January 1902

New plans were presented by Messrs Cave and Sons for the erection of a factory in Alfred Street, as an alternative scheme to the one proposed for the Cottage Estate.  When the tenders were opened, that of Messrs Brown and Sons, of Wellingborough, for the scheme on the Cottage Estate, was accepted.  The new factory would cover 1¼ acres and 1,000 hands would be employed.  Building operations commenced the following week.

Plans for constructing suitable bathing accommodation at the site selected near the Anchor Inn, for Rushden and Higham Ferrers, were set aside owning to the cost of constructing a bath.  The excavations at the river bank were identified as the chief item of expense and could not be justified at that time.

February 1902

The Rushden Urban Council expressed their disappointment that the directors of the Midland Railway had steadfastly ignored their representations for improvements in accommodating the Rushden travelling public at the station.

March 1902

The Rushden and Higham Ferrers Water Bill was considered in committee of the House of Commons and, after a few minor changes passed through this final stage on its way to the Lords.

After a lapse of two years since the British Electric Traction Company obtained the power to construct the Wellingborough and district tramway scheme it was officially stated that preparations had finally been put in hand.

April 1902

Easter Monday witnessed the stone-laying ceremony by the Wesleyan Methodists of Higham Ferrers when they set a record for the laying of no fewer than forty-six stones.  A total of £907.3s.11d was realised during the day.

Some commotion was caused in High Street, Rushden, due to a fire in a bedroom at the house of Mr C.G.Jowitt.  A crowd collected, and gazed eagerly at the smoke issuing from the window, but quickly dispersed on learning that there was no danger of the outbreak spreading.

The Water Bill came before the Examiners of the House of Commons, and was ordered to be reported for the second reading in the Lords.

May 1902

The Higham Ferrers and Rushden Water Board Bill came before the Earl of Morley (Chairman of the Committees) in the House of Lords as an unopposed measure.  The Bill was allowed to pass the Committee stage.

A project was put forward by the County Council for the erection of a joint isolation hospital by the sanitary authorities of Higham Ferrers, Rushden, Raunds, Irthlingborough, and Finedon.  At the conference held in the Higham Town Hall a large number of delegates attended from the places interested, but could only agree to bring the matter before their respective Councils.

A town’s meeting was held in the Public Hall, Rushden, to consider the method of celebrating the Coronation of the King.  The suggestions included a tea and sports for children, a tea for the elderly people, finishing up with a bonfire and fireworks.  The meeting was disrupted with ‘hissing and uproar’ when one speaker argued that he could see no reason why the people, as a country, should rejoice.  There was little to celebrate as during the closing years of the late Queen’s reign and since the King’s accession they had had a disastrous war.

Repairs and alterations to the Alfred Street Schools as a result of “the” Rushden Fire neared completion.  The work included the partial rebuilding of the walls, an entirely new roof, new flooring, new match-boarding, and new doors and windows, whilst the walls were also prettily coloured.  At the same time, extra space for school purposes was secured by utilising what was formerly the schoolmaster’s house where a new entrance for the girls’ department was made, with a spacious cloakroom, over which a teachers’ room and book room was provided.

Considerable alarm was occasioned by the headlong career, through the heart of Rushden, of a horse and van.  The driver of the horse, which belonged to Mr H.W.Chapman, box manufacturer, was unloading goods at a factory near the Midland Station, when something startled the animal.  It started at a rapid pace along the High Street, people scattering in all directions, and drivers of vehicles drawing quickly aside.  When near the “Argus” Office the wheels of the van came in contact with the back of a trap, and two men were thrown out into the road.  Further along, a trap belonging to Mr Warren, butcher, was drawn out of the way, but the wheels caught the trap and threw the pony clean out of the shafts.  The horse safely rounded the turn into High Street South and continued for some two miles along the Bedford Road before it was stopped.

