Inside the foyer can be seen this plaque to Charles Thurston. The area, originally known as ‘Franklins-Fields’, was the location of Thurston’s fairground in 1904. In September of that year amongst the attractions were Swings, Shooting Galleries, Round-Abouts, Aunt-Sallies, Boxing-Booths, etc. However the most popular exhibits were Mr Thurston’s Switchback Ride and the Cinematograph.

Stonehurst was a late Victorian house, popularly known as the Belgian House because of its connections with the first world war. It was used to house Belgian refugees during this period, the first 19 of whom arrived in October 1914, and were entertained by the Rushden Belgian Relief Committee. In the air raid of 3rd October 1940, this house was hit by the same ‘stick’ of bombs that did much damage to Alfred Street School. It was originally built as a brewery store and wine warehouse by Praeds Brewers, long since taken over by larger companies. After the refugees were returned home it was converted into a house, lived in by various families, notably the Wheeler’s, who resided there for 30 years. [demolished at the end of the 1960s]

Originally called the New Inn it changed to the Railway Inn when the railway came to Rushden. During the 1980s it was renamed several times. This plaque was affixed, by J D Wetherspoon, to commemorate the inn's history, and their 2011 refurbishment and they reverted once again to the Railway Inn .

Benjamin Ladds shoe factory was on this site from 1891 until 1971, and then demolished to make way for this block of flats.
It is recorded that they made Boots and Shoes for men. No mention of footwear for Ladies, a curious situation for the world of today. Like so many of the factories in the town it was a family run concern employing about 75 people and according to records Benjamin’s descendants, Benjamin Hugh Ladds and Hugh Selby Ladds, were on amicable terms with their workforce.

Walking around to the front of the restaurant in Church Street you will see the plaque for the 'John White 2nd factory' which was housed within this building.

This is where John White’s second factory was situated from 1920 until 1922. It was also the head office. He started making shoes in 1919 in a former paint shop until he was able to purchase these premises, so this was his first ‘proper factory’. He continued to prosper, expanding his workforce and premises to its peak in 1941, when three million pairs of boots and shoes were produced annually. It was in 1937 that perhaps his best known factory was built in Lime Street, and by 1941 he owned nine factories employing two thousand workers. The main production was supplying the military with footwear during wartime, both in the Spanish civil war of 1936-1939 and the second world war. By 1941 the factories had produced eight million pairs of footwear for the armed services.

Continue up Church Street and take the second left into Alfred Street. Walk along this street of terraced houses/small businesses and Alfred Street School can be seen at the far end. Pass the school and turn left into College Street to see the plaque on the school wall. You may also enter the memorial garden kept neat and tidy by the pupils.

Alfred Street School was bombed mid-morning on 3rd October 1940. 4 adults and 7 children were killed and 40 people injured. The air raid shelter in the school playground was hit, but luckily the air raid warning had not sounded and the shelter was empty. Bombs from the same stick also damaged Cave's factory (now Wilkinsons) and killed 4 men.

John Harrison was born at Bozeat on 15th October 1888, son of Arthur and Martha, living in High Street. In 1907 Jack joined the Army, and when he left in 1910 he came to Rushden to live with his parents at 12 West Street. He won the Lonsdale belt in 1912. Joining up again to serve in WWI, he continued to box in the army. After the war he had a successful boxing career, before returning to work for Rushden Urban Council. Always known as Jack, he died in 1970 aged 82. This Blue Plaque to commemorate Jack's boxing career was unveiled on October 27th 2012.

On the corner there is a blue plaque to mark the original site of the Salvatiuon Army barracks, unveiled in 2010. It was erected by the Amenities Society.

A few houses up on the right, is No. 26 Queen Street, where a blue plaque was unveiled in 2018, to mark the centenary of the death in WWI of Walter Tull.

The first shoe factory of John Cave was established in 1850 but fate decided that the following years would be calamitous. In April 1877 the fire brigade at the was called out at midnight to attend a fire at the factory. But by the time they arrived it was too late, and the factory was destroyed. The loss estimated to be in the region of £3,000 pounds. A second tragedy was to occur a few days later when Mr Elias Cave was killed by a falling wall whilst inspecting the damage. A new factory was built on the original site and adjoining land. One of the largest shoe factories in the county; 8,000 pairs of shoes per week were made in 1889 and the workforce was 600+. Following another fire in 1901, a new factory was built in College Street.

This plaque is situated at the entrance to the old Palace cinema which was opened on September 19th 1910. The main auditorium extended through to Alfred street. The first programmes consisted of live variety and cinema shows. Admission prices were 2d, 4d and 6d, with seating for 543 people. The cinema generated its own electricity using two oil powered engines. “Talkies” were not installed until 1930, when the admission prices were now 6d, 9d, and 1/- in the stalls, 1/3 and 1/6 in the balcony.

The terraced houses that once stood here, were demolished after severe bomb damage in 1940, when 4 people were killed. The plaque was unveiled by the grandson of Mrs. Harriet Elmer, who was one of those killed, along with her daughter Betty. These four houses were built to accommodate local policemen.

The plaque gives brief details of the Hall's history. It was unveiled in 2016 by local historian, Clive Wood.

Just before the traffic lights is this plaque is to commemorate the Ginns family, who were blacksmiths with a forge on this site. The business continued for 80 years under the Ginns family, and with Jimmy Guinee who took over in 1950, for the last 22 years.