January 1908

Midland Railway announced an increase in rail fares.  Return weekend fares between London and Glasgow were raised from 34 shillings [£1.70] to 41s.3d [£2.06].

A horse belonging to the Midland Railway Company attached to one of their trolleys laden with boxes bolted from the top of Fitzwillam Street and, after dashing down the steep incline, crashed into the window Mr Ernest Hollis, baker, of Duck Street.

A new society was formed called the Rushden Town Male Choir.  The conductor was Mr W.Hardwick.

February 1908

The person who stole the contents of two offertory boxes in Rushden Parish Church had tested the remaining ones to ascertain if they contained anything by dropping nails into them.

The Water Board Surveyor reported that for the month of January the gauge at the reservoir at Sywell showed 22,967,000 gallons passed over the weir and that the quantity pumped from Sywell had been 5,731,000 gallons – consumption having averaged 181,666 gallons per day.

March 1908

The first meeting of the newly-formed Rushden Brotherhood was held in the Park Road Wesleyan Church.

A meeting of the Rushden & District branch of the Boot Operatives’ Union held a mass meeting of men and women workers employed by Messrs Jaques & Clark, Rushden, was held in the large room of the Trade Union Club.  A resolution was passed that, unless the claims of the workers were met, including the 30 shillings minimum wage and the quantity statements, notices would be handed in, terminating on 10th April.

April 1908

The newly-formed Manufacturers’ Association agreed to form an arbitration board to see to the threatened strike of Rushden workers of Jaques & Clark.  The workers were advised not to hand in their notices pending the arbitration.

Fred Croot, of Windmill Road, Rushden, a former Rushden Town player, signed for Leeds City for the 1908‑9 season.

May 1908

Councillor William Bazeley was elected Chairman of Rushden Urban District Council.

At a special meeting of RUDC the rate was scaled for 5 shillings in the pound – an increase of 4d.  Of this amount it was stated that 2/6d was the Council’s contribution to the Water Board.

The Rushden Temperance Band secured second prize in the great Belle Vue contest at Manchester.

The Rushden Urban Council petitioned the Midland Railway Company to extend their line to Raunds in accordance with the original scheme.  The attempt, however, to get the district opened up by this means met with failure.

Several lots of property were offered by auction at the Coffee Tavern, Rushden.  For Lot.1, a freehold building site, with the remains of a factory (occupied by Messrs Ellard & Howes until the recent fire), situated in York Road with a frontage of 52ft and containing 686 sq.yds, bidding started at £200.  After moderate advances the lot was sold to Mr Joseph Knight, Rushden, for £410.  The next lot consisted of the freehold residence, with extensive pleasure and kitchen gardens, in Grove Street [Road], Rushden, in the occupation of Mr Bowmar, and erected by Mr Ebenezer Wrighton.  Bidding started at £1,000, and advances only reaching £1,090 it was withdrawn. The next lot consisted of The Villa, with garden, outbuildings, warehouses, etc, 29 Church Street, Rushden, at the corner of Wellingborough Road, lately occupied by Mr F.Whitworth, at an annual rental of £35.  Bidding started at £400, and, only reaching £420, was withdrawn.

A meeting of the finishers at the CWS boot factory at Rushden was held outside the works to consider what action should be taken with regard to the time-checking system which had been adopted.  The men claimed that as they left work they were delayed for a considerable time – in some cases 10 or 12 minutes – before they could take their turn at the machine to mark the time at which they left off.  It was decided by a unanimous vote to send a deputation to the manager on the matter.

June 1908

Mr Samuel Harris, of Crabb Street, Rushden, a well‑known local preacher in the Higham Ferrers Wesleyan circuit, had to have a leg amputated in Bedford Infirmary.  A committee was formed for the purpose of raising the substantial sum required to purchase a cork leg for the sufferer.

Mr J.Enos Smith completed his 33rd year of service as organist of Rushden Parish Church.

In the absence of any provision by the town in the way of a bandstand, the Rushden Temperance Band resolved to provide a portable stand for themselves.

The routine experiment of producing oxygen by heating a manganese and potassium compound in a test-tube at Newton Road School, Rushden, resulted in a terrific explosion.  Some of the children climbed out of the window before order was restored.  Many scholars took home exaggerated accounts of what had happened.  According to some of the youthful narrators: one of the teachers was nearly dead, others had fainted; the floor was covered with blood; one or two children had their eyes hanging out; desks had been blown out of place; a partition had been smashed; and a part of the school was on fire.  In truth, the teacher, Mr Arnott, and two children received superficial cuts.

