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Eaton Walk Shops
& College Street
Wilkinson's store
The walk way leads through to the grey roofed Eaton Square shops and a Bejam frozen food store and the large car park.
A Budgen's store was built in 1991 in College Street on the site cleared by the demolition of the Eaton's shoe factory in 1985. They had already taken over the Bishop's Store in High Street.

The building above was newly adorned as Wilkinson's in 2007. The walk way on the extreme right is Eaton Walk and leads through to a small square. The shops were a car spares shop of TM Autos, Eat 'n Enjoy cafe, Tresham College's Rushden classroom where computer skills could be learnt, and Bejam frozen food. Beyond is a large car park. Bejam soon changed to Iceland.

signage - all gone
The car park formerly the Commonwealth Sports Ground
The ramp and steps leading up to the shops.

These businesses all changed, a fishing tackle shop took the TM Autos, the cafe closed, Tresham College stopped the courses.

Most of the traders closed between 2010 and 2021, then Iceland moved out in 2021 and Wilkinson's closed down in 2023.

Following refurbishment in 2024 new businesses are gradually moving in : In Bloom, and a cake shop with cafe so far.

On the site previously there were two factories. John Cave & Sons Ltd built a new factory, on part of the family's ground, in 1904. They lost their previous factory in High Street in the fire in 1901, and decided to re build to the best standard they could. It opened in 1905.

Standard Rotary Machine Co Ltd built their factory next to Cave's in 1902, but this had been taken over by Ralph Tarry shoe manufacturer by 1930.

After Cave's closed down, their factory was taken over by Eaton & Co who also had a factory in Irchester Road.

The site of the two factories was cleared in 1985 and a new store for Budgen's was built and they moved from High Street, and opened in 1991. In 2007 Budgen's closed down and Wilkinson's took over the property.


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