Rushden Research Group: Amenities Society 2000

From their booklet of "Millennium Tapestries", 2000

The Amenities Society
Millennium Project 2000
Part 1 - Introduction & 1900-1930

Introduction

It is with great pleasure that I introduce this booklet in connection with the Millennium Project of the Rushden Amenities Society. Ten tapestries have been produced, one for each decade of the twentieth century. These depict scenes and events of Rushden life and times throughout the century.

The Committee first mooted the idea of a tapestry some three years ago and as plans were made, we warmed to the idea but also saw the huge effort which was needed. As the whole thing began to take shape however, we became more excited and now, on completion, are proud of our efforts.

Sincere thanks go to our Secretary, who designed every picture and also to our team of ladies who put in much time and effort to each detail. Their dedication and diligence has been tremendous.

Thanks are also expressed to all our sponsors and we want them to feel that they have played a part in what we regard as a legacy to future generations.

We trust that all who view the tapestries will gain much pleasure from them and that many memories may be evoked.

Arnold F. Maddams
Chairman
1999

In the year 3000, our children's children may wonder how to celebrate their Millennium.

They may look back at the Millennium Tapestries for the year 2000 for inspiration. By then crafts and skills will be a matter of technical production.

Rushden Amenities Society leaves a historical legacy for the future, ten tapestries crafted with compassion and care, supported by a grant from the Millennium Festival Awards For All, sponsored by sincere local residents, and motivated by enthusiastic committee members.

This booklet is the keepsake, the story of our changing community and an example of divine dedication.

Ivy H Gould
Chairman 2000 - 2002.
Chairman of Trustees.

Committee Members of Rushden Amenities Society 1999-2001
Clive Wood	Gordon Rixon	Arthur George	Eric Powell
Ivy H. Gould	Michael Witts	Joy Clayson	Janet Presland
Judy Smith	Rod Walker	Ann Harris	Stella Myers
John Yorke	David Youngs	Arnold Maddams	Marion Knott
Framing	by Mr. Terry Savage, Oakley, Bedfordshire
Needlework Heritage	The origins of embroidery and needlework are lost in obscurity.
A true Tapestry is woven over a vertical frame with a warp (length-wise thread) and a weft thread cross-wise (selvage to selvage) The Rushden Amenities Millennium Tapestries are stitched in the 20th Century manner, needlepoint, embroidery wool on canvas. Ivy H. Gould
Production Details	The panels (23" x 14") are worked on canvas, 14 squares to the inch using 'Anchor' tapestry wools in a tent stitch, the designs having been converted into charts by Angela Ruggles of Dagenham.

The tapestry panels are now hanging inside Rushden Hall. "Hearts & Soles" is grateful to Clive Wood and the Amenities Society
for their permission to reproduce the booklet explaining the whole project, together with the original artwork.

The citizens of Rushden were given the opportunity to sponsor the items in the panels by writing a note or dedication to each.

The Original Artwork by Clive Wood.

These pictures are now hanging in Rushden Museum (Copied courtesy of Clive Wood & The Museum)

1	FIREMAN. My father was a volunteer fireman for many years at Rushden station.	Mrs. P. Curtis
2	SHOEWORKER (Right). My father and husband were shoe operatives.	Lois Pearson
3	SHOE WORKER (Left). Based on a photograph thought to be of Sargent's Factory when in Crabb Street.
4	MR. GATES' MILK FLOAT. Mr. Thomas Gates, dairyman, of 16 Winchester Road served milk from the churn.	Mr. G. Richards
5	MR. & MRS. CHETTLE'S SHOP, CROMWELL ROAD. I very much enjoyed working the 1900-1910 tapestry (six months hard labour!) It was made extra special for me when I discovered that the figures outside the shop were my maternal grandparents - an amazing coincidence!	Megan M. Laughton
6	COUNCIL BUILDINGS. Chief Executive of East Northamptonshire District Council 1973-1987.	Derek Brian Adnitt D.M.A., F.C.I.S.
7	FIRE STATION TOWER. I am now retired but remember the tower. My early years were spent at Rushden fire station where the external balconies cannot be accessed from within. Climbing up one at a time using a precarious 'Hook Ladder' meant the only way down was the way you went up!	Stewart Houghton
8	POLICE STATION. As a serving policeman my husband, Tom, worked at the Rushden station for 23 years.	Inge Lewis
9	CARNEGIE LIBRARY. In memory of my mother Catherine ('Kitty') Hern (nee Clark), an avid reader. When children, my friend and I spent many hours in the library on a Saturday morning choosing books for her to read!	Margaret Kennett
10	FEAST CAROUSEL. Happy schoolday memories of Rushden Feast.	Vera Bean
11	CAVE'S SECOND FACTORY FIRE, 19 JULY 1901. The factory employed about 800 people. The premises were totally destroyed along with a number of shops and cottages but the Succoth Chapel and the Rose and Crown survived. It used to be said that 'God looked after one and the Devil the other!'
12	AUSTIN'S SOAP. The soap factory was established in 1900 in buildings better known as The Adult School in Wellingborough Road. The firm then traded in a much larger factory in Graveley Street from about 1920, continuing to produce bars of soap and 'Wash Easy!' Both buildings have now been demolished.
13	RUSHDEN BRICK. Rushden bricks were made by The Rushden Brick Company owned by Mr. John Clark. Many hundreds of thousands of bricks were produced from the clay pit, now the site of Norris Way, and used in the buildings of Rushden's expanding town. The red bricks with a blue heart are extremely hard.