Following a report in June 1907, further human bones were discovered in the sand-pits belonging to Mr Sartoris.  The general opinion was that a battle had been fought in the neighbourhood many hundreds of years before, and that the bones were those of warriors killed on the battle field.

Mr Paul Cave was found suffocated and poisoned by gas in the telephone room at the factory of Messrs John Cave & Sons in College Street, Rushden. An inquest returned the verdict that he had taken his own life.

A partial eclipse of the sun was witnessed in the district on June 28th.  The obscuration was so slight that all trace of the moon’s shadow had gone within 45 minutes.

July 1908

A phenomena known as “Zodiacal Light” was witnessed in the district on July 1st and extended the hours of daylight.  The pearly glow seen just before the sun rose and just after it set again meant that long before 2am it was broad daylight and at 10pm it was still brighter than at noon on some winter’s days.

Some inhabitants in the area of Grove Street [Road] resolved not to pay any more water rates until the water cart had been sent through the streets in that locality.  The residents argued that their roads were as dusty as elsewhere but were never watered.

A remarkable cricketing performance was accomplished by R.F.Knight at Bristol.  Playing for Northamptonshire against Gloucestershire he took six wickets for 90 runs in 12½ overs, thereby placing him at the head of the county bowling averages.

A town’s meeting, convened by the Rushden Urban Council, was held in the Public Hall, Rushden, to consider the advisability of forming a local branch of the Workers’ Educational Association. The motion was carried and a provisional committee appointed.

During a severe thunderstorm over the district a fire broke out at the Rushden Brick & Tile Co, Wellingborough Road.  The wooden shaft of the drying shed became a mass of flame and the fire spread to the gangway leading from the pits to the grinding room.  The drying shed, a structure of brick and iron, 68 yards long, was completely destroyed.

The annual Church Sunday School parade through the Hall grounds was watched from a window by Mrs Sartoris, 91, instead of from the porch owing to the damp weather.

The choir of the Park Road Wesleyan Church, under the conductorship of Mr Betts gained distinction by being placed second in the Nonconformist Choral Union festival at the Crystal Palace.

In attempting to avoid some cyclists near Mr Ward’s corner, a trap being driven by two ladies collided with a dray standing near.  Both ladies were thrown out of the trap and were taken into the shop of Mr Charles Robinson.  A lad named Breary, of Higham Ferrers, was riding at the back of the dray, and, when the collision occurred he jumped off only to be knocked down by a cyclist.

August 1908

The Public Hall was renovated under the directions of the architect, Mr H.Adnitt. The walls were coloured a delicate pea green shade with a white lincrusta frieze.  The dado was coloured to imitate old oak and the ceiling finished in white.  At the back of the stage was fixed a beautiful scene portraying an Italian landscape, executed by a Royal Academy exhibitor.

The War Office refused the request from this district that the Northants statement for Army boot work should be made the universal standard under the Fair Wages Clause in the Army contracts.

At a meeting of the Rushden Urban District Council, a circular letter, addressed to the Chairman from the Road Union, was received, enclosing a circular addressed to the Prime Minister calling attention to the excessive use of the roads for motor traffic.  It was resolved that the Chairman should sign and forward the circular to the Prime Minister as requested.

A plate glass window at the Co‑operative Stores, High Street, Rushden, was accidentally smashed by a large roll of linoleum falling against it.

PS Ellingham, being suspicious of a trap in Wymington Road, Rushden, asked the driver to pull up.  The officer searched the trap and discovered about 50 rabbits, a large quantity of netting, pegs, and the usual poaching outfit.  These were at once seized.

Messrs Knight & Brightwell, boot manufacturers, moved from Victoria Road, Rushden, to their new factory in York Road.  The new building had been erected on the site formerly occupied by Messrs Ellard & Howe’s factory which was gutted by fire June 1906.

Due to the late arrival of the cricket team from Rothwell, Rushden were left with 1 hour and 25 minutes in which to score 166 runs.  J.S.Denton scored 52 before he was caught, and W.H.Denton joined R.F.Knight with just over an hour to go and 114 wanted for victory.  With 20 minutes to go, 60 runs were still required.  Thirty five runs were still needed with 10 minutes to go, but in the final over Knight scored the winning runs with just half a minute to spare.

September 1908

Mr Sabey Knight, of Rushden, was unanimously re‑elected chairman of the Northants Football League committee.

Mrs Lines, Fancy Bazaar, 21 High Street, Rushden, opened a Registry Office for servants.  There would be no charge to servants.

