Corner of High Street South and Wymington Road (in the area known as Top End) circa 1904.
The house belonged to David Darnell Snr., father of Rushden Co-op's first manager. The Co-op was founded in 6th June 1877 and traded from this property before they owned their first shop.
The National Registration number was 2050.
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1
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First Rushden Co-op Society shop at 19, High Street in 1878.
In the bay-windowed house next door lived Mr. Wilkins who was the first Chairman of Rushden U.D.C. Miss Fossket lived next door to him.
The first manager was David Darnell Jnr. who had to provide a bond of £40 together with 2 bonds of £25 from other persons. He was paid £1 per week plus 6d in the pound commission.
Opening times were 8am to 8pm in the week and 8am to 10pm on Saturday. The shop was closed on Christmas Day, Good Friday and special days.
Shares were £10 per new member. In 1 883 there were 210 members, the capital was £673, sales were £3,758. |
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2
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| The first Public Tea was held on 20th November 1877 at the Temperance Hall in Newton Road. The entrance fee was one shilling. |
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2a
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The Co-operative Slaughter House was opened in 1887
The first Bakery was opened in 1879
In 1890 the membership was 400
The capital was £2,925
Sales were £9,231
Coal was first sold in 1892
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2b
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David Darnell Jnr. In later life, when he retired from the Co-op, he returned to his first occupation in the shoe trade.
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3
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A Co-op Shop in Queen Street ( Dept No.2) opened in 1896.
G. Culpin, H. King, unknown, Joe Freer, and H. Addison
Photograph by C. F. Chapman, 1926
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4
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| 1960's photograph of the Queen Street Grocery Shop ( Dept. No.2) |
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Queen Street Butcher's Shop ( Dept No. 2) in 1896.
Horace Charles
The shop was built on land owned by Lawton's Farm which was next to The Independent Wesleyan Chapel. Lawton Road was named after the farm and its land.
Photograph by C. F. Chapman, 1926
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6
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Corner of Rectory Road and Queen Street during the blizzard of 1916.
In the background is Woburn Place and the long building which is the Salvation Army Citadel.
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7
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Opening of the Hove Road shop (Dept. No. 7) in 1924 by G. W. Coles, President of the society.
In the crowd, looking at the camera, Mr. Waring, freelance reporter.
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8
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| Hove Road Grocery (Dept No.7) opened in 1924 |
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9
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Hove Road Butcher's Shop opened in 1929, a separate shop to the Grocery shop.
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9a
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| Hove Road Grocery Shop, Mr. A. E. Clarke Manager. |
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10
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| Newton Road Grocery Shop, prior to alterations in 1962. |
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11
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Park Road Grocery Shop (Dept No. 4) opened in 1894, the Butcher's shop was at the rear, also the stables and Slaughter House built in 1887.
H. Cox, E. G. Strudwick, and A. Bradshaw.
The attached houses, named "Industrial Cottages" were built in 1892.
The floor above the shop was the site of the Co-op's "Penny Bank"
Photograph by C.F.Chapman, 1926
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12
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Inside Park Road Grocery shop; note the fluorescent lighting which could date the photograph around the 1940's.
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13
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| Park Road shop. |
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14
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The retirement of Mr. E. G. Strudwick, manager of the Park Road shop in 1953. The presentation was from the Society's President, Mr. W. Brown.
Mr. Strudwick was also chief instructor of the Co-op Education Committee
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15
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The High Street South shop (Dept No 1), opened in 1894 as a Drapery and Grocery shop.
D. Shouler, F. Langley and O. Clayson.
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16
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Co-op Row formerly known as Brawn's Cottages or Row. The lower section was known as Sunny Banks.
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16a
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High Street South (Dept No.l).
Butcher, C. Hanger.
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17
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A Dog Show at Jubilee Park, Bedford Road in 1926. The park was presented to the town by the society to mark its 50th anniversary.
In the background the "8 houses".
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18
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Riseley Co-op, Mr. Don Cumberpatch manager.
The first manager was Geoffrey Smeathers.
The manager's house was at the side of the shop.
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19
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Podington Grocery (Dept. No. 6) with the Bakery at the rear, opened in 1910.
Mr. R. Brooks was the manager with Charles Spencer, assistant.
The house dates from 1775 and was part of the Orlebar's Estate.
