1.30pm Display of Jousting and Archery by Milton Keynes Medieval Society
3.00pm Tug-of-War Competition heats
3.00pm The Queen’s Silver Jubilee Challenge
Since time immemorial, the Monarch has always had a champion to maintain his or her honour in the lists against all challengers. Today that champion must be named, but a problem arises. For there are three loyal subjects, each claiming the office. Thus, that justice may be seen to be done, each has provided himself with a team of three men and three maidens, prepared to do their utmost for their own champion, in a series of challenges, reflecting the sport of British history. And may the best champion win.
Other attractions include:
Strolling Minstrel displays given by he New Experience, the youth group of the R.A.T.S.
Exhibition by Rushden Amenities Society in the Hall.
Pony Rides, Bands, Children’s Amusements, Fun Castle and many other side shows.
Warning You are present at this function entirely at your own risk and admission is subject to the condition that all persons having any connection with the organisation and/or conduct of the Meeting are absolved from liability in respect of personal injury.
Jousting
The Milton Keynes Medieval Society was formed by a group of people interested in the medieval way of life. All members make their own costumes, armour and weapons as authenticity is one of the main aims of the society.
The knights, ladies, squires and men at arms all appear in colourful costumes keeping closely to the style of the age they represent, about 1250-1300. This year for the first time the Milton Keynes Medieval Society have several archers in their tournament.
Medieval tournaments are re-enacted by the members and as the weapons and armour are finished in great detail the combat is both strenuous and risky.
Many different weapons are used in the fighting and each has been made to the original style using similar materials. Weapons with edges are not sharpened as the combat today is a test of skill and stamina and not a fight to the death as often occurred in the 13th century.
The tournament presented by the society starts with a parade of all the members. The combat that follows consists of hand to hand fights by knights of opposing teams. These fights are presided over by an experienced knight in the role of Earl Marshall, who sees that fair ply ensues and the code of chivalry is upheld. The tournament finishes with a display by the archers.
The Milton Keynes Medieval Society is always ready to welcome new members and will supply details if approached after the tournament.
Rushden
Rushden takes its name from the situation of the Saxon Settlement along the banks of the brook which still runs through the middle of the town. The “rushy valley” was the home of a few families dependent upon agriculture for their livelihood. They were joined by the Danes and at the time of the Norman Conquest they had their own church and priest and were an established village. The Normans set up a hunting lodge on the south side of the parish and this transformed the life of the villagers. The farm buildings and centre of activity were all removed to Higham Park on the Bedfordshire border. The hunting lodge and park also brought notable people to the township and there was soon a small house on the sight of the present Rushden Hall. This house was said to have been built by John of Gaunt the Lord of Higham Ferrers Castle for his park keeper. At this time much of the church was completed with a famous spire and later the strainer arch in the chancel.
In the fifteenth century the Pemberton family settled in the town. They were employed at the Courts of succeeding Kings and Queens and Robert Pemberton a Gentleman Usher to Queen Elizabeth 1 is buried in the church under a fine memorial. In his time the present Rushden Hall was built incorporating parts of the old building and the estate passed through the families of Ekins, Fletcher and Sartoris up to its acquisition by the council.
For many centuries farming pursuits were the dominant activity but cottage industry could also be found and in common with North Bedfordshire lace making flourished here.
In the early 19th century there were more lace makers than shoe makers in the 1300 inhabitants but shoe making expanded quickly as work was done in little shops behind the cottages and collected in a central storage barn for distribution. The wars on the continent stimulated demand for military boots and the first “manufactories” were built. In twenty years the population increased tenfold and by 1900 Rushden “New Town” had been build. The pattern was set by the typical three storey factory with the owner’s house next door and a row of worker’s cottages and a foreman’s house nearby.
By 1911 the population was over 13,000 and the shape of the town had settled down. As it matured the new town with its famous brass bands and clubs, its non-conformist chapels and Victorian architecture became one of the main centres for the manufacture of men’s footwear, a trade which has ensured a long and steady history of employment. Now with its population rising more slowly the town has attracted other light industry and built new estates to provide homes for the many newcomers attracted by the relative cheapness of homes in the area. Sporting facilities have also improved with the opening of the new Sports Centre and the popular Ski Club by the river provides not only water sports but the only ski slope in the area.
