Rushden Research Group: Radburne & Bennett 2

From information supplied by Margaret Gross (nee Radburne)

Radburne & Bennett Ltd.


A letter head	Radburne & Bennett's

Trade stand at Earls Court

Rushden Echo & Argus, 11^th December 1931, transcribed by Kay Collins

Rushden Factory Development
Messrs Radburne and Bennett’s

It is announced that Messrs Strong and Fisher, fancy leather manufacturer, of Grantham, have taken the factory of Messrs Radburne and Bennett Ltd., in the Irchester-road, Rushden. New machinery and plant is now being installed and it is expected that the factory will be in full production by the first of January 1932.

John William Radburne was son of William & Martha who kept a haberdashery at 151 High Street and he was born there in 1879.

In partnership with Mr J Bennett they began trading in leather from a small factory at 27 Victoria Road, in February 1910 and, after serious consideration, off Irchester Road, which they moved into on November 1^st 1915. (yellow on the plan above - later Strong & Fisher's)

(see plan above)During the depression in the late 1920s, Mr Bennett decided to leave the partnership, and being unable to raise funds to buy out his partner, the company closed and they sold the premises to Strong & Fisher who continued to trade in the leathers.

Keeping the trading name of Radburne & Bennett, John went into a new partnership in 1928 with a Danish company “Fresko” who made adhesives for the leather trade [solution] and “Walther” who made machinery. They built a new workshop in Graveley Street where they made the solutions and they traded with other shoemaking centres in England, notably in Norwich and Street. (pink on the plan above)

John married Elizabeth and they had two daughters, Margaret and Elsie who were born in Wellingborough Road. When John’s parents died the family moved to 151 High Street. The garden went down to the brook, quite near to the swimming pool where they learned to swim.

Sydney Green and his wife were godparents to Margaret, and Elizabeth Radburne was godmother to their daughter Patricia. Margaret went to Wellingborough School with Patricia and her sister Josephine Green.


J W Radburne c1912	This caricature was drawn at an Earls Court Trade Fair.	J W Radburne c1948

“Cro-Mac” was a type of composite sole material which sometimes left black marks on floors.

Advertising blotters given away at the Shoe & Leather Fair
or with the Shoe & Leather News in 1935 and 1936

This gives the address as "Fresco House" to reflect the partnership with Fresko

click here to read about the earlier company

Jim Bennett - accident 1910	Accident outside the factory 1918
Mrs Underwood - accident 1916	Fred Croft Accident 1922