1	LIEUTENANT COLONEL BERNARD VANN'S MEDALS. Lieutenant Colonel Bernard Vann, commanding officer of the 6th Battalion of The Sherwood Foresters Regiment was killed on 3 October 1918. He was awarded the Victoria Cross, Military Cross and Bar, and the Croix de Guerre avec Palme (France). He was Chaplain of Wellingborough School and the son of Alfred G. C. Vann, Headmaster of Southend School.
2	ROYAL FLYING CORPS. Frederick Arthur Wheeler, Aircraftman 1 (Number 36037), Royal Flying Corps (1917), was a Despatch Rider who served through the Second World War in the Royal Air Force.	Mr. G. Wheeler
3	SOLDIER - EGYPTIAN FRONT. In memory of William Thomas Hughes, father of Megan and Ann, who served with the South Wales Borderers in Egypt during 1914-18 war.	Megan Martin
4	SOLDIER - FRANCE. To remember with pride our fathers who fought in the First World War. Harvey Walker (Battle of the Somme) and William Skinner (Ypres).	Rod and Joan Walker
5	SAILOR. My father-in-law Laurence H. Holloway was in the Royal Navy from 3 August 1918 until 4 January 1945.	Mrs. Janet Holloway
6	WAR SHRINE. In remembrance of my father, Frederick F. Smith, who died on 30 April 1917 and is buried in Calais Cemetery.	Gwen and Jack Tear
7	LONSDALE BELT OF JACK HARRISON, BOXING CHAMPION. He won the Middleweight Championship in 1911 and 1912 but his third attempt to retain the belt failed when he lost to Eddie McGoorty in the U.S.A.
8	CHILDREN'S HOLIDAY. A day's outing to Bedford to celebrate peace in 1919 organised by the National United Order of Free Gardeners.
9	ROYAL THEATRE. Our first 'date' 13 June 1959 'Separate Tables'.	Stella Myers
10	FEMALE SHOE OPERATIVE - CO-OP. For happy memories of my working life as a machinist, and friends in the Co-op closing room.	Maud Whitworth
11	SHOE MACHINIST (CLOSING). I worked for 46 years in local shoe factory closing departments starting, at the age of 14, at Sanders and Sanders. I then went on to Borough shoes, the Rushden Co-op Factory and finally on to Totectors in Moor Road.	Betty Packwood
12	DENTON TWINS (COUNTY CRICKETERS). The cricket bats and county scarf of John Sidney and William Herbert Denton who played for Rushden Town, the Old Wellingburians and, from 1910, the County for 10 and 15 years respectively.
13	BLIZZARD - 1916. Jack's mother spoke of becoming stuck in a snowdrift on her 18th birthday, March 27 1916, when she journeyed by pony and trap, from the village of Norton to Weedon station, to meet her soldier boy friend, later to become Jack's father.	Mabel and Jack Leach

