Rushden Research Group: Mr. Nattrass now J Harper

Mr Nattrass' Businesses Taken Over


John Nattrass' shops - 46 & 48 High Street	and 131 High Street

John Nattrass was born at Bristol in 1859. He came to Rushden from Nottingham with his wife Edith and their two daughters, Edith and Thirza in 1893. A son Roland was born here in 1895 and a daughter Muriel in 1898.

He took out these two adverts in the Rushden Argus:

Rushden Argus, 4^th August 1893

Wanted
A Dwelling House in Rushden, in healthy situation.
Address, Nattrass, 15 Francis-street, Nottingham.

The family lived at 22 Moor Road, which had been built in 1892.

Rushden Argus, 4^th August 1893, transcribed by Kay Collins

Builders desirous of Tendering for the erection of Ironmonger’s Shop in High Street, Rushden, may see plans and obtain quantities on Wednesday, August 9^th, at the Coffee Tavern, High-street, Rushden, between the hours of 11 and 3.
J Nattrass

The family returned to Nottinghamshire in 1906.

John traded as an ironmonger at 131 High Street, and as an earthernware dealer at 46/48 High Street.

1900 advert

1900 Advert

April 1906 advert

J Harper took over the business at 48 High Street in 1906 and R. H. Carter began trading at 131 High Street.

Rushden Echo, 12th October 1906

J. Harper having taken over the business of china merchant etc., carried on by Mr. Nattrass, is offering the whole of the stock at 5s. in the £ discount. Great sale of china, glass, earthenware, bags, baskets, perambulators, etc.

Number 131 High Street was the ironmongery of John Nattrass from 1895 to 1906.
A 1908 advert by R. H. Carter declares he was "successor to John Nattrass".
Before WWI the Clipson Bros. took over and stayed there until it became
the premises of Alfred Gray's builders' merchants in the early 1930s.

In the 1960s the upstairs was "Thomas Hair Artist" - a ladies' hairdressing salon.

Barry Thomas, son of the proprietor ran a newsagency on the ground floor. He also sold sweets and stationery.

Thomas' Hair Artist & Newsagents

Index of All Traders