| The first Summit Works were in Denmark Road, and the main trade was wholesale boots and shoes, for youths and boys.
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Horace Wright traded there from 1915 until 1917, when he moved into Harborough Road and traded there as Summit Boot Works until closure in October 1938.
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Mr Horace Wright
Lived at 2 Essex Road
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Denmark Road factory
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Rushden Echo, 9th March 1917, transcribed by Kay Collins
Mr. Horace Wright, Summit Boot Works, Rushden, has purchased the factory in Denmark-road, Rushden, which has been in the occupation of Messrs. P. Collins & Co. Mr. Wright is about to move his business to the newly-acquired premises, and hopes to get this over by Easter. Messrs. Collins are moving to premises previously occupied by the Rushden Steam Laundry.
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The Harborough Road works
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The street view of the factory with houses adjoining
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Rear view
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From the street through to the rear
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A store
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Rushden Echo, 26th July 1918, transcribed by Kay Collins
Factory Outing - About 50 employees of the Summit Boot Works held an outing on Saturday. The company left at 8.30a.m. in brakes supplied by Mr. Asher Abbott, for St. Neots, brief stoppages being made at Swineshead and Great Staughton, and arrived at their destination about 12 noon. The afternoon was spent in rambling round the town and on the river. A salmon tea was partaken of at Marsdon's restaurant, and the journey home commenced at 7.p.m. A halt was made at Great Staughton, and sports were organised. Winners of the ladies' race comprised: 1 M. Whiting, 2 Mrs. Bennett, 3 R. Denton, 4 Mrs. Stokes: youths' race: 1 R. Hart, 2 J. Bates, 3 F. Seamarks. The party arrived home about 12.30, everyone having spent a very day.
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Rushden Echo, 4th July 1919, transcribed by Kay Collins
Outing—The employees of Mr. Horace Wright, boot manufacturer, on Monday, journeyed to Leamington, Warwick, and Kenilworth, about 60 making the trip. Stops were made at Daventry and Leamington. Arriving at Warwick, the party had tea, and boating was indulged in. At Kenilworth they went round the ruins of the old castle, leaving at seven o’clock for Dunchurch and Daventry. Sports were held in the Daventry Recreation ground, and resulted as follow: Boys (under 16), 80 yards, 1 S. Wrighton, junr., 2 E. Bettles, 3 L. Beeby; girls (under 16), 80 yards, 1 E. Bird, 2 D. Robinson, 3 C. Rolfe; girls (over 16), 80 yards, 1 C. Jaques, 2 M. Whiting; youths (over 16), 100 yards, 1 H. Wright, 2 W. Brown, 3 E. Wright. The party left Daventry at 10.30p.m., and reached home at 1a.m.
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From the Colin Bryant Collection - Courtesy of Rushden Museum
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An outing to Cambridge 1920
Seated at the front of the first cab is Horace and his wife next to the driver.
The lad seeing them off has a Tailby & Putnam's delivery cycle.
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The Rushden Echo, 2nd March 1923, transcribed by Kay Collins
THE “SUMMIT” Boot Works staff and employees had their annual supper on Friday last, about 130 attending. Mr. Horace Wright, principal of the firm, presided at the tables. A concert was given, Mr. F. Carr presiding, Misses M. Smith, I. Cook, and J. Rivett, Messrs. Horace Wright, S. Wright, J. Sinfield, P. Hart, and W. Hardwick, and the Students’ Band. Competitions, whist (M.C., Mr. W. Smith), and dancing (M.C., Mr. S. Wright) took place. Refreshments were served.
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The Rushden Echo Friday 24th August 1923, transcribed by Susan Manton
Factory Flower Show
An innovation which might with advantage, we think, be copied by other factories, was on Saturday brought off at the Summit Boot Works, Rushden, in the form of a rose and sweet-pea show. Mr. Horace Wright (the principle) kindly offered prizes for four classes, confined to his employees and Mr. Leonard Baxter was the judge. Keen interest was taken by the work people in the exhibition, a large bench in the factory being used for the display.
The winners were:
Four distinct varieties of roses 1. J. James, 2. T. Tear, 3. E. Wright
Roses – four gentlemen’s buttonholes 1. T. Tear, 2. F. Carr, 3. J. James.
Sweet peas – twelve stems, six varieties 1. J. James, 2. Horace Wright, 3. W. Ainge.
Sweet peas, mixed vase and foliage 1. C. Griffith, 2. F. Carr, 3. Horace Wright.
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Rushden Echo & Argus, 19th February 1932, transcribed by Kay Collins
Summit Boot Works
The employees of Mr Horace Wright, the proprietor of the Summit Boot Works, Rushden, enjoyed a social evening at the Co-operative Hall on Friday last, personal friends being also numbered among the guests. The attendance was about 200, and but for illness the company would have been larger. Mr Wright’s wife and daughters were among those who were unable to be present. The programme was based upon a list of no fewer than 18 “suggested items”, and from 7.15 to one a.m. the mode of entertainment varied frequently. Reg Clayton and his band played for dances and games, in some of which prizes were given. A lightening whist drive occupied three-quarters of an hour, after which refreshments were served. At this juncture carnival effects were introduced and the hunt began for “suspected persons”—and amusing mystery competition. Musical mat, musical parcels and a “grand march” were all popular events. All the prizes were given by Mr Horace Wright, who acted as M.C. for the competitions. The other M.C.s were Mr Bert Wright for dancing and Mr W Smith for whist.
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Rushden Echo & Argus, 1938, transcribed by Kay Collins
Rushden Shoe Factory to Close Down
Employing about 80 operatives, the Summit Boot Works, Rushden, the proprietor of which, Mr. Horace Wright, will shortly close down.
This week all the employees are working out a week’s notice and next week, and until the orders are completed, they will be subject to one day’s notice.
The Summit Boot Works, manufacturing formerly boys’ and youths’ footwear and in recent years a medium class of boots and shoes, have been in existence for a good many years since since just after the war, with a factory in Harborough-road.
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