An excellent exhibition of animated pictures was given in the Public Hall, Rushden, by the famous Walturdaw Bioscope Company.  Mr William Hewitt, of Rushden, had recently been appointed manager for the Company in the Midland Counties.

Rushden Town Cricket Club became champions of the Kettering and District League.

At the Police Court, Mr G.W., Rushden, was summoned for furiously driving a horse and cart to the danger of passengers on the highway between Rushden and Higham. Fined £1 and 11s costs.

Messrs H.Rice and J.Page, drummers of the Rushden Temperance Band, were both appointed to play in the mass concert at the Crystal Palace.

The two year old boy of Mr Foskett, Bedford Road, Rushden, was missing from his home.  Persistent enquiries were made during the day, but nothing could be found of his whereabouts.  About 7pm the child was found at Higham Ferrers and restored to his parents.

PS Ellingham stopped a Rushden man in possession of a number of rabbits.  He proceeded to seize the rabbits under the Poaching Prevention Act and fixed them on the handlebars of his cycle, his progress through the town arousing much interest.

Points awarded by the judges at the brass band contest at Belle Vue were:– Black Dyke 150, Rushden Temperance 147.

October 1908

“I have never for the last 15 years”, said the Rev H.J.Pickett in his lecture at Rushden, “put the word ‘obey’ into a woman’s lips at the marriage service, and I am not going to do it.  They never intend to keep the promise when they make it, and they certainly don’t do it”.

A sale was held at the Rose & Crown Inn, Rushden, for the fully licensed public house, the Rose & Crown, with yard, stabling, and coach-house, annual rent £250, bidding started at £3,000 and the property was ultimately sold to Mr J.Elworthy, for £4,600.

A Zonophone entertainment was given in the Salvation Army Hall, Rushden, by Mr J.Burton in aid of the Corps dept.  There was a large attendance as some of the finest records that could be obtained had been secured for the entertainment.

The Rushden and Higham Ferrers Branch SDP demanded that the Wellingborough Guardians should pay a sum of not less than 5 shillings per week to all persons disqualified from participating in the Government Old Age Pensions through having received Poor Law relief.

The quarterly meeting of the Allotments Society was held in the College Street Schools.  Mr T.Swindall (president) was in the chair, and seventeen new members were admitted.

At the first meeting of St.Peter’s Literary Society, sixteen members were enrolled.  The Ven Arthur Kitchin gave an address of “What the Church has done for the State during the last two centuries”.

“We women don’t want votes because we are like you men, but because we are utterly unlike you, and we want to put some new thoughts on the Statute Book. We don’t want women to be an inferior type of men, but to be more womanly.” – Mrs Bruce-Glasier BA, at Rushden.

At a meeting of the Rushden UDC a report from the police was received stating that two boys had been caught throwing stones at the chestnut trees on the Green to the public danger.  The boys, after being cautioned, had repeated the offence.  It was resolved to institute proceedings before the Magistrates against the boys.  At a later date the boys appeared before the Magistrates at Wellingborough where they were fined 2 shillings and costs of 3 shillings each.

Underwood, one of the Rushden Windmill forwards, while playing against Fletton, at Rushden, collided with one of the visiting backs and fell heavily to the ground.  He pluckily played to the finish of the game when it was found that he had broken his arm.

The Rushden Urban Council agreed the general district rate for the half-year at 2s.6d.in the £.

Rushden and Higham Ferrers gave a hearty welcome to the Nottingham Unemployed Marchers returning from London.  Having covered the 24 miles from Biggleswade, they arrived at the Salvation Army Hall, Rushden, at 6pm where they enjoyed a handsome roast meal, many a plate being filled three times over.  Afterwards the demonstrators marched to Higham Ferrers where a meeting was held by the local Labour Party on the Market Square.  The men were housed overnight in the Bede House.  Clean straw was provided and the room heated with hot water pipes.  The following morning the Mayor entertained the whole of the men to breakfast.  Later a service was held, after which the men had luncheon of bread and cheese, before leaving for Wellingborough.

“In the year 1120, if a man came from Wellingborough to Rushden he would be considered a foreigner.” – Mr Kolthammer BA, at Rushden.

November 1908

A horse and trap belonging to Mr Wheeler, butcher, High Street, Rushden, were being driven in Newton Road when the animal took fright and bolted at a furious pace down the hill in the direction of High Street. The driver tried hard to regain control but failed, and, when near the Council Buildings, the horse and trap collided with a town dust cart. The driver was thrown out of the trap and seriously bruised, and the shafts of the trap were smashed.