1	WAR MEMORIAL. We believe it is important to remember those who lost their lives in the service of our country and that their memorials should be properly maintained.	Aubrey & Glennes Kemshead
2	MR. & MRS. H. SARTORIS. The last Squire of Rushden, Mr. Arthur Hugh Sartoris and his wife, Clara Eva, of Rushden Hall, allowed St. Mary's Sunday School to parade through the Hall grounds on their 'Treat' days. Mr. Sartoris was a keen sportsman and an excellent shot. He sold the Hall in 1929. (Reminiscences passed on to me by my grandfather).	Clive Wood
3	WOLF CUB. To represent the Rushden packs including the Alfred Street School Pack, of which Harry William Wood was a member, and the Scouting Movement to which he gave many years of enthusiastic support. He devoted 39 years to the 3rd Rushden St. Peter's Scout Troop.	Clive and Jen
4	BROWNIE. 'Brownies of the 1920's' are dedicated to the 'two Norah's', Norah Hagger (Whiting) and Norah Elliot (Swan), who ran St. Mary's Brownies in the 20's. Both were involved in Guiding throughout their lives and Mrs. Hagger's grand-daughter, Kerry Dilley, carries on the tradition as the current Brown Owl of the St. Mary's Brownie Pack.	Jennifer & Laurence Hart
5	RUSHDEN HOUSE SANATORIUM. I spent two years in the sanatorium as a child.	Lois Pearson
6	SWIMMING BATHS. Our sons, John and Philip, learnt to swim and spent many happy hours in this pool.	Hadley Family
7	ST. PETER'S FONT. A fine example of High Church Ecclesiastical Furnishing, designed by Mr. Talbot Brown, and constructed by Robert Marriot Ltd, it was dedicated by the Bishop of Leicester in September 1922. It fulfilled its function in 1947 when I was christened by the Reverend McPherson Herd.	Mrs. J. Elliot (nee Wood)
8	SCHNEIDER FIRE ENGINE. We want to thank the Amenities Society for acknowledging the contribution made to the community by Rushden's firefighters, both past and present, and to record a personal tribute to my colleagues.	Roger Tunn and Family
9	PRINCESS HELENA VICTORIA. The visit of Her Royal Highness Princess Helena Victoria to open the Y.M.C.A. Hall took place on 2 April 1927. She was introduced to Scout and Guide officers and others as well as taking tea at Rushden Hall with Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Sartoris before returning to London.	Mrs. J. Perkins
10	Y.M.C.A. BUILDING. We picked this because in the 1950's the lower floors were used by Clark and Company, shoe makers, which is where we met. We have been married for 41 years.	Rita and Keith Nutter
11	MISS M. WILLS - GIRL GUIDES. Miss Wills was the first Guide Captain of St. Peter's Guides formed in 1922. Later she became a Commissioner. I am sponsoring her in memory of Mrs. Lilian Anderson (Lily), who was a much loved Guider and Commissioner in Rushden. In the same way that Miss Wills inspired Guides in the 1920's, Lily encouraged girls and helped promote Guiding until her death in 1987.	Marie Burton
12	MR. F. E. PRESTON - BOY SCOUTS. A leader in the early days of Scouting, Mr. Preston symbolised the many leaders who have shared the experience of Scouting with numerous youngsters in the Scout Movement.	Peter Head
13	GATE PIER - RUSHDEN HALL. I love the Hall Park.	Sylvia Sawford
14	TOP ENDS - POACHING NET. Poaching nets were used by 'Top Enders' on their night-time excursions into Bedfordshire. They were met on their return by a pony and trap driven by one of the wives. When a J.P prosecuted one of their number they returned the 'favour' by gutting the rabbits on his front lawn!
15	BUCK TURNER - TOWN CRIER. Buck Turner was known for his catch-phrase 'Dornt say old Buck ain't told yer so'. He was followed about by crowds of children, among them a fellow 'Top Ender'.	A. D. Muscutt

1	GREEN'S FIRST FACTORY, HIGH STREET SOUTH. The oldest surviving shoe factory in Rushden which was purpose built by William Green in 1870 for manufacturing footwear under one roof. It replaced the old method of outworkers individual home 'workshops'. Green's was first established in 1866 in one of the Cambridge Cottages in Newton Road.
2	CLARIDGE'S FACTORY, WELLINGBOROUGH ROAD. As an apprentice electrician I serviced a generator at this shoe factory and have worked in the building for the past 32 years for Stromag Ltd. Brian Hadley.
3	JAQUES & CLARK FACTORY, JUNCTION OF MIDLAND ROAD AND STATION ROAD. I chose this in memory of my mother, Ivy, who worked there in the late 1940's & early 1950's.	Graham Penness, Little Sutton, Cheshire
4	JOHN CAVE'S FACTORY, COLLEGE STREET. Memories of my time in the John Cave office - my first job.	Alma Witts
5	CWS FOOTWEAR FACTORY, RECTORY ROAD. Both my grandfather and father worked at the Co-op Shoe Factory all their working lives.	Graham J. Smith
6	WILLIAM GREEN AND SON LTD, QUEEN STREET. My love of footwear was born here as I grew up in the company of many fine shoemakers.	D. Pope
7	JOHN WHITE (DAYLIGHT) FACTORY, HICHAM ROAD. I was manager of the John White factory in Lime Street 1940-1976.	George White
8	RUSHDEN TEMPERANCE BAND. As my grandfather, William Skinner, was founder of the Rushden Temperance Band, I wanted, on behalf of my family, to sponsor the Band and honour their achievements.	Joan Maddams
9	BOY - SALVATION ARMY BAND. My great-grandfather, Walter Seamarks, was leader of the Salvation Army Young People's Band in the 1930's.	Joy Yorke
10	RUSHDEN TOWN FOOTBALLER. I chose the Rushden footballer because I was first taken to Hayden Road when I was seven, in the mid-thirties, and have supported Rushden, (now Rushden and Diamonds), ever since.	Arnold Maddams
11	H. E. BATES. As booksellers in the town, we were involved with him during the launch of his autobiography.	John and Ann Harris
12	BANDSTAND IN RUSHDEN HALL PARK. Designed by Professor Richardson, built by Robert Marriott and paid for by John White, it was a superb piece of work destroyed by fire on 31 October 1997. The thirties was the decade we were both 'made'.	Len and Dorothy Jones
13	BIRCH BROTHERS GARAGE AND AIR FLOW CAFE. I passed the Birch Brothers Garage every day - the most modern building in the town. It was built by Robert Marriott, a builder, on the orchard of James (Jimmy) Hyde, boot and shoe manufacturer. The London Bus Service was renowned for its punctuality.	Eric Fowell
14	LIGHTSTRUNG BICYCLE'S (GARAGE). This was established in 1891 and closed in 1970. My grandfather was sponsored by the Lightstrung Bicycle Company and raced their bikes locally.	Judy Smith

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