Rushden Research Group: Snippets History

Snippets

Northampton Mercury, 29 October 1859

Remarkable Fecundity—Mr. David Rice, publican, of Rushden, has a cow which has brought him four calves (all cow calves) within ten months and eight days.

Wellingborough News, 11th October 1884, transcribed by Kay Collins

AN UNUSUAL VISITOR—On Tuesday, between one and two o'clock, a hare visited Rushden, and occasioned some little amusement. It was first seen in Wright's garden, and proceeding through Mr. Coulson's premises, it was placed in imminent danger in Mr. Foskett's yard, where it was confronted by dog and fowling-piece. Both, however, proved fruitless, and the hare escaped, via Mr. C. Hewitt's in the direction of Newton-lane.

The Wellingborough Post, 4th June 1886, transcribed by Kay Collins

THE PROPOSED BYELAW—During the past week a copy of the proposed bye laws for the parish of Rushden have been on view to the public at the Vestry Hall.

The bakers here have reduced the price of bread from 4½d. to 4d. per quartern loaf.

Rushden Argus, Friday Dec 27th 1889, Transcribed by Kay Collins

Rushden During 1889 - A Retrospect (only part of this item exists in the paper it is copied from)
The last year has, in Rushden at all events, been a period of great activity; and the motto which suggests itself in looking back over the events which have taken place in the town during the year now rapidly nearing its close, is "Forward". Whether we speak of the social and commercial, or the religious and political life of the past 12 months, there has been a marked increase in the amount of energy displayed in the various phases.......... (the next piece is missing)

.......caused most interest in this respect was the double victory of the National Band in the latter part of the summer season. Our local musicians can hold their own amongst the generality of Northern Bands, excepting of course the “Dykes”, “Besses”, and a few other “cracks”.

At a parish meeting on April 4th to take into consideration the water supply of the town, Mr. H. Sartoris further proved his interest in parochial matters by his offer to provide a site for the proposed waterworks. A resolution was passed at the same meeting approving of waterworks, if the same could be obtained at a reasonable price.— Other meetings have been held to form a branch of the National Rivetters' Union ; to protest against the prosecution of parents for the non-vaccination of their children.—The annual show of the Horticultural and Ornithological Society was held on Feast Tuesday, but we regret that owing to the terrible weather it resulted in a loss of pounds to the society.

With this short sketch, of the events of the past twelve months, we would remark in conclusion that so far as we can judge, the prospect of 1890 seems a bright one, and we wish all our readers, irrespective of creed or party, " Happy and prosperous New Year."

Old Workhouse & School
1861 March 10th. King Edward’s Wedding day. Mrs Sharp of Queen St who keeps our Curates, or rather where they live, told me on Saturday, June 23rd, 1928 that she remembered the Church people having a holiday on March 10th, 1861 (King’s Wedding day) in the old School which was the ‘Workhouse’ & Rev. G. E. Downe, the Rector, was there. Mrs Sharp was 4 years old but had not forgotten it, she is 70 now (1928). The National School was not built till 1870.

From the note book of J Enos Smith (NRO Ref: 285P/300)

Rushden Echo, 4th March 1910

"Hunger Marchers"—Sheffield unemployed marchers, to the number of 20, visited Rushden yesterday.

The Argus, Friday 30th September 1910, transcribed by Kay Collins

Rushden Notes
During the week one of Rushden’s leading residents has been laid to rest in the person of Mr. Ebenezer Claridge. Though of a retiring nature, and never seeking public offices, the deceased gentleman was one who did much by his ability and foresight which tended to the growth of the town as an industrial centre. He will be missed in many circles to which he gave influence and support, and the exceedingly large and representative assembly which gathered at the last obsequies bore testimony to the regard in which he was held not only in the town but in a much wider area.

1915 Temperance Band played in the grounds of the late Mr Browning’s (Mr Curries old place), by permission of the new owner of the property, Mr Lane of Kettering. He does not live there. [Rushden House - Ed.]

