The Argus, 25th August 1916, transcribed by Kay Collins
Rushden’s “Old Cross Roads”
“Mr. Cobbler,—As you well know, from the bottom of Church-street to ‘Sanders’ Lodge’ is called the ‘Wellingborough-road.’ The spinney along the Irchester-road (next to where Mr. Chettle lives) is properly ‘Higham-lane Spinney,’ and the road from there to the Oakley Inn ‘Higham Ferrers-lane.’ From the Oakley Inn to the Rushden Turnpike (north end) is Washbrook-road. The old name for ‘Sanders’ Lodge’ is ‘Hill’s Hovels.’
“From the latter place, under the Midland Railway, over ‘Skew Brig’ and ‘The Brook’ to Higham Ferrers is the Wellingborough-Kimbolton Turnpike. From Mr. John Mason’s down past North-end Schools, to the foot of old Bancroft Hill is ‘Hayway,’ and has been so named for at least 90 years. The roads above mentioned (except to Higham and to Knuston) encircled the old ‘Moors,’ which has retained that name more than 400 years. I suppose the Oakley Hunt met there 60 or 70 years (the last time perhaps about 20 or 25 years ago).
“The roads also surround the Recreation Ground. This is interest to me, as the parish or town purchased what ought to have belonged to them, as it is the very land which was left towards the lighting of the Parish Church 380 years ago. Why was it lost? All who went to a place of worship in those days went to the Parish Church, the only building. There were no chapels then, so I say the ground was left entirely to the town for the Church. I repeat the name of the brook which runs through the Recreation Ground is ‘Sidney Brook’ (I do not know how it got that name), and those old willows are something to be proud of, especially being about the only spot where one can find a little shade on a hot, bright summer day in the Spencer Park.
“It matters little, I suppose, what a ‘brook,’ ‘road,’ or ‘wood’ is called but let us keep the names, at anyrate those which have been handed down a hundred years or more. The wood close by has always been called ‘The Moors.’ It is a pity the Recreation Ground is not central. I should like to see one for the young people up Southende.
J Enos Smith
22 Church-street
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