Rushden Research Group: The Beeches

Article based on documents at NRO, by Kay Collins, 2008

The Beeches

Formerly called Rushden Villa

The Beeches in Higham Road was the home of Mr Fred Corby, a currier. Following his death, his Executor allowed the property to be used by Rushden Urban District Council as a home for evacuees, and was duly paid compensation. Government Circular 2032 gave permission to local authorities to “incur necessary and reasonable expenditure in acquiring hostels for children found unsuitable for billeting on private households”. A weekly return was to be made detailing those admitted and if they were unruly, bed-wetters, had skin disease or other illnesses.

Following a report made after a visit on 12^th August 1940, it was agreed that it should be staffed by a married couple with a female assistant and a daily help. Cooking facilities were probably not adequate for 16 children and three staff. If fully occupied additional wash basins would be needed but the three lavatories were considered “probably sufficient”. Produce may be removed from the garden for six months from 29^th May 1940.

A letter from Rushden & District Electric Supply Co. Ltd written on 1^st October 1940, asked Mr W L Beetenson, clerk for RUDC to send the enclosed application “for supply to The Beeches” to be sent to the County Council.

The Matron had been visited periodically by the Wardens and the Inspector of Police regarding black-out, and a request on 5^th April 1941 for new black-out, at an estimated cost of £7.9.3, was approved.

Miss E Jones, Assistant Matron, was authorised to attend a course for Hostels Staff, at Benfield, Bingley, Yorkshire, from the 10^th to 17^th April 1942.

A request to Regional Stores on 24^th April 1942 was for two dozen each of hairbrushes, combs, toothbrushes and face flannels. Another request for one bath mat and one coconut mat was confirmed for despatch on 22^nd August 1942, and approval for a 30ft ladder was also given. An undated slip for supplies from the stores was for 24 soup plates and 24 chambers, and for local purchase of one dozen each of dish cloths, tea cloths, floor cloths and dusters.

On 21^st April 1944 the Medical Officer of Health wrote to the Clerk of the County Council stating that the County Architect reported that the domestic hot water boiler was beyond repair and “as it is essential I have asked him to arrange for a local firm of heating engineers to replace it with a second hand No. 2 Ideal, the cost not to exceed £10,” and he asked him to write to the Ministry of Health for approval.

The Medical Officer of Health declared on 19^th December 1945 that “91 Queens Parade Northampton and “The Beeches” may now be closed as hostels under the Government Evacuation Scheme”.

A survey of the property was made on 25^th March 1946.

Northamptonshire County Council Government Evacuation Scheme Hostel Accommodation
"The Beeches", Rushden
Outgoing Record of Condition taken on Wednesday March 20th 1946
The Ingoing Record of Conditions taken by this Department and dated 4th June 1940 has been made the basis of this Report of Conditions and only where the description differs from the 1940 Record has any note been made. Where this is no note, it is to be taken that the 1940 Record is a correct description of the condition at the present date.
1.	Front Bedroom - North	Several small patches of plaster to be made good in walls. Wallpaper torn & badly stained, ceiling & cornice poor, requires relining & distempering. White paintwork fair but chipped on external orrises.
2.	Front Bedroom - South	Wallpaper in very poor condition, stained and torn. Cream paintwork marked, but in fair condition. Ceiling, fairly good but cracked in several places.
3.	Central Bedroom - South	Wallpaper in fair condition but torn & marked in small patches. Cream paintwork, fair to door, poor to window and marked & chipped to skirting. Ceiling fair, but lining paper torn in one place.
4.	Rear Bedroom - South	Wallpaper, fair generally, but torn in places. White paintwork badly chipped. Ceiling, fair condition.
5.	Rear Bedroom - North	Wallpaper, fair condition generally, but torn in small places. White paintwork in fairly good condition except to window.
6.	Hall, Staircase & Landings	Lincrusta dado good, but slightly chipped in places. Wallpaper in good condition. Brown paintwork, generally good, but badly chipped on external angles.
7.	Rear Corridor & Stairs	Ceilings poor & cracked condition.
8.	Small Bedroom - North	Distempered walls, fair condition, but scratched.
9.	Small Bedroom - North	Distempered walls in fair condition generally. Paintwork poor.
10.	W.C. & Airing Cupboard	Ceiling to W.C. cracked and discoloured.
Ground Floor
11.	Morning Room	Wallpaper, fair condition but stained and marked. Paintwork to bottoms of windows badly blistered.
12.	Dining Room	Boarded floor rotten in parts and smoll piece burned by fireplace. Fireplace, surround badly marked, 15 tiles loose, 4 missing, 5 cracked. Ceiling & frieze, fair condition but soiled and with a few cracks.
13.	Drawing Room	Fireplace surround, 5 tiles missing, 1 tile loose & 11 cracked. Wallpaper in poor condition & badly marked. Frieze, in poor condition and stained, ceiling fair but slight cracks. White paintwork very poor in parts.
14.	Kitchen	Painted walls in fair condition, but marked and soiled with several bad patches. Ceiling badly stained and cracked.
15.	Scullery	Whitewashed walls & ceiling, very poor condition. Paintwork blistered and poor in parts.
16.	Boiler House	Whitewashed walls and ceiling in poor condition.
17.	Fuel Store	No. 2 window panes, approx 15" x 10", broken.
18.	Greenhouse & Cold Frames	Total of 38 broken panes approx 15" x 10".
19.	Side Entrance Door	No. 1 pane obscured glass approx 15" x 12" broken.
20.	External Painting	Fair.
County Architect.County Architect's Department, County Hall,25th March, 1946.

Memorandum : From : The County Architect. County Hall, Northampton.
To : The Clerk of the County Council.
G. E. S. Hostel. "The Beeches", Higham Road, Rushden. 2nd January, 1946
Referring to your memorandum of 10th December the following are particulars of the fixtures, fittings installed by the County Council at the above premises: -
Oct. 1940 New Hot Water Cylinder and repairs to pump, etc. (Replacement)	15. 2.11
April 1941 Black-out Curtains	7. 9. 3
May 1941 New W.C. Cistern & Pedestal (Replacement)	3. 6. 11
Oct. 1942 New W.C. Pedestal to First Floor Lavatory (Replacement)	2. 3. 6
Sept. 1944 Ideal 0.2 Boiler (Replacement)	10. 0. 0
April,1945 New W.C. Pedestal to Outside Lavatory (Replacement)	4. 13. 8
	42. 16. 3
It would be advisable to ask the County Medical Officer to furnish you with a list of any other fittings installed by, or supplied through his Department, of which I have no record.
	County Architect

NRO Ref: LA16