A contract was signed for the new North End School at the bottom of the Hayway.  The contract price was £2,179, and Mr T.Swindall was the builder.  A loan was sanctioned by the Board of Education for £3,101, being £580 for the site and £2,251 for the premises.

The new rifle range was opened in Yelden open fields.

June 1902

Declaration of peace in South Africa, after thirty-two months, was celebrated with the pealing of the bells of the Parish Church, and the strains of the Mission Band.  The following day was treated as a holiday and a torchlight procession was organised for the evening.

Engineers of the Wellingborough and District Tramway recommended a deviation in the route between Higham Ferrers and Irthlingborough as the proposed route across the fields between the two towns would mean the construction of a viaduct and which the promoters could not contemplate the extra cost.  The alternative meant crossing the Nene bridge near the L&NW station and in order to do so would require its widening.  The Roads and Bridges Committee of the County Council agreed to support the deviation provided that two-thirds of the cost of widening was borne by the company and the remainder was met locally.

A start was made preparing the site at the corner of College Street and the High Street for the erection of offices, Post-Office, and bank, under instructions from Messrs Cave and Sons.  The contract for the work was awarded to Mr R.Marriott, builder, Rushden.

Arrangements were well forward for the local celebrations of the forthcoming Coronation of the King.  It was estimated that tea could be provided for 3,000 children and 150 helpers at a cost of £50.  Presentation mugs for the children were considered, ranging in price from seven farthings to 1/6d.  £30 was estimated would cover the cost of a meat tea provided by the Coffee Tavern Company for between 500 and 600 old people.  The cost of entertainments, including a good comedian, the erection of a stage and limelight, was estimated at £15.  Fireworks had been ordered at a cost of ten guineas, and £15 was allocated for arches and street decorations.

Amongst the list of those who secured berths on the SS Pretoria for the cruise to the Coronation Naval Review appeared the name of Mr Hugh Sartoris.

Tenders were received by the Rushden Co-operative Society for the proposed scheme to erect new premises in the High Street on an area of 418 square yards formerly occupied by buildings destroyed by the great fire of 1901.  That received from Mr C.E.Bayes, of Rushden, for £3,443, was accepted.

It was announced only a few days before the Coronation that the King was suffering from appendicitis and required an emergency operation.  Plans for the Coronation and the local festivities were therefore postponed.  The chocolate souvenirs already secured were later distributed to the children, and, although it was intended that the huge bonfire should remain unlit, rumour spread that it would be lit and the crowd which gathered at Mr Skinner’s field, gained access and someone fired the pile.

A well-known inhabitant of Burton Latimer, named Ingram, but better known as “Parachute Joe”, climbed the outside of the spire of Rushden Parish Church and fixed a long coloured streamer on the summit.

July 1902

The number of births and deaths registered in the Higham Ferrers sub-district during the quarter ending June 30th were: births 180 (76 males, 104 females), and deaths 67 (36 males, 31 females).  There were four inquest cases, and eight deaths from whooping cough.  Of those who died, 20 were under the age of one year, 34 over one year and under 60, and 13 over 60 years of age.

In order to mark the satisfaction felt at the continued progress of the King towards recovery, the Rushden branch of the Northamptonshire Union Bank was illuminated.  The fittings which had been put up in readiness for Coronation Day had been allowed to remain and the rows of gas jets were lit up, forming a large square on the upper part of the building, whilst another row divided the square into equal halves.  In the upper half were the letters “E” and “R” in flowing Italian capitals, whilst the lower half was occupied by a large star.

The Bill of Higham Ferrers and Rushden Joint Water Board passed the final stage, receiving the Royal assent.

As a result of the initiative of Mr John Claridge, Mr Andrew Carnegie offered £2,000 to be devoted to the erection of a Public Free Library in Rushden.

Whilst the driver of a powerful horse belonging to the Midland Railway Company, and attached to a dray, was delivering at the top of Queen Street, the animal was startled and started down the street at a rapid pace.  As the dray was nearly empty, the horse was able to turn to the left in High Street, but the wheels were forced onto the pavement, and the horse, stepping on a large grating, was thrown heavily on its side. Other employees of the Railway Company were in the vicinity, and the horse was quickly placed upon its feet.

