The business was begun by William Wright and continued by his son John Ougden Wright until 1919. Charles Webb was the baker in 1911 when the census was taken, and Charles was married John Wright's daughter Edith Ellen at Park Road Baptist Church in 1908. In 1921 John Ougden Wright was aged 68 and working as a clicker with his wife Susan aged 70 (born at St Neots), in Pratt Road.

The Rushden Argus 25th July 1919, transcribed by Susan Manton I wish to inform my many customers that I have disposed of the business of a Baker, recently carried on by me in Newton Road, Rushden, to MR. HERBERT DEACON HARRIS, who took over the same as from the 24th June 1919. All debts due to and owing to me in respect of business up to the 24th of June will be received and paid by me at 33, Pratt Road Rushden. The business will in future be carried on by Mr. Harris, who, I hope will receive the support for many years accorded to me. J.O. Wright 33, Pratt Road, Rushden.

Herbert Deacon Harris had married Margaret Isabel Hill in 1818 and seems likely to have bought the bakery in Newton Road to support his wife. Margaret Isabel was my grandmother. Margaret was born in 1880 in Northampton and was a schoolteacher and she had to give up teaching on marriage.

Margaret Isabel Hill c1915	with baby Edith 1919	Edith c1921

Herbert and Isabel had two daughters (Edith Muriel Harris 1919- 2012) and Margaret Joan Harris (1923-2018). Margaret Joan was my mother and some stories about life living at no 57 Newton Road (now no 77) come from her.

Accident, Rushden Echo, October 1923 Broken shafts and harness and the scattering of bread and flour was the extent of the damage in another accident which happened on Saturday afternoon, in Cromwell-road, Rushden.  Two bakers, Mr. Harris, of Newton-road, and Mr. Walpole Smith, High-street, had vehicles in Cromwell-road.  The man in charge of Mr. Harris’s cart got into the cart, and as he did so something broke and frightened the horse.  The animal bolted and collided with the other horse and cart, and, incidentally, a motorist near the scene had to swerve to escape another collision.  Bread, flour, etc., from Mr. Harris’s cart was strewn about the road, and the tackle was broken.  The shafts and harness of Mr. Smith’s cart and horse were also broken.  None of the drivers was hurt.

Editor's Note: E H Barrett refers to Mr Harris being known in the 1930s as 'the midnight baker'! At that time his wife was ill with TB, and sadly she died in 1937.

57 Newton Road - now 77

Margaret Joan on the cart in the yard	Margaret Isabel with daughters Edith & Margaret	Margaret Joan c1930

The Maypole celebration at Newton Road School 1934

Both girls grew up in Rushden and lived there till first Edith and then Margaret left, when they got married - circa 1946.

The premises at no. 57 (77) Newton Road was a double fronted house (where both daughters were born) with a bakery, yard and stables behind the property. [there was no shop]

Edith Muriel 1939	Margaret Joan c1939	Edith & Margaret during WWII

She also related memories of customers bringing their Sunday roasts and Christmas dinners to the bake house to have them cooked in the bakery oven.

Herbert continued living at no.57 Newton Road until his death in 1951, aged 79yrs. Margaret Isabel had died much earlier (1937) from TB, and left two young daughters to be cared for by their father.

Herbert and Margaret Isabel are buried in graves DA287/88 (no inscription) in Rushden cemetery, and my mother requested an entry on the Memorial Wall No. 36 in the cemetery to her parents.