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20
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Co-op Wet Fish shop, in Newton Road, in 1947, manager Harry Jordan. The shop on the right was formerly a privately owned Fish & Chip shop belonging to Mr. Charles Foreman.
The painters are Alan Clarke and Ashley Matthew from the Co-op's own Paint department.
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21
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Wellingborough Road Fish & Chip shop opened in 1922. Proprietors are Mr. & Mrs. Judge
It's still a Fish & Chip shop today.
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22
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Rushden Bakery in Newton Road, manager Mr. Chapman.
The ovens made by Perkins of Peterborough were installed in 1913.
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23
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| W. Ambrose turning out the bread dough. |
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24
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| Portion of supplies for the Sunday School Treat, July 1916. |
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25
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Rushden Co-op's first van in 1919, a Thornycroft number RP 5050
Photograph taken in the Co-op yard opposite Ebenezer Terrace with A. E. Kettle and Mr. Pettitt from Podington. Not in the photograph, but there was a garage on this site.
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26
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| The Co-op's No. 2 Milk Float with Miss V. Reed in Crabb Street, 1920. |
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27
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Co-op milk float with the first pint milk bottles, circa 1929.
The float was made by Wadsworth's Coach Builders in Newton Road and was on display at the County Agricultural Show held in Rushden which was opened by Prince Henry.
W. Stocker, A. Gell, R. Waller and G. Dodd.
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28
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The Dairy Yard in Newton Road.
Buildings seen in the background are the Echo & Argus Print works on the left and the British Woman's Temperance Hall on the right.
A. Underwood and Claude Anderson.
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29
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| Mr. C. Joyce, Milk Foreman, outside 'The Whitehouse' in Grove Road in 1968. |
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30
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| Casket and contents as presented to all C.W.S. employees plus 107 - in England to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the Society in 1913. |
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31
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Dial Farm in Bedford Road bought by the Co-op in 1910.
The Gordon Highlanders, who were based in Bedford, camped here overnight whilst on manoeuvres in 1914.
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32
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| Dial Farm, Mr. Nibbs, manager of the poultry farm, with the geese. |
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33
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Dial Farm in Bedford Road, Mr. Nibbs with the pigs.
In the background Scroxton's Barn and Willmott's Fields.
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34
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Sanders' Lodge Farm owned by the Co-op. They also owned Knuston Lodge Farm.
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35
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Funeral Department in the High Street. Orchard Place can be seen in the background.
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36
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100, High Street, The Paint Dept, originally Wright's the Chemist was located here.
Mr. Higham (Manager of the Co-op), Jean Dickens (nee Rice)
Tom Wall (Manager of the Paint Dept), Ted Jolley (Rushden's Fire Chief in the 1940's), Fred Bellamy, Bruce Vendy, David Harlow, Richard Clarke.
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37
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Building and Hardware Dept, formerly Hedley's the chemist.
Manager Derrick Pack and Jean Dickens (nee Rice)
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38
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| Banner of Rushden Women's Co-operative Guild |
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39
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Annual Tea of the Co-operative Women's Guild at the Windmill Hall. It was a very popular and well attended organisation in the 1930's
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40
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| Annual Tea of the Co-operative Women's Guild at the Windmill Hall. |
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41
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At the corner of Higham Road and North Street was a Butchers owned by John Thomas Coulson and built In 1894. He was a School Attendance Officer and a Baptist Church Deacon. He ceased business in 1917.
The Co-op took over the shop as a Grocery Shop (Dept No. 3a) and later it became a Butcher's Shop.
This 1926 slide shows Miss M. Perkins. Later Horace "Dick" Waller became the Butcher/Manager and he worked for the Co-op for 50 years before retiring in 1973, along with Harold Bradshaw (47 years), George Pogson (45 years), and Bill King (51 years).
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42
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| The new Department Store in Higham Road prior to its opening in 1927. |
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43
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The new Department Store (Dept 8) "up and running".
The Grocery Dept. No.8 in Higham Road. One of its managers was Joe Freer.
