Rushden Research Group: Park Road survey

Survey of name and date plaques 2010, with additions

Park Road & Little Street

Park Road was built during in the 1870s and 1880s as a continuation south from 'Back Way' (renamed Rectory Road after John Barker, rector of St Mary's Church, built a new rectory house there in 1871), from the Newton Road corner where the council buildings stand and on through to Harborough Park. The latter dropped the "park" to become Harborough Road.

The Council Building at the corner with Newton Road
and new houses built 2002 after demolition of factory ....


And to replace the factory in Park Place ......................... now called Church Walk

No 5 Park Road

This picture is taken from an aerial view
and shows the factory first used by
Bull & Clayton, later the NPP Co, and
in 1959 the 'Polar Works' of Fred Hawkes.

Just beyond the BWTA Hall built in 1907.

Part of this was originally a doctor's surgery, then
extended as part of William Child's heel factory.
At some time used by the Allotment Society.
14 Park Road - recently made into a bungalow.

No 11 - now The Linnets - was formerly the home of Doctor B W Paine, with the practice attached.
His partners were Dr Clark and Dr Book.

c1900 - by Jowitt - posted 1903 - The Methodist Church (right)

Photograph of the church buildings in Park Road taken in 2007

Now called the Heritage Chapel & Halls [photo: Greville Watson, 2007]


	Park Road Stores - No 48/50 East Grove 1877 Wm Packwood's shop in 1891


Cherry Orchard Cottages 1885 Nos 86-88

Next to Cherry Orchard Cottages, in 1956, the Council built eleven bungalows for old people.

The ground bewteen Little Street and Park Road had been cleared of old stone cottages in 1954-56.

Chapel House - originally the

School & Assembly Room

at the

Old Baptist Church

left: the rear of the building

This plaque marks the partnership between
Servite Houses and East Northamptonshire Council
as celebrated on 28th September 2000
Chapel House conversion forms part of the Council’s
Empty Property Strategy

Chapel House - 72

George Farey lived in a house known as 'Beethoven Cottage' in 1890 when he advertised as a music teacher, but we are unsure which house.

He lived at 39 Grove Road in 1901.

George was organist at the Baptist Church for 20 years.

The Baptist School Rooms & the Baptist Church Old Manse
now a block of flats and the Manse was rebuilt


		Farningham House was built in 1905 for F J Sharwood.
51 Park Road - The Old Manse of the Wesleyan Methodist Church	53 Farningham House

Miss Farningham - an author - laid
the foundation stone for the
Sunday School and Assembly Hall
at the Old Baptist Church in 1884.

Mr Sharwood named his new
house at 53 Park Road after her.

(above right)
Part of the Southfields complex.
They are flats, built on the land where 50 prefabs once stood.
(the white buildings centre of the aerial picture above)
The row of cottages running to the right of the prefabs is those detailed below, the tallest being the Co-op shop, at No.77.

Right: Kiddi Caru day nursery now in the old Co-op shop


Industrial Cottages built in 1892 - Nos 79 - 85 - which adjoined the Co-op Shop

East side of Park Road

'Cliftonville' was built in 1898 and is No.2 Essex Road. It and stands at the corner with Park Road.

It was firstly the home of Frederick Corby, a currier, and later Charles Cross, proprietor of the Rushden Echo lived there.

right: In 2010 it is a residental home with a large extension behind, in Park Road, and still carries the name 'Cliftonville'.

Clifton-Ville A D 1898

Extension being built c1990


The frontage in Essex Road	Park Road gable end with plaque above the windows


Belmont Cottage No 87

Claremont Cottage No 89	Belmont & Claremont built in 1886


Shamrock Villas built in 1887 Nos 91 & 93


	Hawarden Cottages Nos 95 & 97 built 1888


101 Park Road - c1907 - Robert Selwood kept the shop in 1908 but he seems to have left by 1910.


The corner house 101 Park Road now has its door in Harborough Road - built in 1885 In 1917 a Street Shrine was erected here.

Property Sale 1897 by the Executors of Mrs Rice

Little Street

Around the next corner below Park Road is Little Street.
This building has its house entrance in Harborough Road, with an impressive shop frontage in Little Street.

Extract from diary notes of Ebenezer Knight:

1870 - October. Bridge built at top of Little Street. The Res(idents) in York’s Pit made to swill the Brook.


Built in 1888 by Mr Bayes as a general store, was No 1 Harborough Road	D Sherwood - Antiques Centre Now No 59 Little Street

Also in Little Street is The Old Rectory, which has a date stone for 1897 when it was remodelled.

Street Surveys & Notes