J F Cook - printer

A 1925 advert

Old frontage uncovered 2006 during extension for Peter Crisp's

Accident—Mr W F Cook

5 Church Street - 2014

Jesse Frederick Cook was born in Husborne Crawley in about 1870. He was a compositor and had married Mary who was born at Ridgemont in Bedfordshire, when they moved to London where their daughter Mabel was born in 1896. Three years later they had moved to Rushden where their son Arthur was born in 1900.

In 1906 the family was living at Beaconsfield Terrace and trading at 9 Church Street, but four years later they were living in Griffith Street and Jesse had established his printing business at 5 Church Street, where it flourished and his sons eventually joined the company.

The 1904 Bennett's Directory shows that the "The Rushden Times" was at 5 Church Street. It was established in about 1893 by the "Wellingborough Post & Rushden Times" with W R Peaple as the manager, and printed here until J F Cook took over the business.

The company moved in 1970 to Moor Road, and the Church Street premises were taken into the department store of Peter Crisp Ltd.

Notes: Building already there on 1900 map, when streets were being numbered.

Clarke & Co, were listed as boot & shoe manufacturers in Church Street in 1903 Kellys’ – but no property number given.

Edwin Mole, baker listed at number 3 Church Street.

Northern & Payne, coal merchants at number 5.
Rushden Times (branch) also at number 5.

Henry Wheeler & Son, plumbers, were at number 11.

So we are unsure if the building was actulally built as a shoe factory, and then taken over by J F Cook. If you can help with any information, please contact us.

Obituary Mr J F Cook 1947

Rushden Echo & Argus, 25th June 1948, transcribed by Kay Collins Printers' Outing—The annual outing of Messrs. J. F. Cook and Sons (Printers), Ltd., Rushden, took place last Saturday to Felixstowe. The employees, with their families and friends, had an enjoyable day at the seaside, and breaks in the coach journey to and from the destination were made at Newmarket. Arrangements for the outing were made by Miss L. G. Waller.

A diary given in 1965

A 1985 billhead when the company was in Moor Road In 1986 they were trading from Leigh House, Portland Road. The company ceased trading in the 1990s.

Index of all Traders