Rushden Research Group: High Street & Church Street name plaques

Surveyed in April 2011

Church Street

Plaques on buildings


19 + 21 Fern Dale Cottages 25 + 27 Cabinet Place	19 - 27 Church Street were built in 1881 - in 2012 occupied by Serve - Fratelli Bosco Ltd - Peter Crisp Kitchen & Bathroom Centre

No 10 Church Street - Oak Lodge - built about 1885

Extract from a 1951 newsclip: “In another two years the house in Church Street, Oak Lodge – with its staircase and porch made from the oak from the *Windmill mentioned in Domesdaye Book – was in the market, and father bought that and across the drive erected a retail shop with a workshop behind.

“From the house to the shop he had a telephone – absolutely the first telephone in Rushden.

Note: *probably the Windmill that once stood in Windmill Road

The first telephone was installed at 12 Church Street for John Clipson

c1905 looking up from the 'Lightstrung' - to Oak Lodge The Congregational Church is mid row and Mr Clipson's blinds near the top 39 Church Street, the ivy covered house behind the three girls, was demolished for road widening	Oak Lodge - 10 Church Street A T Nichols - plumber and Helen Buttling - ladies' hairdresser once traded here.

Courtesy of the late Colin Bryant's Collection

Dr Baker's house and the Congregational Church

Far left is 20 Church Street, where Dr Baker lived
is now rebuilt as a Charity Shop for Salvation Army.

John Street entrance is here

In 1903, No. 22 Church Street was the home and music shop of J E Smith, organist/choirmaster at St Mary's Church from 1875-1930. Later it was Iliffe's Pork Butchers.

At No. 26 Mrs Whitby ran a knitting business and next door Mrs Tusting was a "costumier".

No. 30 was Arthur Okins' cycle works, by 1920 the first factory of John White shoemaker.

At 32 was the Lightstrung cycle works (below). Two cycle agents were at 13 and 19 in 1910.

22-30 Church Street c 1912

Postcard of the 'Lightstrung' area
The villa residence (left) no 39 Church Street was demolished in the 1970s

Decorated for the Women's Tour 2018

and at Christmas 2018

At the foot of Church Street on a piece of ground where No 39 once stood is a flower bed. In 2018 the Town Council decorated two cycles to announce the OVO Women's Cycle Tour that would start one leg from Rushden Hall Park.

The cycles have been redecorated several times.
In November 2018 they sported Poppies for the Armistice Day Centenary.

No 17 Church Street - left the old well,
above - looking into the cellar, - far right is the coal shute below the shop window. c1960


13, 15 and 17 Church Street in 2023 The old BATES name board recently uncovered during refurbishment of these buildings and conversion back to residential properties.

Old shops in Church Street

1940s & 1950s

Street Surveys & Notes