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44
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| The Furniture Department Manager was Mr. Hanniford. |
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| The Department Store in 1960 with a new Self-Service Grocery Department. |
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46
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The Rushden Co-op Darts Team in 1960
C. Culpin, R. Darlow, A. Clayton, G. Pogson, L. Morgan, C. Hannaford, D. Ekins and F. Chambers.
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47
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| Mr. Griffiths, Rushden - C.W.S.'s Secretary/Manager. |
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48
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| Plaque marking £3,000,000 sales for East Northants C.W.S. |
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49
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| Horse drawn carnival float advertising Co-op tea. |
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50
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No. 44 High Street, the Drapery Dept. was opened by the society's President Joseph Hornsby on 6 August 1903.
No. 46 High Street was owned by Percy Button, a draper in 1912.
No. 48 was owned by George Denton, a boot retailer.
No. 50 was owned by George Willmott, a greengrocer.
No. 52 belonged to Mrs. Everingham, a Milliner but was burnt down as a result of John Cave's fire in 1901.
No. 56 was owned by S. Grout.
No. 58 was Burton's Grocery Stores. The next two shops were Hooton's Bazzar.
No. 64 The Louvre Drapery
No. 62A was Mobbs' confectioners
No. 68. G. W. Battersbys, Grocer and No. 66 The Star Tea Co.
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51
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A 1926 photograph of the Drapery Department.
The property had been purchased from the Natrass family.
Note the entrance on the left of the store that led to an entry to the offices at the rear in Succoth Place and Milton Place.
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52
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Four ladies who worked in the Drapery Dept. thought to be in the 1930's.
Audrey Saint, Edna Button, Eve Lincoln and Edith Allen.
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53
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| The Drapery shop about 1960. |
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54
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| The Department Store on the right was built on the site of the Succoth Chapel. The land was purchased in 1958 but it was some 11 years later before the store was built. |
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55
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| The new Departmental Store in the High Street. |
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56
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The Greengrocery shop at No.72 High Street. For a number of years it was managed by Hugh Willmott.
The Chemist shop at No.74 managed by Mr. Wilfred Haigh and assisted by Ben Perkins.
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57
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| Dorothy Ainge, assistant in the Chemist shop. |
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58
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| Betty Abbott and Dawn Heatherington; assistants in the Chemist's. |
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59
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Rushden Photographic Club were allowed to use the rooms above the Chemist's shop for their meetings.
Kneeling on the front row is Vic Childs a keen Rushden photographer.
On the 2nd row, 4th from the right, Mr. Hill a teacher at the Girls' Secondary Modern School.
3rd from the right, back row Mr. Cecil Thomas
4th from the right, back row Mr. Waring.
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60
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| The Grocery shop in the High Street, managed by Mr. Langley. Above the shop was the "Rochdale Rooms" used for lectures to trainees . |
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61
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Inside the grocery shop a presentation of £100 to Jean Rice who had taken part in a promotional competition for Spell washing powder. Jean suggested that each customer who spent a certain amount of money in the store should be given a free box of Spell.
Left to Right; Mr.Griffiths (secondary/manager of Rushden Co-op), Jean Rice, the Managing Director of Manchester CWS, and Harry Bailey.
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62
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A Co-op parade in the 1930's. which were usually held on a Thursday afternoon. The children were dressed in fancy dress made from advertisements from the Co-op shops. After the parade the children were given a tea at the Co-op Hall. This became so popular that an overflow venue was made at Alfred Street School.
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63
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The Co-op General Offices on the site that is now a car park to the rear of Bee Wise. [now QS - 2008]
To right of the main door was a plaque to commemorate those former employees who were killed in WWII.
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64
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The Co-op Offices after an extra floor had been added to the original building.
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65
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Mr. W. S. Bayes, Society President, unfurls the Co-operative International Rainbow Flag on top of the office building.
L to R - Miss R. Malloney, Miss M. Nichols, Mr. P. Elkington, Mr. C. Hannaford, Secretary/Manager Mr. Higham.
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66
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| A view of the rear of the Co-op Hall showing the entry leading to High Street. This was traditionally closed for one day each year to allow the Co-op to claim the right of way. This always caused a great deal of ill feeling amongst the townsfolk who used the short cut into the High Street. |
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67
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| Inside the Co-op Hall. It was used, among other activities, for exhibitions to promote the Co-op's products. These became so popular that the venue was moved to the Windmill Hall. |
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68
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| Inside the general office. |
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69
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| Mr. Ted Maddams was in charge of the offices. In later life he became somewhat forgetful and was well known for getting halfway home at lunch time only to turn around and return to the office to check if he had locked the door. He was the uncle of two well known Rushden men, Dennis and Arnold Maddams. |
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70
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Some of the Co-op's office staff.
