory crops which the government ordered. Her name was Lily and she was billeted in Crabb Street, a few houses away.

The largest crop grown was potatoes. Horses were used for ploughing, harrowing, binding and carting. The three shire horses were stabled opposite the Library, behind where the public toilets are now. Horses were also used for many deliveries during the war.

Bill was also a member of the St John Ambulance Brigade, and he had a cine camera and took film of many aspects of Rushden life.