From the note book of J Enos Smith (NRO Ref: 285P/297)

Rushden Echo, 11^th April 1924, transcribed by Kay Collins

A Thrushes’ Nest in a tree in High-street, Rushden, has five eggs in.

Rushden Echo, 16^th November 1928, transcribed by Kay Collins

Ripe Raspberries—A good dishful of ripe raspberries in excellent condition were gathered on Saturday in Rushden.

1931 Earthquake

Rushden Echo & Argus, 1st March 1946, transcribed by Kay Collins

Two large parts of an old wall flanking a field in Station-road, Irchester, have collapsed, presumably owing to the frosty weather.

The Rushden Echo and Argus, 31st December, 1948, transcribed by Gill Hollis

Let’s Make It a Model Town

Rushden is going to be a marvellous place to live in during 1949. Put your feet up on the mantelpiece for a moment and consider this. Tomorrow night, after the clock has struck twelve, the whole atmosphere of the town will have changed.

Everyone will be so polite. There will be no rushing for buses, no arguments over shop counters, headmasters will put away their canes (if they still have them) and production will leap.

“How do you know that?” you say. Perhaps you think it is a flight of fancy? Suppose everyone in the town makes a new year’s resolution!

For those who think that resolutions are things made to be broken, let us record that the dictionary tells us:-

RESOLUTION, an act of resolving: analysis: solution: state of being resolved: fixed determination: steadiness: that which is resolved: certainty: (mus.) the relieving of a discord by a following concord.

Incidentally, it is also recorded as “the disappearance or dispersion of an inflammation or tumour.”

Sold Out

We rang up a Rushden boot manufacturer and said: “If you made a new year’s resolution, which one would you choose to give the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people?”

This had him puzzled, but not for long. “I should promise to say to myself every day, ‘Blessed are those that smile,’” he said. “I think that if everyone smiled when things seemed at their worst, those things would not seem so bad.”

Picturing a Rushden wreathed in smiles, we tried our luck with a tobacconist, hoping that he would say: “I would promise myself always to tell the truth and never keep fags under the counter.” But this one had a better idea.

“If I wanted to give the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people,” he said, “it would be no good selling all my stock, shutting shop and going home. If I rationed it I should only get black looks from everyone. All I could do would be to shed an honest tear every time I said ‘sold out.’

Another man had a more concrete idea. “My idea,” he said, “would be to do all in my power to stir up local interest in the embryo Community Centre at Rushden Hall. There must be hundreds of local people connected with organisations without a home.”

“Well I don’t know,” said a local publican, putting on his thinking cap. “I could not give them a year’s free beer. Let me think. I’d tell them a nice little ditty every time I served them with a pint.”

The plan of the motorist might be a little confusing if taken literally. His resolution would be: “To think of myself as though I was the driver of the other car on the road. If people thought more in that direction,” he added in explanation, “it would be a great help to everyone.”

It follows, then, that if everyone in the town made a resolution which would bring the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people there would be a relieving of discord and a following concord.

The Rushden Echo and Argus, 19th August, 1949, transcribed by Gill Hollis

Clock for Rushden High Street
Rushden’s newest semi-public clock has been telling the time since 3.50 p.m. on Wednesday. It belongs to the Midland Bank and fills a circular window on the old Post Office building into which the bank has recently extended.

Though the clock is high above the High Street and College Street junction the ceremony of setting it in motion took place on the ground floor of the bank, where the pendulum of a master clock was touched-off by Mr. Walter C. Tarry, principal of the Tecnic Boot Co.

Addressing the staff and a few visitors Mr. O. A. H. Muxlow (manager) said that when the work of extending the bank began Mr. Tarry wrote suggesting that a clock on the corner would be very useful to the public of Rushden. The Chief Manager adopted the suggestion at once.

Mr. Tarry said the clock would be useful not only to an important bank but to the inhabitants of the town, many of whom had told him how much they missed the old Post Office clock. He was sure it would be appreciated.

The new clock is actuated by an electric battery and would thus be independent of the mains. The battery will last from three to five years.