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Rushden Villa
Later called The Beeches
Originally built for Amos Cave in 1882, it was called Rushden Villa. Amos was a son of John Cave, shoemaker. He was married in February 1882 at Higham Ferrers Church to Miss Sarah Spong, daughter of James Spong, farmer. The honeymoon was spent at Bournemouth with an overnight stop in London.

Bull invoice In February 1882 he paid to John Bull & Co, of Bedford as the "Balance on Wedding Ring" the sum of 15/-.
hotel invoice
The Midland Grand Hotel,
St Pancras Station, London

Feb 21 Apartments
5
0
Attendance Lights
3
0
1 Fire
1
0
2 Suppers
9
0
18
0
22
 B'fsts
5
0
5
0
1
3
0

We are fortunate to have copied some invoices from 1882 to give us a sample of what he was buying.
It should be remembered that spelling was not standardised at this time,
and education was only just beginning for the ordinary children!

Rigby invoice
1 Half tester 194B 6.6 x 4.6 7 0 0
1 French   517B 6.6 x 4.6 8 15 0
Crate for Do. 2 6
The above sent on Jany 30th
3 Bales and 1 Crate per Mid Railway Comp. Paid
1 Doz E P Table Forks OE 65/- At 3 5 -
1 ..     ..  Dessert ..    .. 46/6  .. 2 6 6
1 ..    ..   ... Spoons  ..  46/6 .. 2 6 6
4 only   ..  Table  ..  ..  65/- 1 1 8
4 ..    ..   Salt ..  ..  26/- 8 8
1 ..  ..  Mustard  ..  .. 26/- 2 2
1 .. Pr .. Sugar Tongs .. 65/- 5 5
Engraving above in Old English
A. C. 7 2/3 Doz Letters 2/-		 15 4
The above sent to day with Cutlery & Fire irons in one parcel per Mid. C paid 25% 26 6 3
6 11 6 19 14 9
Amount Carried over 19 17 3
Bought of J Rigby & Son, Aston Rd, Birmingham 14th Feb (above) & 27th Feb 1882 (below)
Feby 27 1882
11 Stair Rods 26" 7/8
Polishes 5633 1/3
2
8
9
36 Eyes for ditto 5633 4/6
13
6
3
2
3
15%
9
4
2
12
11
72 Screws 5/-
2
6
2
15
5
1 Parcel Mid Ry C Paid
This completes all your orders
Kindly return drawings of Hall Lamps when selected & oblige
Rigby invoice
H Butcher invoice
Bought of H S Butcher of Wellingborough Nov 10 1882
Mch 17 To pair E P Nut Cracks
5
0
1 Marmalade
3
6
½doz. E P. Tea Spoons
8
0
Mch 25 Engraving Tea Service Plate &c
5
0
1
1
6
Paid
Nov 10/82
H Butcher

Bought of Oetzmann & Co., Hampstead Road, London NW - the first dated Jany 26th 1882
1
 Walnut Inlaid Oval top table
3
10
0
1
  .. 2.6 E E Octag top table
2
18
6
1
  .. Lady's chair mounted in needlework Ruby Plush border
3
10
0
1
 Walnut ditto Blue Silk plush border
3
10
0
1
 ..  Ditton Black Satin border
3
10
0
6
 Lath back Windsor chairs
1
5
6
2
 Arm Lathbacks ditto ditto
1
1
0
Oak & Walnut Hat & Umbrella Stand also 3 Hall chairs to match
7
7
0
1
 4ft Mah Pedestal dresing table & Washstand
15
6
6
Carried forward
38
18
6

The rest of the invoice is on plain paper:
Brought Forward
38
18
6
3
 ...et Mah E E Chair 1/9
1
1
3
1
 Mah Towel Horse
10
6
1
 Birch Bedroom suite complete
18
18
0
1
 8ft x 4ft Mah E E Dining table
7
15
0
1
 Blk & Gold E E Chimney Glass
4
4
0
1
 Mah E E Dining room suite with upholstered back to small chairs & covered in morocco leather
34
13
0
24
 yds Brussells Carpet Drawing room 3/11
4
14
0
20
  ..   ..  Border
2
5
0
15
  ..   ..  Dining 3/11
2
18
9
16
  ..   ..  Dining  2/3
1
16
0
75
  ..  Making do 2
12
6
1
 Rmt of stair Carpet
1
11
6
1½
 yds  ..   ..       .. 3/9
5
7½
20
   ..  Tapestry   .. Bed Room 2/5
2
8
4
23
   ..  Tapestry   ..   ..     .. 2/8
3
1
4
43
   .. Making 2
7
2
1
 White Wool Rug
1
5
6
1
 Axminster Rug
1
15
6
2
    ..           .. 11/9
1
17
1
14
 yds Brussells 3/11
2
14
10
22
   ..  Border Landing 2/3
2
9
6
36
   .. Making 2
6
0
23
   .. Floorcloth 3/3
3
14
9
2
 Willow Mats 2/6
5
0
Carried fwd
140
7
6½
2
 Hassock 1/-
2
0
2
 pr B B dog 21/-
2
2
0
1
 Walnut Coal Vase
1
5
6
2
 Mah      ..     .. 25/6
2
11
0
1
 Set Jap' Toilets
18
9
1
 Set R S Desk Cover
1
1
0
Carriage & delivery of Goods by one of our Vans including mens time Railway fare & all expenses (except Horse hire to draw Van from Station to House) fixing & arranging furniture laying Carpets &c &c
5
10
0
153
17
9½
2½ Discount special
3
17
9½
150
0
0
further allowance
1
10
0
148
10
0
Feb 7/82 By cheque £148/10/0

