Rushden Research Group: Demolition

Early Demolition

Cottages in what was called Church Lane, later Newton Road

c1890s

The land in the foreground was built on by Ashford & Campion for a factory and
for the library in 1905.

The stone wall top right is at the corner of Back Lane, now the junction of Rectory Road and Park Road.

The cottages were demolished about 1900 and a terrace of shops built before 1903.

March 1900

A long report about a serious fire in two shops at the north end of High Street. One was Mr Buckle's and one was the studio of Samuel Powell, photographer.

The shops were not rebuilt and the ground became a walk-way up to the houses in Beaconsfield Place.

An old postcard shows the devastation

Rushden Echo & Argus, 17th April 1931

demolished c1895/1900

A Bit of Old-Time Rushden

Mr. and Mrs. Packwood

It will need a person with a good memory to recognise in this rare photograph a piece of old Rushden. The thatched cottages, which were pulled down more than 30 years ago, stood near the spot now occupied by the stationmaster’s house, and at the time of the photograph had neither trains nor ’buses to shake their foundations. They were the home of one of Rushden’s oldest families—that of the late Mr. William Packwood, who was one of the best known figures in the town. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Packwood are also given.

Extract from Rushden Cemetery Memorial Inscriptions: Grave B 805/6:
In loving memory of William Packwood died Oct 23rd 1894 aged 77 years. Also Phoebe wife of the above died Dec. 31st 1899 aged 76 years. Also of Richard William King grandson died March 16th 1898 aged 24 years. Thy will be done.

Rushden Echo, 3rd October 1919

Some Peeps at Old Rushden
Gone For Ever

A bit of Newton-road, near Ward’s Corner, pulled down some years ago, the site being now occupied by the shops of Mr. F. Atkinson, hairdresser, Mr. Cave, &c.

[Pulled down c1908/9]

These cottages stood at the north of Little Street and the junction with High Street South. We don't know the date of their demolition.

The road was widened and the council surveyor, Mr W B Madin, designed a memorial garden that was laid out in 1908 on the site.

This High Street property, No. 92, is in the throes of demolition. The walls are of stone and the roof was thatched. Materials are stacked in the window opening, ready for loading into the cart and re-use in another building no doubt.

The shop window, at 90 High Street, advertises sweets and tobacco, and in 1891 was kept by Harry Sharpe. It was two doors up from the shop and nursery premises of Mr Seckington.

Harry Sharpe was also a musical instrument maker, but in 1900 he was declared bankrupt.

In 1910 88 & 90 was Wm Tomlinson tailor and his wife's confectioners.

Rushden Echo & Argus, 18th Nov. 1949

Skinners Hill, Rushden, has changed considerably since it presented this largely rural view, and the present parking place for buses is decidedly less picturesque than were the cottages where Samuel Knight was the principal character. Some features remain, however—the trees bordering Rushden Hall, the Claridge factory (right) and the building on the extreme left.

Note: Skinners Hill is named after the farming family who kept the farm at the top of the hill - now Chan's Dentists. The buildings at the far end of the row of cottages are some farm outbuildings.

The cottages that were demolished

The corner & cottages around the garden

Fred Knight lived in the Old Rectory in Little Street. He was a Justice of the Peace, Captain of the Fire Brigade, a member of the Rushden Urban District Council and of the Baptist Church, and a shoe manufacturer with a factory in Park Road. In 1897 Fred Built a large extension to his house, the part facing the road, somewhat dwarfing the Old Rectory behind. When some stone cottages were demolished opposite his driveway he asked Mr Madin, town surveyor, to draw up plans to put a garden on the site, and this was duly constructed at Mr Knight’s expense. It had an iron railing fence and seats where people would sit and pass the time of day with each other or chat to passers by.

These cottages were the next to be demolished.

Plan showing cottages next to be demolished 3 and the outlined area 2.

The next cottages that were demolished in Little Street, for road widening. c1920.

On the left, the tops of the gates to the Old Rectory driveway can be seen.

The house in the distance left still stands in 2020.

These cottages beyond the garden were the next to be demolished.

Demolition - mainpage

see also Lost Buildings