Reprint of 1897 Diamond Jubilee Celebrations as printed in the Wellingborough News
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The arch constructed near The Green in 1897
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The bells of the Rushden Parish Church rang out merrily on Tuesday morning, with their iron tongues informing everyone within their sound that the great day of national rejoicing had arrived. Rushden may be described as essentially a Victorian town. When the Queen ascended the throne Rushden, as a town, had no existence. What is, was at that time may be somewhat gathered from the thatched and old fashioned little houses at the Bedford-road end of the town. Now it has taken a foremost position among the rapidly rising manufacturing towns and everything points to a prosperous and important future awaiting it. The inhabitants of Rushden had therefore special reason to be thankful for the peaceful reign in which the trade of the country has so developed as to render Rushden’s existence possible. The initial arrangements for the celebrations are still fresh in the public mind and need no repetition. When the air was once cleared and it became evident that the town’s committee appointed intended to make arrangements worthy of the town, everyone heartily co-operated together and worked with might and main to make the celebrations a success. The majority of the people of Rushden were early astir on the eventful day, and the streets presented an animated scene as young and old strolled about and admired the decorations.
The public proceedings in the town commenced t 10.30 when a largely attended thanksgiving service was held at the Park Road Wesleyan chapel. A procession of 3,000 children was followed by tea, and a similar treat was given to the aged, after which sports and amusements took place in the Home Close.
As evening drew on, and the heat became less intense the string band played for dancing and the disciples of Terpsichore revelled in their favourite pastime. In these and many other ways, not forgetting social intercourse the evening passed pleasantly away. About 9.30 there was a capital display of fireworks, whilst at ten o’clock, simultaneous with a thousand other like fires, the huge bonfire was ignited, and the flames, rising mountains high, lit up the whole country-side. Half-an-hour later the Salvation Army, which had been playing selections in the field throughout the evening, led the way to the centre of the town followed by an immense concourse of people. A halt was made in front of the coffee tavern and the High Street was quickly packed with people. No London crowd could be denser than that in High Street, from Mr. Miller’s to the Northants Bank, at this time. It would not have been easy to have walked the whole distance mentioned on the people’s heads. Everyone, however, was in capital humour and surged up and down whilst the Band played the National Anthem and “Rule Britannia”. The clock all too quickly approached eleven o’clock and then a thousand voices again poured forth the National Anthem.
But, although the public celebration was now over, no-one had the slightest idea of going home to bed. Up and down the High Street surged the crowd, admiring the illuminations and generally enjoying themselves. But, the public celebrations over what followed must be considered strictly “Sub Rosa”. At half-past twelve the gas illuminations were turned off, but this only served to heighten the beauty of the fairy lamps. Daylight came before these went out, and we fancy several did not go home much before breakfast time. The Temperance Band arrived home from Coventry between two and three, and of course they could not disperse without first playing “God save the Queen”.
List of Advertisers in the Programme
Building and Homemaker Supply Company Ltd. 12-14 Fitzwilliam Street Rushden
Town and County Insurers 23 Oxford Street Wellingborough
Orbit Tyre Company Skinners Hill Rushden
Barry Thomas Ltd. 131 High Street Rushden
Robert Marriott Ltd. Marriott House Rushden
MHM Modern Heating Merchants Albert Road Rushden
Bernard Potter (Insurances) Ltd. 16 High Street Rushden
Bassett & Findley Ltd. Talbot Road North, Wellingborough
Norris Industries Rushden Ltd. Wellingborough Road Rushden
Strong and Fisher Group Rushden Northants
John M.Whittington M.P.S. 55a High Street Rushden
Osborne’s Sports and Toys 118 High Street Rushden
Johnson Haynes Ltd. 52 High Street Rushden
The Shoe Tree High Street Rushden
Simon Nicholas Menswear, 2-4 High Street Higham Ferrers
Osborne’s Records and Models Ltd. Church Street Rushden
David Williams, Evans and Partners 23 Church Street Rushden
D. Wilson 113 Blackfriars Rushden
Palace Motors Alfred Street Rushden
Phillips of Rushden 96-98 High Street Rushden.
Electro Tools 5-7 Crabb Street Rushden
Reliance Systems Ltd. Turnells Mill Lane Wellingborough
Northamptonshire Computer Bureau Ltd. Kettering, Leicester, Northampton
H. Adams & Co (Insurances) Ltd. Beeswing House Sheep Street Wellingborough
Totectors – main factory Station Road
Townsends (garages) Ltd. 58 High Street South Rushden
Abingtons of Rushden 21 High Street Rushden
Percy W. House 54-56 High Street Rushden
Whitworths – Wellingborough
Headland Estate Agents 126 Wellingborough Road Rushden
J. F. Cook & Sons (Printers) Ltd. Moor Road Rushden
Acknowledgements
The Rushden Round Table would like to record their appreciation of the co-operation and assistance received by the following: Mr. Norman Groom, Mr. Colin Bryant, Mr. James Osborne, Northamptonshire Newspapers Ltd., Rushden Lions, Rushden Query Motor Club, Rushden Rotary Club, Boys Brigade, British Legion, The New Experience, Salvation Army Junior Band, St. John's Ambulance Brigade, The advertisers in this programme, The stallholders.
We apologise for any omissions from the above list which went to press many weeks ago, and offer our thanks for any participators not mentioned above.
