January 1914

Rushden Council received a letter from the Director General of Somerset House, London, which stated that the residents of Rushden no longer had to travel to Wellingborough in order to register with The Registrar of Marriages.  They can be married at nonconformist churches at Rushden without the presence of the Registrar under the Nonconformists Marriage Act 1898.

February 1914

The annual report of the Fire Brigade sub committee showed that there had been three small fires during the year.  The calls were promptly received and responded to, the average time being between three and four minutes.  Considering the fact that the population of the town was about 16,000 it was satisfactory that the loss by fire had been so slight.

Two young children, Ellen Rockingham aged about 5 and Willie Ayres aged 4, both of Dell Place, Rushden, went missing.  It appeared they had walked off to the Park Road Wesleyan School which was being used temporarily as a day school for infants, and found their way into a lavatory.  It was assumed that once inside they lent against the door which closed and the latch was too high for them to reach.  They were not found until the following morning in a rather distressed state.

At the Petty Sessions, two shoe hands of Irchester, aged 13 years, were charged with stealing a packet of cigarettes, the value of one penny, from an automatic machine in Queen Street, Rushden.  The Bench bound the boys over to be of good behaviour for 12 months and ordered Mr Taylor, the tobacconist, to have the machine removed and to be placed inside the shop.

March 1914

Rushden Council agreed to sign the agreement allowing an electricity cable to be laid through Mr John Clark’s ground to the new Sewage Disposal Works in Wellingborough Road.  The agreement would allow the cable to be placed there for 21 years and to be renewed if necessary; at a rent of 2s.6d per year.

Advert: Highest prices paid in Rushden for all kinds of rags, bones, horse and cow hair, factory waste, rabbit skins, old machinery, scrap iron, and metals by: C.A.Bailey and Company, Washbrook Road, Rushden.

April 1914

Advert: Wanted: several good, old violins, A.L.Scholes, violin maker Rushden.

William F.J.Hewitt, theatre manager, was summonsed for a breach of the Cinematography Act, by showing inflammable films on Good Friday, at Rushden.  The defendant admitted the offence, which he said was committed without his knowledge.  He had ordered a non-flammable film, but a flammable film was sent instead.  The defendant was ordered to pay the costs, 6 shillings.

Prior to his sermon on at St.Mary’s Church, Rushden, the Rev Percy E.Robson made a touching reference to the late Mr George Skinner.  Mr Skinner, who was Church Warden, had recently been laid to rest in the cemetery at the ripe old age of 97 years.

May 1914

Following a visit to the swimming baths at Chesham and Letchworth it was resolved to submit a report recommending that the Council proceed with the scheme for the provision of a swimming bath at Rushden.

June 1914

July 1914

Rushden Gas Works’ cricket team visited Wymington.  Wymington ‘A’ Team won by 71 runs.  The scores were: Wymington 132, Gas Works 61.

An accident happened recently to Mr John Clark.  He was at his stone pit in Wellingborough Road when he noticed some men pushing a wagon and who found the task too hard for them.  He rendered some assistance, when unfortunately a piece of iron fell off the wagon and severely injured his foot.

The choir boys of St.Peter’s Church had their annual outing to Skegness.  They left Higham Ferrers station at 6.15am and arrived at Skegness at 9.00am.  The party started back at 8.00pm and arrived safely home at 11.30pm.  Messrs Sargent Bros. conveyed the party to and from Higham station in brakes.

August 1914

The one topic of conversation in Rushden and Higham was the fearful war in which Britain, in common with other great powers of Europe, had become involved.

Acting upon instructions from the Eastern Command, the Master of the Oakley Hunt was instructed to compulsory purchase suitable horses from the Rushden area for the use of His Majesty’s Forces.

The Rushden contingent of the ‘H’ Company Northants Territorials, numbering about 50 men, left Rushden on active service.

The 33rd annual seaside trip in connection with the Rushden and District Band of Hope Union took place, Yarmouth being visited for the eighth time.  The first train from Rushden was 4.55am.  The platform was crowded from end to end and all were catered for by the railway staff under the supervision of the Station Master Mr H.Pitt.

September 1914

Private Hind will be remembered by many former employees of Messrs Cave & Son Ltd as a youth who at the time of the fire, unable to obtain his parents’ consent to enlistment, took his Sunday clothes to the factory with him, intending to run away on the Friday when he got his wages and join the army.  This suit of clothes was destroyed in the fire and Master Hind, who at the time was barely 15 years of age, had subsequently to confess to his parents what had been his intention.

An application was received from Mr Charles Thurston for use of part of the Spencer Park for the occasion of Rushden Feast, offering £20 payable in advance and guaranteeing to make good any damage done.

Considerable excitement was caused in Rushden by the arrival of four companies of the Fourth Camerons from Bedford.  The men on their arrival presented a fine appearance as they marched along the High Street headed by their Pipe and Drum Band.

October 1914

Advert: In spite of the war I have up to now been able to get my full supply of fish daily and will do my best to continue the supply.  Although fish has been scarce and dear, I have not up to the present increased my prices.  J.Bugby, Fish Merchant.  Telephone Rushden 49.

November 1914

Considerable excitement was caused in Rushden when it became known that a large Rolls Royce car, which had been in the fighting line, had stopped in the town.  The motor was in charge of two of His Majesty’s officers who were driving it from London to Derby with the intention of getting it overhauled.  Evidence that the car had been under fire was not lacking as it bore innumerable bullet holes.

The first nineteen Belgian refugees to arrive in Rushden were entertained by the Rushden Belgian Relief Committee.

The first consignment of body belts, mufflers, socks and mittens purchased and worked by the children of Rushden North End Mixed and Infant School were dispatched for the use of sailors.

Plans were passed at Rushden Urban District Council meeting for Messrs Eaton & Company for a factory at the corner of Irchester Road and Sartoris Road.

December 1914

Collections had been made in the factory of Messrs John Cave & Son for Christmas plum puddings for the soldiers at the front.  One hundred puddings were duly made at Rushden and were sent to the 6th Battalion of the Northants Regiment.