The first meeting of the Higham Ferrers and Rushden Joint Water Board was held in the Higham Ferrers Town Hall.  Mr George Denton was elected the first Chairman of the Board.  Mr G.S.Mason was elected as Clerk and instructed to serve notices upon the owners and tenants of a total of 130 acres required for the project, and to advertise for tenders for the work.

August 1902

The Coronation of King Edward VII finally took place on Saturday, August 9th, and Rushden was alive with flags, bunting, mottoes, and various decorations.  A meat tea was provided for some 400 persons over sixty years of age in various halls.  3,000 children processed with the Mission Band to Mr Skinner’s Home Field where tables had been placed under the trees for tea.  Gymnasts, an escapologist, the Town String Band, and a Maypole dance provided entertainment, and at dusk a large and varied exhibition of fireworks was given.  The illumination of the town was carried out on an extensive scale with thousands on fairy lamps, Chinese lanterns and gas jets, and the High Street was specially bright where the front of the Union Bank on one side and the length of Messrs Denton’s factory on the other were lit up by countless gas jets.  At Higham a consciousness of being in close touch with a national event was roused by the hearty reception of the Mayor on his return direct from the pageant at Westminster.

The Rushden Industrial Co-operative Society arranged special gatherings to celebrate the twenty-fifth year of the society’s existence.  A procession, mainly composed of children, was formed near the stores in Wellingborough Road, and marched to Mr C.E.Bayes’ field on the Wymington Road where they partook of tea and were given a special commemorative mug.

The Urban Council received a report that two tradesmen, both of High Street, had their shop window blinds up for two Sundays, notwithstanding repeated warnings to the contrary.  The Clerk was instructed to advise them that such measures as may be necessary to prevent a repetition thereof would be taken if the cause of the complaint occurred again.

The Urban Council agreed for the re-gilding of the figures and hands of the Rushden Parish Church clock, and instructions for an estimate were given to Mr Fisher for the work.

September 1902

An estimate was received from Mr C.M.Fisher for re-gilding the church clock face and hands, amounting to £3.10s.  The Urban Council resolved that Mr Fisher be instructed to carry out the work at this sum.

The Fire Station and Town Depot in Newton Road was completed and occupied by the Fire Brigade.

The Higham Ferrers & Rushden Joint Water Board accepted the tender of Mr A.E.Nunn, of Tenterden, Kent, in the amount of £57,072.2s.0d.

October 1902

The number of births and deaths registered in the Higham Ferrers sub-district during the quarter ending September 30th were: births 174 (85 males, 99 females), and deaths 45 (28 males, 17 females).  There were four inquest cases, and eight deaths from whooping cough.  Fifteen died under the age of one year, 19 over one year and under 60, and 11 over 60 years of age.  There were three inquests, but no deaths from any zymotic disease were registered during the quarter.

Due to waning interest, members of the Rushden Beaumont Cycling Club met at the High Street Restaurant to wind up the affairs and disband the club.  It was resolved to give one of the silver cups to the Rushden Volunteer Company, to be competed for annually by the recruits in range firing, and the other silver cup to be given to the Rushden Ambulance Corps, to be competed for annually in squad competitions in the men’s sections.  Both cups would be called the “Beaumont Cup”.

November 1902

Repair work to the tower of the Rushden Parish Church was completed and the scaffolding removed.  The ironwork holding the four angle pinnacles and flying buttresses had been in a dangerous condition and had therefore been removed and the stonework re-set.

December 1902

Permission was granted for an office for County Court business in Rushden to be established at the offices of Messrs Haygate and James.

The bells at Rushden Parish Church were inspected by Mr Taylor, bell founder of Loughborough, and declared unsafe for them to be rung in their present condition.  The necessary repairs and alterations were estimated would cost £200.