The Alps may be some 700 miles away from Rushden, but that did not stop Mr and Mrs Mole naming their mobile home after the Swiss region many years ago.

It went under the name of “Alpine Lodge” and stood on the right-hand side of Northampton Road as you drove to Higham, which was on the opposite side to the bowls club. It was occupied for many years by Mr and Mrs Mole.

Mr Mole had previously used the land there as a market garden, growing vegetables that were sold in his shop, and he continued to grow things there once they had moved into "Alpine Lodge," and continued to sell the produce at certain times.

138 Wellingborough Road was formerly Mole & Son butcher's shop - now a Kebab House

In the early 1980’s this was run by Mrs Clare Webster. Clare was an active member of the local CB Radio scene (Citizens Band Radio on AM), and used the “handle” of Cherry B. The CB club used to have weekly meetings at the Windmill Club, and were well supported for their social side of things.

After running it for about three years, Clare then sold it to Laurence Howe, who was selling mainly potatoes at premises further towards the Oakley Arms pub; he carried on selling fruit and veg at number 138 for a while. The shop is now a Kebab takeaway business.

After the butchers shop closed, it was used as an insurance brokers office called “Michael J Watts.”

Over the years that part of Wellingborough road has changed so much. Over the road was several Co-op shops, one being the main warehouse, and another one was used as a chemist shop. Who can recall buying some furniture from Caswells? That building is now used by an accountants, a barbers shop, and near to Adnitt Road the sandwich shop.

Tilley’s bakery shop was making some tasty goodies at number 124 Wellingborough Road, and when it closed became a massage therapy clinic. Going towards the Oakley, we could have filled up with petrol at the second of Townsend’s Garages, tasty fish and chips at Princes’s chip shop, Collins’ dairy was once situated where One Stop is now. Get those blunt scissors sharpened at Metal Art. And purchase the latest 45 single, or an LP record at LNA records.

CB equipment and TV rental, and repairs at Phil Short’s shop. And a short back and sides at George Majerski’s Barber shop (with maybe a kind offer of toiletries?).

Kocon the Watchmaker and Jeweller was at 182 Wellingborough Road (always used to reckon that the watch needed cleaning!).

Getting back to Northampton Road, at the back end of 2020 work was started on the building of numerous houses, and as usual the roads were being laid during this early period.

The very best the Mole’s family could get was the mobile home "Alpine Lodge."  Mr Mole had previously used the land there as a market garden, growing vegetables that were sold in the shop, and he continued to grow things there once they had moved into "Alpine Lodge."

Davidsons Homes are building a wide selection of houses at Sanders Fields, consisting of 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom homes during 2021.

Wet weather had been blighting us in this neck of the woods during early 2021, but work has still gone ahead on the Sanders Fields housing site opposite the Bowls Club. Just like many other sporting activities, the Bowls Club was closed due to Covid 19.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was announcing a road map out of “the latest Covid lockdown” on Monday  Feb 22, 2021.

This Sanders Fields development is on sale from the Diamond Heights development in Irthlingborough – Attley Way, Irthlingborough, which is next to Nene Park clinic.