Carriers 1811 - 1928

An array of carts near to the railway station. The people are all looking up towards the old railway bridge c1910

Northampton Mercury, 23^rd November 1811

Notice to creditors
All Persons indebted to Thomas Bolton, Carrier, of Rushden, Northamptonshire, are desired to pay the Amount of their respective Debts to William Atterbury, Carrier, of Rushden; John Bolton, of Irchester; or Charles Marriott, of Rushden aforesaid, and take their Achnowledgements.

Northampton Mercury, 6^th May 1815

Thrapston, Higham Ferrers, Wellingborough and Rushden
COMMON STAGE WAGGON

Messrs. Codgbrook & Co. Beg leave to inform the Public, that the above Waggon will leave Thrapston for London every Thursday Morning at Six o’Clock, through Denford, Ringstead, Raunds, Stanwick, Higham Ferrers, and Rushden, and arrive at the George Inn, West Smithfield, London, at Four o’Clock on Saturday Morning; and will leave the same Day at Twelve o’Clock, from whence Goods will be conveyed to any of the above-mentioned Places with the Greatest Care and Expedition.

N.B. There will be a Waggon leave the Horse and Groom, Wellingborough, every Thursday Morning at Eight o’Clock, and pass through Finedon and Irthlingborough, to meet the London Waggon at Higham Ferrers.

Rushden, May 2 1815.

Photo by S Powell - c1895 thought to be a local postman - or letter carrier

In the early days the Post Office was at Higham Ferrers, and Rushden was a sub-office.

The Rushden Postman was Mr Jonathan Seckington, who would ride to Higham to collect the post and return to deliver it.

Note the wrought iron gate and railings atop the wall.

The building has not yet been identified, so if you recognise it we'd be pleased to hear.

From the note books of J E Smith

1840 Charles Brown carrier to Bedford from Kettering, from Angel every Thursday & Saturday.

1840 In Higham account of Carriers it says: Brown’s Waggons passes thro every Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday Evening to Bedford, so of course it came thro RUSHDEN.

1840 May’s Waggon to London every Thursday. From Pigots Directory dated 1840.

JES

About 1860 Rushden “Carrier”

I am told that a Mr Whitbread Maddock, Boot Maker, was the owner of a Donkey & Cart and it was the only conveyance to LET in those days.

In 1875 there was only one Horse & Trap to LET - that was Robinson, corner of Church St - High St.

Sally Barwick Carrier to Wellingboro' with Donkey & Cart. She lived in the house just opposite Fitzwilliam St - Duck St, and used to take the Donkey thro' Front Door to Backyard (a Mr Willmott told me this on Monday Sept 26, 1915). [widow - 'errand woman' in 1851]

JES

William Warren

Ambrose Noble - carrier 1862

Extract from a Note Book of J E Smith

Rushden Chapel-Yard - Mr Lewis (one of our Council men) told me on Wednesday May 25 1917, that old Jimmy Wood who used to keep a donkey & Cart lived in the Chapel-yard at the Corner of the Green near Mr Knight the barber. Wood used to attend the Wellingborough Market & do errands for people, so you see in those days he was a prominent useful man. I well remember the old old small barn which became a chapel, also a carpenters shop. I knew the building from March 1873 when I first came through Rushden to play at Souldrop Church. I cannot say what year it was pulled down & do not remember ever going in it as I had no time when I came through. JES

The Rushden Echo, 29th April 1898, transcribed by Kay Collins

A LAMB WORRIED BY A DOG—At the Wellingborough police-court on Friday, a Rushden carrier, named Wm. Adams, was ordered to pay £1 and 8s. 6d. costs, his dog having killed a lamb value £1, belonging to Geo. Blason, of Ecton.

Carriers from the Trade Directories
Kelly's 1869	James Wood	daily	to Wellingborough
Whellan's 1874	William Warren	daily except Thurs.	to Wellingborough
Post Office 1877	William Warren	daily except Thurs.	to Wellingborough
Wright's 1884	William Warren	of High Street, daily	to Wellingborough
Wright's 1884	George Minney	of Duck Street, daily	to Wellingborough
Kelly's 1885	William Warren	daily except Thurs.	to Wellingborough
Kelly's 1890	William Warren	daily	to Wellingborough
Kelly's 1890	Alfred Marriott	daily	to Wellingborough
Kelly's 1903	Henry Litchfield	daily	to Wellingborough
Kelly's 1903	George Tomlin	Weds & Sat.	to Northampton
Kelly's 1910	George Tomlin	Weds & Sat.	to Northampton
	George Tomlin	Tues & Fri.	to Kettering
	Thomas Rose	daily except Thurs.	to Wellingborough

Phillipson's Directory 1910

Carriers

To Dean	Mr. Chattle (Saturdays) leaves Tailby and Putnam's Grocery Stores, Grove Road, at 3pm.
To Northampton	Mr. Tomlin, Carnegie Street (Wednesdays and Saturdays) leaving Oakley Hotel at 9.15am.
To Kettering	Mr. Tomlin, Carnegie Street (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays) leaving the Railway Bridge at 9am.
To Raunds	Mr. Peck (Saturdays) leaving the Railway Inn at 6pm.
To Wellingborough	Mr. Spencer, Fitzwilliam Street, daily (except Thursdays) at 12.30 Mr. Rose, Victoria Road (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays).
To Irchester, Wollaston, Grendon and Yardley Hastings:-
	Mr. Henry King, (Tuesdays and Fridays), leaves the Waverley Hotel at 12 o'clock.

Carriers from the Trade Directories
Kelly's 1920	Arthur Peck	daily	to Kettering
	S Ashford, Son & Co.	Mon, Tues, Weds & Sat.	to Kettering
	T Whitby & Sons	daily	to Kettering
	Clark & Co	daily	to Northampton
	T Whitby & Sons	daily	to Higham Ferrers, Finedon, Irthlingboro' & Burton Latimer
	T Whitby	daily	to Leicester
	Arthur Peck	daily	to Leicester
	G E Bettle	daily	to Raunds
	W H Ayres	daily	to Wellingborough
Kelly's 1924	Arthur Peck	daily	to Kettering
	T Whitby & Sons	daily	to Kettering
	Lack Brothers	to Northampton	to Northampton
	T Whitby	daily	to Higham Ferrers, Finedon, Irthlingboro', Burton Latimer, Stanwick & Raunds
	T Whitby	daily	to Leicester
	Arthur Peck	daily	to Leicester
	G E Bettle	daily	to Raunds
	W H Ayres	daily	to Wellingborough
Kelly's 1928	Peck's Road Transport	daily	to Kettering, also to London, Leicester, Northampton & Burton Latimer
	Whitby Bros	daily	to Kettering
	Lack Bros	daily	to Northampton, also to Higham Ferrers, Finedon, Irthlingborough, Burton Latimer, Stanwick & Raunds
	Whitby Bros	daily	to Northampton
	Whitby Bros	daily	to Leicester
	Peck's Road Transport	daily	to Leicester
	G E Bettles & Sons	daily	to Raunds
	W H Ayres	daily	to Wellingborough

Rushden Echo, 11^th April 1924

Wm Roberts

Express Carrier
to and from

Northampton Daily
145 Wellingborough Road
Rushden

Lantaff & Brawn 1914

Henry Knighton

Donald Cox 1923