Rushden Research Group: Lightstrung area

'The Lightstrung' area

So named because the Lightstrung Cycle Company was started close by, the area became best known as the bus stop. The name still survives today among older people but is listed as Skinners Hill on the bus timetables now.

Mercury and Herald, Friday, July 8,1988

Grandad made these bikes!

WITH reference to the letter in your July 1 edition, the firm in Rushden which gave the name to the bus stop was the LIGHT-STRUNG. Bicycles were manufactured there hence the title meaning a lightly strung cycle.

My grandfather, Ted Abbott, made these cycles before the First World War, and when he returned from service with the RAMC continued to do so until 1934.

By this time the company was also a motor agency and had garage workshops. The Lightstrung Company was in existence until 1970.

I understand that the Rushden Historical Vehicle Society have a Lightstrung cycle which is often ridden in their parades.

Mrs F Parker
Purvis Road
Rushden

It will always be Lightstrung

IN answer to Mrs Watts (Mercury Mailbag, last week), the name was not Lightstrom but 'Light-strung'; the trade name of a very good bicycle made in the works.

The site was later bought by the county council to make a roundabout but was leased out by them to a firm who called themselves 'Checkpoint Motors'. To us Rushdenites it was and always will be the Light-strung.

There was also a house on the Duke Street corner where the Leason family lived (one of the family still lives in Rushden). Light-strung bikes are a collector's item nowadays.

It was always a bus stop which has now moved to the Salvation Army, Church Street.

There was also a factory behind Lightstrung where Bright’s Mineral Waters were made and bottled.

These bottles had the glass marble in them, another collector's item today!

W H Boad
Southfields
Rushden

1967 with new shops in progress - factory in the background
shortly before the Duck Street roundabout was constructed
G E Morgan (electrical) took on the left shop, with chip shop centre, and ?


The 'Lightstrung' bus stop at the bottom of Church Street and in the floods - late 1960s

The Duck Street roundabout c1970


Wellingborough Road - Duck Street junction in 1984 before the flats were built.

These two cyclists were placed on the green area at the foot of Skinners Hill in early 2018 when the OVO Women's Cycle Tour started one stage from Rushden Hall Park. In November they were decorated with poppies for the 100th Anniversary of Armistice Day, and remained until Christmas when the 'cyclists' were adorned with red tinsel.

Decorated for 2018 OVO Women's Cycle Tour	Cycles decorated for Xmas 2018

Lightstrung 2021 - Two new shelters and seating - June 2021

Passengers with face masks due to Covid 19	New open sided shelter