Charles Ireland and his wife Elizabeth were newly married and living in Montague Street in 1891 when the census was taken. Charles had been born at Clifton BDF on 7th March 1864, son of John, a tailor. He married Elizabeth Denton in March 1891 at St Mary's Church, Rushden, and they lived in Montague Street. Charles was a shoemaker, and Elizabeth was a grocer, so was possibly working for her father.

Elizabeth Denton was born in 1866, the daughter of Charles Denton, grocer, and Mercy, and lived in Church Street. Charles was the son of Daniel Denton, a cordwainer at Higham Ferrers, and his mother had died when he was about 5 years old. His father taught him shoemaking, but when he too died, in 1860, Charles was just 15.

In 1865 Charles Denton married Mercy Bailey at St Mary's Church, Rushden. By 1891 Charles and Mercy had moved to 68 Higham Road. He was a grindery dealer at first, but then started shoe manufacture in Higham Road, employing others at home. Mercy died in February 1910, and Charles died in 1915.

In 1901 Charles Henry Ireland lived at 78 Higham Road, he was a shoemaker working at home, and was also a vaccination officer. Charles and Elizabeth now had two young boys, William E was aged 2 and Earnest S aged 1. [actually Charles S]

When the boys were admitted to Alfred Street School in 1907 and 1908, their names were recorded as Ewart and Charlie. They went first to North Street school in 1898 and 1899, and then to North End infant school, in Hayway, which had opened in 1903. When new boys' and girls' schools were built next to this, the boys were both admitted on opening day, 28th May 1909.

Extract from the school log book: This school was opened on May 25th 1909 by Mr. Monckton, chairman of the County Education Committee and school work commenced on June 7th 1909. [later became the Intermediate School]

Charles Henry Ireland in 1910 lived at Higham Road Rushden. In 1911 Charles Henry Ireland and Elizabeth Ireland (nee Denton) lived in Oak Street, Rushden, and he was a boot laster.

Charles Henry Ireland, aged 57, on the day of the 1921 census, was visiting his mother (Julia Neal Ireland) at Bedford Rd, Shefford Hardwicke, Campton, Bedfordshire. It states at the time that his occupation was a “Lancashire Musician” out of work.  

Charles and Elizabeth Ireland retired to Tavistock about 1935, where their son Charles Stewart "Pat" was a footwear dealer. Elizabeth died in 1952, and Charles died in 1954 aged 89. They are buried in Plymouth Road Cemetery, Tavistock, Devon.

William Ewart Ireland was born on 14th May 1898 at Rushden. He had done some sign-writing for Walter Mole, probably writing the name boards above some of the shops in Rushden, when Walter was asked to paint the shop windows. Perhaps the two letters (below) were written when William was 18 and due to enlist.

He enlisted in the R N V R, and was listed in the Absent Voters list of 1918 as AB 5669 RNVR "Excellent." He served in the navy until 1919, and lived at 78 Higham Road, Rushden until 1924. He married Lily Tweedale in Wellingborough.

William Ewart Ireland and Lily Ireland (nee Tweedale) his wife, on the day of the 1921 census, were living at 67 Moor Road Rushden. His occupation at the time was a painter and decorator with F. G. Lilly Decorator of 23 Gorden Terrace Higham Road Rushden. 

William was a sign-writer in the 30s and 40s, he worked in the Liverpool docks on the ships, sign-writing the ship's name on the hull.

He was a very talented self-taught artist (watercolours), and at some time he had a painting exhibited at the Liverpool Art Gallery. He died in 1990.

Charles Stewart Ireland (Pat) was born 13 August 1899 at Higham Ferrers. He lived at 78 Higham Road, until he enlisted in 1918 in the Marine Light Infantry as a musician.