Rushden Research Group: Hazelwood House

Hazelwood House

	l-r - along the top of this clip is Hazelwood House, their Oak Street factory, Elm Street Cottages and Kilburn Place. Bottom left corner is Hayway. The original footway from the house to the factory can be seen, with the later driveway down to Hayway.

The family home - Hazelwood House c1890	and map dated 1926

Abraham Groome started shoemaking in 1850 at Higham Ferrers. In 1890 the company now Abraham Groome and Sons, built a new one-floor sytem factory in Oak Street, at the end of Lime Street, off Higham Road. Early newsclips gave the house address as Higham Hill. Hazelwood House had a driveway to the factory and into Lime Street, and Higham Road but a new main driveway was made into Hayway.

Obituary - Mrs. Groome 1912

Their son George Henry Groome (b1856) and Sarah his wife (b1863) lived at Hazelwood from about 1897 until 1936. The house and land (about 4½ acres) was near the factory, with a long driveway off Hayway leading to the house. Their eldest daughter, Sarah Frances Groome, was married to Mr. William Hamilton Carrick (Assistant Paymaster RNR - HMS Davina) at Higham Ferrers Methodist Church in 1916. Their daughter Dorothy (b Nov 1918) was baptised at the same church in September 1919.


Pictured in the snow	Hazelwood House	Driveway from Hayway 1917 - Frances Groome

Mrs. A. O. Groome

Rushden Echo, 2nd September 1910, transcribed by Peter Brown

HIGHAM FERRERS - SCHOLASTIC—Miss Frances Groome, daughter of Mr. G. H. Groome, of "Hazelwood," Rushden Hill, has been recommended by the School Managers for appointment as assistant mistress at the Council schools vice Miss Reed, resigned.

Niece Miss May Brawn

Rushden Argus, 25th May 1917, transcribed by Kay Collins

As Nurse—We have to congratulate Miss Helen M. Groome, daughter of Mr. G. H. Groome, of Higham Hill, on her patriotic motive in volunteering for service in France with the Red Cross. She resigned her position as a school teacher at Newton-road School in order to go abroad.

Believed to be Higham Ferrers Junior Brigade c1930
taken at Hazelwood - Mr Groome was an ardent member of the Wesleyan Church at Higham Ferrers - Photo by W Lacey

Gatepost survives in 2023 in Hayway

Obituary

Mr G H Groome of Hazelwood was a Trustee of Knotting Green
and Souldrop Methodist Churches - he died in 1941 aged 85