The History of 'P. W. House'
Rushden's Family Jewellers for over 60 Years

	Above: The Plaque on Lion Terrace 52-58 High Street Left centre: P W House - 54 High Street

The business was started by my Father, Percy William House during the Second World War. He was born in Glassbrook Road in modest surroundings, the son of a clicker in the shoe trade.

The row of cottages where they lived in 1935 - taken in 1993

He worked as an office clerk in the Rushden Electric Company and was also a part time fireman. He married my mother in 1935 and they moved into a terraced house in the High Street which has since been demolished and is now Travis Perkins storage building.

To earn some extra money he would do a variety of jobs in his spare time. One day he was asked if he could repair an alarm clock, never one to give up on a challenge he had a go!

After successfully completing that he self taught himself the skills of watch and clock repairs working from his bedroom.

On completing a course with the British Watch and Clock Makers Guild he became a member in April 1943. After a while he was earning more money from his part time job than the office job and so when a shop in Station Road became vacant the business could really start.

The shop next door to my Father's first shop in Station Road also became vacant and so my Mother took this on and sold sweets and confectionery from "The Mecca", with a connecting door through to help my father in his shop when she was needed.

Trips to London started, contacts were made and in a time when watches were in short supply - they could sell all they could buy.

Letterhead from 1970

54 High Street was a jewellery shop called "Wanklyn's" which had been trading since before the war. Sadly Mrs Wanklyn's husband and son were killed in the war and so in 1952 my parents rented the shop and moved to our present site in the High Street.

The upstairs of the property was converted into living accommodation and that's where I was brought up.

I left school and joined the business in 1972 and over the years gradually learnt the trade.

We also rented the shop next door, number 56 High Street for several years selling giftware and porcelain figures.

In the 1980's we took over our old rivals "Knight and Son" at 22 High Street, jewellers for over 100 years and successfully traded there for 10 years until the offer of a favourable rent for the shop made us decide to cease trading there.

I have now been working in Rushden High Street for over 35 years, in a business that has been trading for 64 years.

Adrian F. House

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