January 1903

Publication of the 1901 Census showed the population of the county to be 338,088 being an increase of 11.9% since 1891.  The population of Rushden had risen to 12,453 – an increase of 67.3% over the 1891 total of 7,443.

Much interest was roused by the transportation of a 7‑ton girder from the railway station to the High Street and the raising of it into position in the third storey of the new Co‑operative building.

The smooth progress of the Joint Water Board’s enterprise was interrupted by the necessity to resort to Court proceedings regarding the compulsory acquisition of land from several owners and tenants.

The new Fire Station in Newton Road was formally opened by Superintendent Pendered on the occasion of the firemen’s dinner held in the room on the first floor.

February 1903

The Sites Committee reported to the Council on 8 available sites for the erection of the new Free Library.  They recommended a site in Wellingborough Road, facing the bottom of Church Street, being about 900 square yards owned by Mr A.H.Sartoris and Messrs Claridge, valued at £250.

Considerable attention was drawn to the problems concerning the delivery of a boiler to the new factory of Messrs Cave and Sons.  Weighing nine or ten tons, it was brought on a special trolley by the Midland Railway Company, and got through an opening in the wall between the factory and the building of the Standard Rotary Company.  However, the wheels began to sink when they got onto what had previously been orchard ground and, despite being levered out and boards laid, six or seven horses only gained a few feet.  The heavy weight was ultimately levered and jacked the whole length of the factory by the labourers and builders.

March 1903

After an interval of five years, Lord George Sanger’s huge hippodrome and menagerie visited Rushden.  The spacious tent, the vans containing the large assortment of animals, and the other adjuncts of the exhibition were pitched in the field of Mr R.Marriott, at the junction of Washbrook Road and the High Street.  The programme included numerous races between various classes of horses, performing elephants and horses, whilst stirring and realistic impressions of the terrors of Indian warfare and a prairie fire were given.  Clever acrobatic performances, weird contortions of Wilfred, the flexible marvel, the daring exploits on the wire rope of Mmsle Yetta, and many other turns made up a busy scene for nearly 2½ hours.

It was reported that the works connected with the new water supply were progressing satisfactorily.  The average number of men employed at the storage reservoir works at Sywell was 38, and the average number at work on the service reservoir and pipe track was 100.

The force of the wind caused much damage to the temporary theatre erected in the field opposite the Queen Victoria Hotel.  The greater part of the roof was lifted off by the gale and several heavy beams fell in close proximity to a group of young men, whilst a quantity of debris was carried into Mr Wing’s garden and even broke glass and slates at the house.

April 1903

The new Post Office was opened at the corner of High Street and College Street, under the directions of the Postmaster, Mr S.Field.

A public meeting rejected the recommended site for the new Free Library, and adopted a plot of land facing the Green.

Mr G.R.Turner, secretary of the Rushden Fire Brigade, received one of the largest posters ever seen in Rushden.  The placard, five yards long and four yards high, bore a half life-size representation of a steam fire engine proceeding to a fire.

The Rushden Urban Council suggested that the Post‑office authorities should place an illuminated dial in the round opening, high up on the corner of the building, as it appeared to have been designed for such a purpose, and a clock would be visible as far as the church.

May 1903

The “Citizens’ League” was formed to protect against the Education Act of 1902 by offering “passive resistance”.

A census at the various places of worship in Rushden revealed that 5,834 attendances were made on that Sunday at morning and evening services.

The House of Commons considered plans for a level crossing for the electric tram scheme across the railway at Higham Ferrers LNWR station instead of the previously proposed bridge.

A walking contest by employees of the Rushden Co‑operative Society took place from Bedford to Rushden.  The winner was Mr W.Marriott who completed the 13½ miles in 2 hours and 24 minutes.

At the height of a thunder storm over Rushden, a large piece of one of the archways in the church fell and covered the pews beneath with debris.

After a three days hearing at arbitration in connection with the compulsory acquisition of land by the Joint Water Board, the awards were announced in respect of the owners and tenants concerned.

June 1903

The new Board school (North End), at the corner of Hayway, was occupied for the first time.  No formal opening was carried out, but the teachers and scholars quietly took possession of their new quarters.

About a dozen members of the Rushden Fire Brigade went through a series of drills in the High Street using the fire escape and other means of leaving the upper stories of buildings.  Under the direction of Captain Knight, the firemen wheeled the escape to Mr Powell’s shop where several boys mounted the escape ladder and leapt from the top into the jumping sheet.  The escape was next raised to the third storey at Mr H.T.Robertson’s shop, and Secretary Turner was lowered from the window to the ground in the ‘rope cradle’.  Two boys were also lowered from the same height in the same way.

July 1903

The House of Lords rejected the plan for a level crossing for electric trams across the L&NW railway at Higham Ferrers station.  The British Electric Traction Company were then to reconsider that portion of the proposed route which included Irthlingborough and Finedon, probably to include Raunds and Stanwick in any new proposals.

August 1903

The new Co-operative premises in High Street were formally opened, on August 6th, by Councillor J.Hornsby, chairman of the Rushden Industrial Co-operative Society, following a procession through the town from their premises in the Wellingborough Road, and headed by the Rushden Volunteer Band.  Mr Hornsby stated that the total cost of land, building, furnishing, etc, was about £5,000.  Public teas were held in the Queen Street Schoolroom and in a marquee erected in a field in Park Road, some 1,600 persons taking part.  A meat tea was given to the various delegates at the Victoria Hotel.

Mrs Sartoris, of Rushden Hall, gave the annual tea and outing to the children living in the Wellingborough Workhouse and the Rushden inmates of that institution.  The visitors were fetched by brake and a capital tea was provided by the Coffee Tavern Company in the Public Hall.  Mrs Sartoris was able to visit her guests and encourage them in their enjoyment.

The outing of employees of Messrs Jaques & Clarke took place to Rockingham and Great Easton.  Almost 300 persons were accommodated in a cavalcade of 19 brakes supplied by Mr J.Sargent.  They set out at 6.30am and were accompanied by the Temperance Band.  The destination was reached about 1.30pm when a hot dinner was served. Cricket and football matches and other games were played, and after tea the band played for dancing on the green.

September 1903

The Rushden Temperance Band gained second place in the “Thousand Guineas Trophy” championship at the Crystal Palace, London.

October 1903

A report published showed a total of 23 licensed houses for Rushden.  Using the 1901 census figure of 12,453, this represented a population of 541.10 to each licensed house – against the county figure of 182.64 persons.

Progress of the work of the Water Board at Sywell was seriously delayed owing to the abnormal weather.  It was reported that on several occasions the horses had to be dug out from the unstable embankment.

A large and powerful horse, belonging to the Midland Railway Co., and drawing a heavily‑laden dray in the High Street, slipped heavily on the greasy road and fell on the corner shaft.  A large crowd quickly collected, but some difficulty occurred in releasing the horse, the broken shaft having to be sawn away before this could be effected.

Torrential rain caused the brook to overflow through Rushden, resulting in serious flooding across Wellingborough Road.  Duck Street was filled with water to the bottom of College Street, and from near the bottom of Fitzwilliam Street to the bottom of Victoria Street a large lake flooded several houses.

November 1903

The committee investigating the proposed site for the new Free Library agreed to secure the site on the Green offered by Messrs Lilley and Skinner.

December 1903

Plans were unveiled showing the proposed route of the electric tramway from Wellingborough to Raunds.  Finedon and Irthlingborough were dropped from the original scheme and also the part relating to the centre of Rushden through to the Compasses.