Bought of Oetzmann & Co., Hampstead Road, London NW
February 1882

2
 Brass Bay poles with Ends, Rings, and Brackets Complete 63/-
6
6
0
Toilet Set "Cleopatra"
17
6
6
 Dessert Plates
4
11
Breakfast Service 24 pes.
14
6
Dinner Service 32 pes. Star
1
12
3
2
 Bronzed Vases 3/11
7
10
1
 Bronzed Vase
4
11
2
 Optical Vases 1/6
3
0
1
 Brass Fire Guard
10
6
11
1
5
Dep
5
5
10
16
0
Cheque in course of post will oblige
Bought of Oetzmann & Co., Hampstead Road, London NW
May 17 1882
2
 Mahogany cornice poles 6ft long x 3in Dia with ends, 18 rings each Brackets & loop hooks
17/6
1
15
0
1
 Birch ditto 7ft long x 3in Diam with ends 24 rings, Brackets & Loops & Hooks complete
1
2
0
1
 Brass Do 6.6 long c 2¼in dia with Acorn ends, 18 rings, brackets, & hoop hooks complete
1
0
0
1
 Maho' 4 tier whatnot 20  or 22 in wide
1
10
0
Deposit on Packages
2
6
5
9
6
"Soap Drawer belonging to Cleprato Toilet Set" promised to send with the above Deposit on packages will be refunded immediately on receipt of returned examples.

This invoice, on an ordinary lined foolscap sheet of paper is from Joseph Noble, dated March 10th 1882 to Mrs Cave, but gives no hint of where he traded from.
£
s
d
Coal hod
2
6
 Foot tin
3
0
Bell Mettle sauspan
5
8
 2 doz Paty Pans
1
6
Small ditto
3
6
 Smorle tin Sauspan
5
Tin sauspan and Steamer
3
7
 Coppe Kettle
7
6
Frying Pan
1
3
 tin ditto
4
0
Tin dust Pan
10
 Iron Biler
6
6
Iron dust Pan
8
 Chamber Pail
3
8
Milk Can
1
0
 Hanger
1
6
2 Cake Tins
1
3
 Flour Tin
3
6
2 Baken tins
1
10
 Flour druge and Gravey stranur
1
0
Culender
1
4
 Tin Bowl
1
3
Iron rest and Meat stand
1
0
 Toster Fork and Grater
10
Meat hoks and Screws
6
 Barth
1
4
Water Can
3
6
3
8
9
Iron Pail
1
2
Paid March 21
3 Smothen irons
3
2
J Noble

Currall & Son, 18 Abington Street, Northamtpon - Lady Day 1882 [March 25th]
Best West of Engd Blue Venetian S B Frock Coat and D Vest
4
8
0
Fancy Light Angola Trousers 26/- at
1
5
0
Fancy Caslunere? Walking Coat and
Do Vest & Striped Do Trousers
4
15
0
½
 White Dress Shirts 7/6 each
2
5
0
½
 Cold Printed  Do 6/6  ..
1
19
0
½
 Collars to match 1/-  ..
6
0
2
 prs Pants 7/6  ..
15
0
4
 prs Socks 1/4  ..
5
4
3
  ..     .. 2/-  ..
6
0
pr
 Silk Webb Braces 4/-  ..
4
0
6
 White Made Dress Ties 1/-  ..
6
0
1
 pr White Kid Gloves 2/6  ..
2
6
1
 pr Spring Top Calf Do 3/-  ..
3
0
2
 pr Button Top   Do 3/9  ..
7
6
Silk Hat
16
6
£
18
3
10
Disc 5%
18
10
17
5
0
Rec'd thanks

 Invoice from H Checksfield receipted May 22nd 1882
[This was supplied by Herbert Checksfield father of Harry]
1882 invoice

March 9th

Repairing Ebonised Bracket

3

14th

18 Hooks for Blinds & putting them in

1

9

24th

3 fold Clothes Horse

5

3

May 2nd

Repairing dining? Brown Chair

1

0

May 6th

Making Covering 2 Corner Brackets with Crimson Cloth

11

0

10th

Repairing dining? Brown Chair

1

6

To Mantel shelf in Crimson Cloth

3

4

1½ yds gimp?

