Rushden Research Group: CWS Office 1908, 1910 & 1920

CWS Factory - Office

Mr Frank Ballard was General Manager of the Co-operative Wholesale Boot and Shoe Manufacturers, at Rushden; he was for thirteen years General Manager at the Kettering Havelock Boot and Shoe Society before coming to Rushden.

Evening Telegraph, 27^th July 1984, Nostalgia by Anne Bratley
Smart Set at CWS Factory - Office Photo – 1910 Style

The founder of a Rushden shoe firm, the late C K Woods, is pictured back in 1910 with some of his colleagues. They are the office staff from what was then the town's CWS Footwear Factory. A smart set they look too, with their hand-stitched shoes, stiff collars and impressive pocket watches. The picture has been loaned by C K Woods, who are based in North Street, Rushden. No other names of those in the picture are known, but no doubt some local families may recognise a grandfather or two among them.

Memories of Mr Herbert Packwood - written in 1988

C.W.S. Boot Factory Rectory Road, Rushden.
I was employed by the C.W.S. in August 192O. The new offices were being built by direct labour:

The offices being built
W Wood is standing left of the
corner post above the gateway

Clerk of the Works	Mr. Metcalf
Employees:-
	Chief Cashier	Mr. W. Durham
	Chief Engineer	Mr. T. Booth
	Foreman, Mechanic	Mr. C. Goodman Senr
	Foreman Ganger	Mr. M. Snow
	Foreman Carpenter	Mr. W. Wood
	Foreman Electrician	Mr. Gedney
	Factory Manager	Mr. L Tysoe

The C.W.S. at this time built a Corset factory in Wellingborough, also a Boot Factory in Northampton to which I was transferred in 1927 returning to Rushden in 1934. The C.W.S. and other factories had their own Gas Plants making gas for their own engines. Mr. Carl Bailey who worked for C. Horrells was unfortunately asphyxiated while repairing the retorts in 1922.

At the C.W.S. a steam whistle was blown to commence and finish work, this was stopped at the outbreak of the war. 1939.

The Factory Fire Brigade	New Factory Opens 1901	Inside the factory	The Company 1916
Fire Team 1927	Fire Team 1940	Benjamin Page - 42 years	Demolition 1987

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