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Unidentified Newsclips
After 50 years in the shoemaking business, Clarke and Co., of Rushden are closing down on April 1. [1974 so established in 1924] The closure will mean that 50 men and women, including a few outdoor workers, will lose their jobs.
But with most shoe firms in the area desperately short of skilled closers and clickers, redundant employees should have no difficulty in finding alternative work.
The firm's managing director, Mr. D. W. Nicholson, explained that the closure results from the death of the owner, Mr. Christopher Stockdale. The firm was founded in Victoria Road, Rushden, by Mr. Nicholson's father, the late Mr. Hugh Nicholson, who went into partnership with the late Mr Charles Clarke.
About 1930 they moved to their present factory on The Green.
"We sold out to Mr. Stockdale about four and a half years ago, and we have been active in a sort of caretaker capacity for his widow, Mrs. Victoria Stockdale", Mr. Nicholson explained today. "We are quite solvent. The closure is purely for domestic reasons."
Clarke and Co. have been manufacturing men's shoes for the medium grade market.
Note: A swimming pool, alongside left, was never completed (see note below)
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Shoemakers Clarke and Co., of Rushden, Northants, has announced that it is to close down on April 1. [1974]
The decision will affect about 50 men and women operatives and a few, outdoor workers. Announcing the closure, Mr. D. W. Nicholson, managing director, said: ''We are quite solvent. The closure is purely for domestic reasons".
Clarke and Co. is the latest of a number of Northamptonshire shoe businesses to cease over the past 18 months.
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| Notes: Kelly's Directory 1903 gives Clarke & Co. at Church Street.
Building already there on 1900 map, when streets were being numbered.
Clarke & Co, were listed as boot & shoe manufacturers in Church Street in 1903 Kellys’ – but no property number given.
Edwin Mole, baker listed at number 3 Church Street.
Northern & Payne, coal merchants at number 5.
Rushden Times (branch) also at number 5.
Henry Wheeler & Son, plumbers, were at number 11.
This building looks like a shoe factory - so we are unsure if it was built for Clarke & Co, and taken over by J F Cook. If you can help with information, please contact us.
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5 Church St - was J F Cook print works in 1908
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Mrs Joyce Ball doing a man's job tacking insoles with Mr Ron Parker.
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Probably Evening Telegraph, March 1974
Women who are loyal to the last — They'll work to the end
THERE ARE some brave and loyal women at the small Rushden shoe firm of Clarke and company.
The women all volunteered for service on men's machines in the firm's lasting room and are undaunted by the cuts and bruises they receive in the line of duty.
They are determined to soldier on for their firm, which is closing down an April for domestic reasons.
The women were all machinists in the closing room, and early this week ithey finished their work on the company's last batch of orders.
Sad
None of them wanted to let the side down and walk out of the factory before they had to and so they volunteered to go downstairs to help the men on the shop floor.
Mrs Joyce Ball, who has worked for Clarke's for twenty years — longer than any other of the women — said everyone was very sad about the closure.
"We just didn't want to leave the old place, so we decided to stick it to the end. We felt we didn't want to let the old place down," she said.
Sorry
Mrs Ball said that working at the firm was like being part of one big family. "Everybody gets on so well together," she said.
Mrs Mary Parker, forewoman, said she was very sorry to be leaving. "We thought we would like to help," she said.
Chairman of the company,
Mrs C M Stockdale, said: "The whole factory has been marvellous all the way through. They have been very co-operative."
Busy
She and her company secretary, Mrs Dulcie Dowsett, will be staying behind when the last of the workers have gone, to finish the paper work.
"It's been a busy little firm. It'll be very sad when they've all gone. It'll be like a morgue," said Mrs Dowsett.
The factory is being bought by the Rushden group of stores — Peter Crisp.
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Warehouse and Swimming Baths
Designed by A. Sykes, A.R.I.B.A., Arch.T. October 1895
Occupied by Lilley & Skinner,
Leather Merchants approx. 1900
Top Floor opened as Y.M.C.A.
by H.R.H. Princess Helena Victoria
April 2nd, 1927
Opening in 1987 as an extension to
Peter Crisp Departmental Store
No. 9 in a series of "Historic Rushden" Notecards
Published by Rushden Amenities Society
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Mind - mental health services - moved into this factory following a fire in their Alfred Street premises in 2008. After much refurbishment, mostly by volunteers, it is now fully occupied.
It is now called Phoenix House [2013] and has these beautiful doors at the entrance.
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