Rushden Research Group: Westward Hotel formerly North Villa

'North Villa' - Westward Hotel


Originally 'North Villa' home of Ebenezer Claridge, boot manufacturer Later his nephew Charles lived here, then he moved to Irchester Road and Ebenezer's son Oliver moved here, it was then called 'Westward Ho'

1947 Whittington & Tomlin invoice to Mrs Samet (nee Claridge) with the address "Westward Ho".

A weigh slip for 7 cwt of coke 1947 to
Mrs Samet with the address as "Westward"

Rushden Echo & Argus, 3rd March 1950, transcribed by Kay Collins

Licence for Rushden Hotel Refused
An application by Mr. Peter Scaife Neville for a publican’s licence at Westward Private Hotel, Shirley Road, Rushden, was refused at the adjourned annual general licensing meeting at Wellingborough.

There were no objections to the application and the magistrates did not give their reasons for refusal.

Conditions which were suggested were that the licence should be a term licence for three and a quarter years, there should be no bar, intoxicating liquor should be served, sold or supplied only to residents and their guests and to non-residents having a meal.

Capt. J. S. Parker represented the applicant. Magistrates were Ald. A. Allebone (chairman), Mrs. J. Burkitt, Coun. J. Rowlatt and Mr. F. Green (Rushden).

In December 1952 they made an planning application to make a new access for the “Westward Hotel” in Shirley Road.

Business card

Letterhead from 1970


Westward Hotel in 1967 By Willmott Photographic - Courtesy of Clive Wood	and inside the Foyer - note the Police station on the opposite corner is visible through the window (right).

Letter head

A letterhead from 1987

Northampton Mercury & Herald, 9^th July 1988

Hotel changes - hands

ONE of Rushden's best-known hotels, the Westward in Shirley Road has been sold.

But new proprietor Badru Jamal says it will be service as usual. Londoner Mr Jamal has taken over from the previous owners Mr and Mrs Miles Craston, who plan to buy a smaller guest house.

The 26-bedroom hotel features a restaurant and bar and a covered swimming pool.

"I liked the place," said Mr Jamal who is making his first move into the hotel trade.

"I wanted a place like this and I thought this was the right thing to do."

When it was sold, it was renamed the Foxford Hotel but closed in about 2005.


In 2008 the building was converted into 8 flats - now called Foxford Court.

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