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Sanders Lodge Trading Estate c1975
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Sanders Lodge Trading Estate began in the 1970s, and was expanded into the two fields opposite. When a further extension was needed, the area behind the railway track, was sanctioned to become Crown Park. The railway track was lifted, and now forms part of The Greenway footpath linking the town out to Rushden Lakes and access to the Nene Valley Way, or back into town towards the old railway station. From the station further access to the next section of the old branch line railway north up into Higham Ferrers, where the footpath returns to other pathways on into Stanwick Lakes Country Park. There is access from there along another disused railway line on the old Peterborough - Northampton line close to the river and back into Rushden Lakes.
Another footpath from there means ramblers can access Ditchford, and on to the surrounding villages via older footpath networks.
Crown Park
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Crown Park 2018
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Crown Park
Several Units have changed over the past 35 years. The area surrounded by trees at the centre of the right edge of the plan is the Recycling Centre.
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Key
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1
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Needle & Awl |
10a
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Shrink Polymer |
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2
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Lidl |
10b
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Assmann |
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3
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row of units |
11
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Signal House |
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4
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Storefirst |
12
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Dove House cars |
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5
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13/14
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Freemans |
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6
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15
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Grenson |
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7
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Kier Marriott |
16
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Amplius |
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8
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Focus/Wickes |
17/18
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Sapphire House |
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8a
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Pets at Home |
19/20
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Random House |
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9
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Totectors |
21
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Waitrose |
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10
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adi group - TES
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Crown Park began in the 1990s. A new public house, Focus DIY, Totectors factory and shop, and other retail businesses relocated there.
Rushden builders Marriott Construction - now part of Kier Group PLC built new headquarters at Marriott House, Brindley Close on the estate, and sold their main yard in the town to Asda in 2004.
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The New Headquarters - photo 2008
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A new store for Lidl was built (in 2000) by Keir Marriott.
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and storefirst.com stands behind the Lidl store.
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And then a run of smaller units was built opposite Lidl's main car park.
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HCM, Boy, Auden - Gordon Smith - continues in the next picture .....
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.... Gordon Smith - Auden, Screw Fix, Howdens and Auto Parts currently occupy this run of units.
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The last unit - Meter Mix Systems facing the Needle & Awl
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Meter Mix Systems & their Technical Centre - the Needle & Awl side entrance right
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Warehouse at Brindley Close
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Time running out - sale and closure in 2022
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John Coleman closed his shop in Rushden, the Higham shop moved down in the High Street there, and further shops opened at Wellingborough and at Kettering, then another branch was opened at Oundle. A craft shop and warehouse was the next venture in 2000 at Crown Park, Rushden, where craft workshops are well attended. This closed in 2022.
Waitrose came in 2004, and also have a petrol station. Focus DIY store is now Wickes, and Pets at Home adjoining with a pet grooming room.
The Totectors unit is now a vegetable packing facility for the Morrison Supermarket group.
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Morrison's Vegetable packing warehouse are now in the former Totectors factory.
Now operated by Mtyon.
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adi group - Total Engineered Solutions
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These two units at the back of the yard are Shrink Poymer Systems & Assmann
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On the opposite side of the road is Signal House is the last with Dover House Motors in front. Access to the Greenway here, and footpath through to Paddocks Road built in the 1980s, and then into Willingborough Road, close to St Peter's Avenue.
Freemans vehicles is the next unit.
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Freemans vehicle services
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Grenson's moved to the estate in 2013.
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New Grenson shoe factory at Crown Park 2013
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The next corner is currently for sale/rental, and then two large warehouses, 'Sapphire House' and 'Random House' Archive and Library.
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Sapphire House and Penguin Random House Library and Archive at the far roundabout
that leads to Waitrose Petrol Station behind the trees right, with the
Waitrose store and car parks beyond. |