9

Brass nails for shelf

7

12 yds of Buff Cord

6

6 brass headed nails

3

Paid H Checksfield
May 22nd 1882

£1

6

2
Invoice from a bundle of photocopies that we copied - all made out to Amos Cave in 1882

certificate The house was certified for the Rural Sanitary Authority, on 21st June 1882, as having “an available supply of wholesome water” by the Inspector of Nuisances, Mr C Matthews.
Parker receipt In June 1882 A G Parker of Wellingborough supplied:

1 Fire Screen at 4s.9d
and for Feather Cleaning
he charged 1s.2d.
[possibly a feather bed]
Land receipt He paid £150 in July 1882 to John Cave & Sons for “4 Plots of land on Plan 12.13.27.28” and the receipt was signed by his father John Cave.

Amos & Sarah Cave
Amos & Sarah Cave outside The Shrubbery where his brother
Paul Cave lived. The coachman was Mr Ambridge.

Amos and Sarah brought up their two sons and three daughters at Rushden Villa.

John born 1883, Reginald P born 1889, Muriel E born 1891, Marianne W born 1893, and Winfred M.

He probably built a fine pair of houses next door to his home, having bought four plots of ground from his father, as he rented Fern Dale to Walter Firman in 1898.
In about 1910 Amos and his family left Rushden Villa, and Fred Corby moved here from his home - "Cliftonville" in Park Road. He renamed it "The Beeches."

In 1939 The Beeches was taken over (with the permission of Fred Corby's Executors) by Rushden District Council as a home for evacuees.

This window is from the Beeches, in Higham Road, formerly the home of
Mr Fred Corby, a currier.

It was rescued from the house, at the time of a renovation, by Clive Wood and he built it into his own house The Vyne, in 1989.

 window from the Beeches detail from the panel
Window panel - right - the whole
window from The Beeches

The Rushden Echo, 31st December 1909, transcribed by Kay Collins

The Staple Trade

Mr Amos Cave, of Rushden, is commencing business on his own account early in January. He has taken the premises lately vacated by Messrs. Hobbs and Co. (from Irthlingborough) in Sartoris-road, Rushden. Mr Cave will make principally Box calf and glace footwear.

Rushden Echo, 19th September 1924, transcribed by Kay Collins

173 High Street, Rushden
Valuable Household Furniture and Effects

To be sold by Auction by
John S Mason

On Thursday 25th September, by order of the Executors of the late Mr Amos Cave, including:-

Walnut extending Dining Table with loose leaf, 8 oak Dining Chairs in plush, walnut frame Suite of Settee, 2 Easy and 4 small Chairs in plush, ebonized and gilt French China Cabinet with Ormolu mounts, walnut Sutherland Table, large Oil Painting of Lady in gilt frame, 4 Charcoal Etchings in dark oak frames (by W Meredith), 2 Easy Chairs in tapestry, 2 wicker Arm Chairs, walnut Octagon Table, walnut frame Easy Chair in bead and wool work, satin walnut Bedroom Suite of Wardrobe, Dressing Chest with swing mirror, marble top washstand, ditto of 4ft. Wardrobe, Chest of 5 drawers, marble top Washstand, Dressing Table with swing mirror and 7 small drawers, Pedestal Cupboard, Towel Airer and 2 cane-seat chairs, brass Arabian Bedstead and wire spring mattress 6ft by 4ft 0in, brass bedstead and box  spring mattress 6ft x 4ft 6in, 2 feather beds, bolsters and pillows, carpeting, mahogany commode, walnut washstand with tiled top and back, marble mahogany washstand, chair bedstead and cushions, 5-string banjo in case, rush chair, gas heating stove, dinner service, sundry tea and glass ware, iron curb, fire implements and dogs, carpet sweeper, culinary requisites, and other effects.

Sale to commence 12.30 prompt.

Auctioneer’s Offices: 30 High-street, Rushden.

aerial view c1970
c1970 Aerial View

The property left was built in 1882 for Amos Cave who called it Rushden Villa. When Fred Corby moved in he changed it to The Beeches. During WWI it was used as a home for evacuees. The last person to live there also had the large garden plot opposite was Mr W J Peck. The Beeches became a residental home for senior citizens, and the garden was sold as a bulding plot about 1980.

The property right was originally called the Shrubbery, later changed to Risdene when it became an old people's home, being the gift of Mr Peck to the town.
The road left is Washbrook Road, and across is Higham Road

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