Rushden Research Group: around John Street

Compiled in 2018

John Street

c 1920 taken from the church spire

1	Farm Yard cottages	6	Lightstrung Garage
2	Austin Soap Factory - later the Adult School - now flats	7	22 Church Street - home of J Enos Smith
3	Row of workshops and cottages in Duck Street	8	39 Church Street - demolished for road widening
4	The old Gasworks - now Duck Street roundabout	9	Backs of Church Street cottages
5	Fred Corby's tannery was accessed from the side of 22 Church Street. Demolished and now John Street Car Park.	10	Note the open fields where St Mary's, St Margaret's and Park Avenues were built in the 1930s.

Into John Street from Church Street

John Street from Church Street - Northlands Veterinary Centre (see 7 above) and Salvation Army Charity shop.

Palace Motors, John Street - 1987

Don and June Wills, of Place Motors, would like to thank all their customers for their support over the last 30 years of trading (with 20 years as Fiat Dealers). The John Street business has now been taken over by Bill Groome and David Hall, whom we have known as fellow Fiat Dealers for many years. They will trade as Rockingham Cars.

We wish Bill and David every success for the future. They will welcome old and new customers and continue with the same good service that we have given.

c1980 aerial photograph showing Alfred Street terraced houses from the rear, and Palace Motors in John Street.

To the left of this area is the playground for the
Alfred Street School, and opposite is now John Street
Car Park where Fred Corby's Tannery once stood.
(No.5 in the aerial picture at the top of this page)

Another picture of Palace Motors and the backs of Alfred Street properties with the office and showroom marked.

Looking from Palace Motors across to Wellingborough Road after the demolition of Corby's Tannery and before the old Gas Works is pulled down to make room for the John Street Car Park and the Duck Street Roundabout c1980.

Map 1926
Duck Street is marked red

Street Surveys & notes