Rushden Research Group: Co-op Stores

Rushden Co-operative Society Ltd.

Growth : Stores & Dates, Membership & Turnover

Store & Where	Year
Founded	1876
First Registered - Registration No.2050	1877
First Shop 19 High Street (R.D.H.S. placed a Blue Plaque on this site in 1994)	1878
First Manager - Mr. David Darnell	1878
First Bakery	1878
First Slaughter House in Park Road	1887
First Butcher's Shop	1888
Second Bakery & Grocery Opened	1889
4 Industrial Cottages Built in Park Road	1892
Coke & Coal Business Established	1894
Number 1 Store with Bakehouse & Butcher's in High Street South	1894
Number 2 Store with Bakehouse & Butcher's in Queen Street	1896
Number 3 Store with Bakehouse & Butcher's in W'boro' Rd/Windmill Rd & Main Warehouse & stables	1895
Number 4 Store Park Road Grocery	1896
The Drapery & Co-op Hall opened	1903
3 Houses in Queen Street purchased and Property in Newton Road	1906
Number 6 Store at Podington	1910
New Stables in Newton Road	1910
Dial Farm Bedford Road	1910
Mantle Confectionery in the High Street purchased	1911
New Bakery in Newton Road opened	1913
Grange Farm purchased - Farm at Sanders' Lodge	1916
Property in Milton Place and Succoth Place - extending to Rectory Road purchased (Now a car park)	1918
First Motor Vehicle (Thornycroft) purchased	1919
Knuston Farm purchased, milk round established	1920
Milk Round established	1920
Newton Road Fish & Chip Shop opened	1921
Wellingborough Road Fish & Chip Shop opened	1922
Number 7 Store Hove Road	1924
Jubilee Park presented to the Town	1926
Number 8 Store Higham Road - Grocery & Hardware	1927
Higham Road Furniture & Butchery opened	1928
Hove Road Butchery opened	1929
New Offices opened	1930
New Garage & 6th Butchery Store opened	1929
Grocery Store in Birchall Road erected	1932
Morris Van CNV 979 (Completed 290,640 Miles - Driver R. Brittain)	1946
Work began on New Food Hall in Rose Ave.	1960
Purvis Road Store Number 20	1960
J. Cook passed away 2nd October	1961

Advert in the 1911 Guide

Year	Number of Members	Capital	Sales
1883	210	£673	£3, 758
1890	400	£2,925	£9,231
1897	930	£5,826	£23,416
1904	1,612	£10,326	£34,625
1911	2,222	£24,924	£52,632
1918	2,617	£48,576	£96,261
1925	3,552	£120,227	£145,239
1932	4,492	£234,395	£151,159

Extract from Mary Brightwell's Obituary
Mr. Thomas Brightwell was one of a small group of enthusiasts who founded the Rushden Co-operative Society, opening the business in the front room of the late Mr. David Darnell’s house in Green’s Yard, now known as Albion-place. He was secretary of the society for many years, and during that period Mrs. Brightwell managed the drapery department, which was in High-street South.

The Rushden Echo and Argus, 1st April 1949, transcribed by Jim Hollis

When Rushden is Lit Up - Rushden’s biggest sign, the words “Shop at the Co-op” in three-foot high letters that could once be seen for miles, is completely out of action. The neon tubes are cracked and broken, gas has escaped and the red paint has peeled off the background. The sign uses 11,000 volts, and though it is to be repaired, it is doubtful if it will be in working order for some time.

A small neon over the Co-operative provision department is in better condition, as the paintwork has already been dealt with and the glass did not catch the blast of the bombs which fell in Alfred Street and shattered much of the glass in the large sign. [extract from a longer article]

Rushden Echo & Argus, 11th July 1954, transcribed by Kay Collins

Meat decontrol
After the decontrol of meat the Bedford Road abattoir, used since the war as a central slaughterhouse for the district, is to be administered by the C.W.S. There had been no response to an offer to slaughter animals for private traders. Extract from Council meeting

Evening Telegraph, 11th January 1989

Changes in store
A PART of Rushden's street scene which has stood since the turn of the century could be swept away by next year if plans for a new £3 million Co-op store go ahead.

The main block of the High Street store was built around 1902 with the electrical and homeware departments following in the 1960s.

Now owners the South Midlands Co-op want to demolish the whole block and replace it with a 15,000 square foot department store, as revealed exclusively in the East Northants ET on Friday.

If planning permission is granted, building work could start within a couple of months.

The stores to be replaced with Co-op Hall
standing proudly atop

Some 1950s - 1970s store photographs

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