Rushden
Rushden maps (2 available)
Map of Northamptonshire
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
See this old map of Northamptonshire
Personalised maps
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Rushden books (8 available)
- 2 photos on Rushden appear in 1 Frith books - View photos of Rushden
- Read extracts and see photos from these books on Rushden and Northamptonshire
Rushden memories
Read and share memories of Rushden and Northamptonshire inspired by Frith photos
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You can also read memories of nearby places in Northamptonshire below.
Northamptonshire memories
The Bull
This scene in 2008 looks almost exactly the same as it did in 1969. Further down (out of sight of this picture) many changes have taken place. George Burton's papershop is now a pizza parlour (didn't even know what a pizza was in the early 60s!). Duncan's Chemist shop (famously made of wood) has been demolished, oh how as a youngster I drooled as I looked in his shop window at those wonderful blue and white striped Dinky toy boxes containing every car and lorry in miniture' Even when we were ill it usually meant a dollop of Lucozade (lovely stuff) from Duncan's. I can still remember the long glass bottle with a screw top and that wonderful transparent amber coloured ...read more here
A memory of Irthlingborough contributed by Mick Austin
The Rookery
The parade of shops situated on the right was once the site of a large house called The Rookery, we lived at the Rookery from 1956 -1962. This adjoined the old Procea Products factory where my father worked for many years as a lorry driver/mechanic. Procea was famous for making slimming bread. The Rookery was owned by Procea and split into 3 houses, (we lived in the centre house), Jack Thomsons (manager at Procea) had some of the rooms and the Brailsford (dentist) family had the house closest to the factory. Sadly The Rookery was pulled down in the mid-60's. The house was grand with large windows and very high ceilings. Today The Rookery would have been a listed building and ...read more here
A memory of Irthlingborough contributed by Mick Austin
Duke of Wellington
My aunt and uncle used to run the Duke of Wellington Public house, Hazel (nee Austin from Irthlingborough) and Bill Forscutt, previously they ran the Bell in Little Addington for a few years. Bill died some years ago but in 2007 Hazel is still going strong.
A memory of Stanwick contributed by Mick Austin
The Nags Head
One did'nt have to travel to London to watch pro bands plying their trade.The Nags Head public house was a much attended venue during the late 60's and early 70's for watching many of the (what was then known as) progressive bands of that era. The pub was run by the a very large man by the name of Bob Knight, Bob was a God send to Northamptonshire in attracting many bands from London to play in our county. These were the days of Afghan coats, velvet trousers, large floppy hats and ridiculous stack heeled boots! 'Make love not war' was well and truly in fashion and although the place was full every Friday night I never witnessed any trouble there ...read more here
A memory of Wollaston contributed by Mick Austin
Extracts From Rushden & Northamptonshire books
Rushden, which merges to the north with Higham Ferrers, does not have a great deal of interest architecturally – except for its superb parish church, with a tower and spire nearly 164 ft high. The war memorial is of an unusual octagonal design and beyond is the, now traffic-choked, High Street.
An extract from from"Northamptonshire Living Memories".
Mostly the buildings are two storey. Banks, such as Lloyds in this view, are the only buildings of any quality. It is a workaday street - the white railway bridge in the distance has now gone, along with the railway track. The line, which opened in 1893, ran from Higham Ferrers to Wellingborough Midland Road, and closed to passenger services in 1959 and to freight in 1969.
An extract from from"Northamptonshire Living Memories".
The pavilion in the park became popular locally for celebrations and company dinners. One of Charles Wicksteed’s nventions was a machine for the tearooms, which cut and buttered bread. As he grew older, Charles Wicksteed would often visit the park in a two-seater car, with his terrier, Jerry, sitting in the passenger seat. In 1927 Jerry disappeared on one of these outings. He was never found, and in his memory his master had a statue erected in the gardens of the park, with a commemorative verse: Closely bound to a human heart, Little brown dog, you had your part In the levelling, building, staying of streams In the Park that arose from your Master’s dreams.’
An extract from from"Kettering Town and City Memories".
The lakeside railway makes a circuit of the boating lake and the paddling pool. Most of the park was devoted to children’s amusements, but there was one backwater for swans.
An extract from from"Kettering Town and City Memories".
The ‘jungle’ bridges were to divert youngsters away from the formal flower gardens - and to give the adults a rest.
An extract from from"Kettering Town and City Memories".