Rushden Research Group: Higham Ferrers

Post Office

(left) The Old Post Office and the Chichele Restaurant in Wood Street

In 1873 Mr John Groome was postmaster, when Jonathan Seckington first
started as rural postman delivering to Rushden and Wymington.

Rushden Echo, 15th November 1901

Postal ChangesMiss B. Saxby, assistant clerk in the Rushden Post Office, has left to take up a similar position at Castleford, Yorkshire. Miss Saxby was four years at Rushden and three years at Higham Ferrers post office previously. On Friday the combined staffs at Rushden and Higham Ferrers presented Miss Saxby with an ebony-backed hair brush, clothes brush, comb, and handglass, with silver initials, as a token if their high esteem for her.

c1907

Long Service Postmen wearing their medal awards posed outside Higham Ferrers Post Office. It was the main office for the district.

Mr R J Downing was the Postmaster at the time, and is standing behind them in the doorway. With numbers of years of service, they were:-
Back left: William Eaton (31),
and right: John Lilley (24),
seated left: George White (34)
and Jonathan Seckington (34) of Rushden, a noted florist and seedsman in the district.

Photo by S Powell

Postman for 35 years George White. After 30 years he could have retired on a pension, but chose to carry on for five more years, and retired on his 65th birthday. The King presented him, on May 6th 1911, with a Medal for his long service.

Rushden Echo, 1st January 1909, transcribed by Kay Collins

The First Pensioner to draw his old age pension at Higham Ferrers on Jan. 1st was Mr John Wilson, who entered the post office as soon as it was opened, at 8a.m. There are about 40 pensioners in the borough.

Rushden Echo, 1st March 1918, transcribed by Kay Collins

Postal Staff - Mrs. Houghton, wife of Seaman Houghton, has this week been appointed on the postal staff at Higham Ferrers.

Schools and the Post Office in Wharf Road c1930

Rushden Echo, 4th August 1944, transcribed by Peter Brown

OBITUARY Mr Arthur Smith (74), of Queens Walk Stamford, who died last Saturday after a long illness, was a son of the late Mr and Mrs Frederick Smith, of Higham Ferrers, and was for many years a postman at Higham Ferrers and Irthlingborough, afterwards removing to Stamford in the same capacity. He leaves a widow and family.


Two photos of Jack Neal - sometime postman

Higham Ferrers Index Page