Rushden Research Group: Old shops of the High Street South

Old Shops of High Street South


The smithy of A T Ginns was taken over by Jimmy Guinee who continued to trade into the 1970s	Okins' Garage centre - taken from the 'Wheatsheaf' c1910 Taken over by George Robinson - c1930 the area was cleared and George had a new garage built here.


No 22 - about 1900 when Mr Butcher kept this shop	In 1953 the building was re-thatched

Three pictures of 22 High Street South
about 1900, 1953 and 1970.

Mr Butcher was a brick and tile maker.
He was also a grocer, and supplied the
Sartoris family of Rushden Hall.

Mr Thomas Brown kept a grocery store here
in 1903 until about 1910.

Arthur Simpson moved here about 1920 and opened a cafe business. He was a gas fitter and his wife and daughters ran the business. Alongside this his
daughter Florence began making hats.

Florence, an accomplished seamstress, took over the premises trading as a high class milliner and costumier. The business flourished and continued until about 1990.

c1970s Photo by Vic Childs - courtesy Rushden Museum


Peggy Bird (nee Young) outside her Aunt Jinny's shop at 26 High Street South c1916 (earlier at 91)	28 & 26 Bill Poole's vacuum cleaners and greengrocer/florist George Moore's 1950s

c1950 (l-r) Miller's hairdressers, Poole's vacuums, Moore's florist

In 2008 Barry Miller's hairdressers and an Indian take-away (previously Bill Poole's shop) and a residence (previously George Moore's florists and greengrocers.

The Co-op built these two shops in 1894 to provide drapery, grocery, bakery and butchery goods at the southern end of the town.

A long terrace of houses was also built behind, but this has been reduced by half, with access now from Crabb Street.

The house on the corner with Crabb Street, with the Co-op shops beyond, were demolished in the 1990s.


In 1903 No 61 was John Knight bootmaker. Albert Flavell tailor was here by 1910, and he was joined by J T Gent, who continued there into the 1930s when William Clarke converted the shop to a general store. In 1942 it became Harris' Stores.	89-91-93 High Street South c1905 At 89 a butchers shop was kept by Thomas Knight in 1900, then by John James from 1910 into the 1940s. Samuel Denton's sister kept a shop at 91 - she moved to 26 c1914.	c1920 At 91 Arthur Coleman wholesale fish curer & fruiterer with a blind to keep the windows shaded At 93 Stephen Higgins kept a drapery before it became Joe Eagle's hardware in 1910.

1910 Phillipson's Directory

Samuel Chettle traded at 100 until 1920 when Mr Jacques and
Mr Timpson started their business as this 1922 advert tells.
We only have a picture of this row of shops when they stood derelict for many years before finally being demolished in 2011

Harris' Bakery at 118 High Street South
Earmarked for demolition in 1965 for road widening.

And later in the 1960s


110 High Street South - Samuel Chettle to 1920 Jacques & Tinmpson later became A W Jacques & Son follwed by Auto Electrical Services.

Texas Longhorn Take Away in the 1970s

Photo by Vic Childs


Galleon Cafe - 93 High Street South Above is an advert from the 1960s when the proprietors were Mr & Mrs F R Richardson
right:- In the 1970s Photo by Vic Childs

Trade Directories

High Street South