Extreme left on the back row Jim Richardson.
3rd from right - Pat Storey
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71
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| The Secretary/Manager's Office. |
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72
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| Service counter in the office building. |
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73
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Mr. Griffiths , who was elected chairman of Rushden U.D.C. in 1964,
Presents his wife with her chain of office. The chain was given to the Council by Rushden Co-operative Society and presented by their President Mr. W. Bayes.
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74
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An inspection of W.V.S.'s Meals on Wheels at Rushden Hall on the 22nd April 1964 by the Duchess of Gloucester on the left, Lady Hesketh in the centre and Councillor Griffiths. Also present were Audrey Perkins, Mrs. Muxlow and Mrs Frankland. The cook was Mrs. Rickard whose family once kept the Airflow Cafe next to Birch's Bus Garage.
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75
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Wellingborough Road Grocery and Butchers Shop which was built in 1895 and opened 4th December 1895.
It also had a Bakery, a Furniture department, a warehouse and around the Corner in Windmill Road were offices and stables.
Former employees included Manager John Cook, Herbert Cox, O. Clayson in charge of Butchery Dept. and Jack Hills and Mr. Layram in the stores.
Photograph by C. F. Chapman in 1925.
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76
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| View from Brookfield Road in 1895 before the Mission Chapel, houses in Wellingborough Road and Windmill Road were built. |
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77
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January 1959, loading Christmas parcels for some 210 members of the Society who had joined over 50 years ago.
The group includes H. Bailey, F. Marriott, A. Green, W. S. Bayes, A. Watts, L. Parkinson and C. Ginns.
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78
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Tom Richardson, a society committee member, in 1936 wearing the Chairman of Rushden U.D.C.'s chain of office which was presented to the council by Mr. A. Allebone, who in that same year sailed on the maiden voyage of the Queen Mary to New York.
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79
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| Rushden Co-op's brand new coal lorry. |
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A Co-op coalman unloading coal at Rushden Station.
Mr. Bill King was in charge of the coal office and yard for 51 years.
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81
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| Rose Avenue Supermarket. |
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82
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| Birchall Road Co-op opened in 1932. |
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Inside Birchall Road Co-op and Post Office.
L to R - Phyllis Fensome, Pam Lumbers, Edith Dunmore, Elizabeth Barnes, Betty Coleman, Dennis Shouler, John Brawn, Morris Slater.
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Birchall Road Staff - Phyllis Fensome, Dorothy Hooton, Pam Lumbers and Betty Coleman.
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85
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Rushden Co-operative Society's Committee.
Back row: l-r : E. Sugars, J. Hornsby, C. Giles, J. F. Houghton, J. W. Clark
Front row: l-r : Mrs. F. Ladds, F. Berrill, G. W. Coles J.P., T. E. Wigginton, W. Bazeley J.P.
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86
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| Co-op Butcher's Chevrolet Refrigerated Van in the Cambridge Cottages Yard, c1925. |
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87
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| The same Butcher's van. |
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88
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Rushden Co-op's Bedford Mobile Shop in 1953, purchase price £2105.
It served Newton Road and Avenue Road and many of the North Bedfordshire villages, twice weekly. The driver was Mr. A. Bradshaw.
Running costs for petrol and repairs were £ 2055 : 5s. compared with the upkeep of the society's horses in 1904 of £38 : 2 : 3d.
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89
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| The Mobile Shop possibly in Avenue Road. |
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| 1917 Carnival Parade entry in High Street South. |
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91
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| Albert Hawes and Charlie Allen with a Co-op carriage that was still being used in WWII. |
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| Co-op delivery van. |
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93
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Rushden managers & committee prior to a visit to a canning works in Lowerstoft. The Society's President is in the front row.
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94
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High Street Menswear shop.
The buildings were owned by Oxford University.
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95
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| Possibly the first photograph of the new Drapery Shop in 1903. |
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Co-op dancing group in Spencer Park. They often performed in the Co-op Hall.
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97
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Councillor Spencer, Co-op committee member, celebrating his Golden Wedding.
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98
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| Parade in 1926 to Jubilee Park to celebrate the Society's 50 years. |
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Same procession in 1926.
To see an article about the Garden on the right of this picture click here
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