The Argus 15th April 1898

Is it not time that an effort were made to obtain a systematic numbering of the houses in Rushden?

The work is one which should be undertaken by the local authorities without delay, for a great deal of inconvenience and annoyance is daily experienced in the absence of methodical numbering. We are aware that most of the thoroughfares in the town have sprung up mushroom fashion, and also that it would be difficult to number buildings in streets which are only half built upon, but the Urban Council might well turn their attention to some of the important roads where building operations have been practically completed. See also Council Meeting December 1898

The Argus 3rd February 1899

The Numbering and Naming of the streets in Rushden, sometime since decided upon by the Urban Council is now complete, to the great convenience of the public generally. The practice of naming rows of houses after the owners for the time-being has been abolished, and the rather objectionable "yard” has been changed to place. For the convenience of our readers we give the old and new names in all cases where any change has been made:-

The row of houses at the Hayway end of the Washbrook-road has been named Ealing-terrace; those on the left hand side of Rushden Hill, Gordon Terrace; the new road leading out of Rectory-road on Mr. Franklin’s estate, Portland Road; and the portion of Queen-street above Cromwell-road, Upper Queen Street.

Extract from Council Meeting February 1899

Street Name Plates

The Surveyor announced that several persons – whose names did not transpire – had objected to the name plates being affixed to their premises.

The Chairman asked what the position of the Council was.

The Clerk replied that it was the duty of the Council, by Act of Parliament, to cause the houses and buildings in all or any of the streets to be marked with numbers, and also to cause to be put up or printed on a conspicuous part of some house or building at or near each end corner or entrance of every such street the name by which such street was to be known; and, further, that every person who pulled down or defaced any such number or name, or put up any different number or name, was liable to a penalty of 40s. for every such offence; any person who wilfully obstructed any officer of the local authority or any person duly employed by the authority was liable to penalty of £5.

The Rushden Echo and Argus, 17th August 1951, transcribed by Gill Hollis

He remembers factory fire at Rushden

When Mr. G. S. Hartwell, of Swineshead, Lincs., read our recent story of Cave’s factory fire (July 19th 1901) he recalled seeing the black smoke as he walked over from Grove Street, Higham Ferrers, where he resided at the time.

One of Cave’s employees, Mr. Hartwell was also a member of Rushden Temperance Band.

In a letter he says that, realising the danger to Alfred Street School, where the band practised, he and Sid Gibbs, another bandsman, removed all the band property, including the music scores, and dumped it near Duck Street, afterwards moving it to Mr. Gibb’s house in Cave’s Row (now North Street), the fire having spread to the school.

In 1905 Mr. Hartwell left for Swineshead, where at the age of 78 he still sings in the parish church choir.