Rushden gave a characteristically hospitable reception to the Hunger Marchers from Manchester.  Of the original deputation to London of 64 men, by the time the brigade reached Rushden there were 44 left.

Mr S.Powell, photographer, of Rushden, introduced an entirely original Portrait Christmas Postcard.  Finished by hand in colour and gold, they could be supplied from 3s.6d. [17½p] per dozen plain; fancy borders 4s.6d. [22½p] per dozen.

As a sign of the unseasonable weather, farmers in the district were still carting water on their land.

The plot of ground at the corner of High Street South and Little Street, purchased for purposes of public improvement, was fenced in with iron rails and the land planted with shrubs.

Plans were submitted for the following buildings and extensions at shoe factories:– Horrell’s factory, Fitzwillam Street and Moor Road, a new room about 90ft x 15ft comprising one floor; a new factory in Spencer Park for Sanders & Sanders; a leather store and machine room for Mr Fred Corby in John Street, about 60ft x 30ft, covering the whole length of the yard; extensions to the CWS factory in Portland Road, and Messrs James Hyde, Glassbrook Road; and extensive additions to the factory of Messrs Selwood in Harborough Road.

December 1908

It was generally agreed that, as the CWS would be the only persons to benefit by the proposed widening of Rectory Road, Rushden, that the least they could do would be to give the strip of land they offered to sell to the Council for £180.

Mr G.A.Edwards, of Chesterfield, commence a fortnight’s evangelistic mission in the Primitive Methodist Chapel.  Mr Edwards was 72 years of age and had been preaching constantly for the last 58 years.

Mr Thomas Hugh Denton, third surviving son of Mr and Mrs George Denton, of Eastfields, Rushden, celebrated his coming of age by entertaining the staff of the Lightstrung Cycle Company of which he is the manager, inviting them to dinner at Eastfields.  A social evening followed the dinner.

Messrs Darlow & Whist, having rented a three-storey factory in Newton Road, Rushden, purchased a large piece of land in Gordon Street for a spacious new factory.  Mr A.Allebone occupied the factory on the corner of Wellingborough Road and Duck Street, and secured the factory at the bottom of Midland Road, at its junction with High Street, occupied by Messrs Sanders & Sanders.  The CWS took the factory in Victoria Road vacated by Messrs Knight & Brightwell for use as a stockroom until the extensions at the Portland Road factory were complete.

73 persons in Rushden were registered as being out of employment.

Mr Thomas Rutling, the only surviving member of the Fisk University Jubilee Singers who toured Europe in the 1870s and sang several times in the presence of Royalty, gave a song recital in the Public Hall.  Mr Rutling and his parents were slaves, and he told in song and in graphic and well‑chosen language the story of the slave and ex‑slave life in the Southern States.

During the month of November the sum of £120.7s.6d. was disbursed in out-of‑work pay in the Rushden, Higham Ferrers, and District Branch of the Boot and Shoe Operatives’ Union.

The annual meeting of the Rushden Pig Club was held at the Feathers Inn, Mr W.Knight presided.  The balance-sheet, presented by Mr E.Knibbs, secretary, showed receipts £27.12s.0d., balance in hand £17.9s.9d.  The sum of £9.5s.9d. had been paid to members for loss of pigs.

It was announced that, from January 1909, the 11pm train (Saturdays only) from Northampton L&NW Castle station to Wellingborough L&NW would be extended to Wellingborough Midland station, arriving there at 11.31.  A connecting train would leave Wellingborough Midland on Saturdays at 11.36pm, reaching Rushden at 11.45pm, and Higham Ferrers at 11.48pm.

The thirteenth annual dinner of the Rushden Master Builders’ Association was held at the Queen Victoria Hotel.

Mr B.Vorley and Mr J.W.Crouch, members of the Rushden Sub‑committee, presented the medals and certificates won by scholars at the Newton Road Schools. The awards included 6 gilt medals to scholars who had made every possible attendance for three successive years, and 2 nickel medals for those who had not missed for two years.

A deputation from the Parish Councils of Irchester and Wollaston attended a meeting held by the Higham Ferrers and Rushden Water Board to discuss terms upon which a joint supply could be afforded to the two places.  A price of 9d per thousand gallons was passed to the deputation.

On Christmas Day, the first marriage in St.Peter’s new church was solemnized.  The happy couple were Mr Walter Garley and Miss Gertrude Ellen King, and the officiating clergyman was the Rev E.G.Betenson.