Rushden Research Group: Messrs. York and Pare

Messrs. York and Pare - plumbers

The Rushden Echo, 24th June 1898, transcribed by Kay Collins

A GOLD MEDAL FOR RUSHDEN MEN –At the Paris Exhibition a gold medal and diploma were awarded to Messrs. York and Pare for a flushing appliance for water closets. Mr. York is the chief plumber for the Rushden Urban Council and Mr. Pare was until about twelve ago the surveyor under the Council.

Messrs. York and Pare's patent was invented to dispense with the lever and chains and all moving wearing parts within the cistern, and also to provide a powerful flush. The apparatus is actuated simply by pressing a small disc, upon which the cistern discharges its contents. The diploma has been very prettily framed in green beaded moulding by Mr. G. Yates, and both medal and diploma have been exhibited in the shop window of Mr. H. Sharpe, High-street.

Note: George Yates submitted plans to the Council in Oct 1896 to build a photographic studio in Station Road “68ft from Perkins' Factory” but little is known about his business.

William Pare was born in Nottingham in 1869. He studied to be an architect and came to Rushden in 1894 when he was appointed town surveyor and inspector of nuisances for the newly created Rushden Urban Council. At first he lodged with Charles Allen and his family in Victoria Road, before moving to Irchester Road. He left the employ of the council in 1897, when was succeeded by Mr Madin.

The Rushden Argus, 30^th July 1897, transcribed by Kay Collins

Picnic.—Through the kindness of Mr. W. Pare, who is spending his holidays at Sharnbrook, paying his devotions at the shrine of Isaac Walton, the members of the Old Baptist Choir and a few friends spent a most enjoyable afternoon in the old Bedford village on Saturday. The party, which numbered about thirty, reached Sharnbrook about four o'clock, some on cycles and others in traps. Mr. Pare then entertained them to tea, and subsequently an adjournment was made to the delightful meadows, where the evening was pleasantly spent with singing and games. A start for home was made about nine o'clock, but a difficulty occurred owing to one of the lady cyclists being without her light, and also one of the traps being without lamps. No one wished to end the day with a summons so heads were put together, and a young man let the young lady have his lamp, whilst he sailed home carrying a gallipot with a piece of candle at the bottom. The trap was accommodated with a stable lantern, so Bedford’s bylaws were fully complied with. Rushden was safely reached about ten o’clock.

The following year, working with the town plumber, Mr York, he invented a flushing closet. They won the Gold Medal for this at the Paris Exhibition in 1898. Nothing more is known of him in Rushden, as he had left the town by 1901. He died in Nottinghamshire in 1947 aged 78.

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